Front disk brakes....

[Irishmike]

New to site and didnt want to clutter board if there is already info available. Looking for information about changing drums out for disc up front on my 72 chevy 1/2 ton. Is there a junkyard swap out for this or what are some kits available to complete the task at hand? Truck already slammed with lowering spindles and springs and its getting a little nerve racking trying to stop the 402 power plant comfortably. Any help would be great......Irish

[lolife99]

Welcome to the board!
There is drum to disc brake info here:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...68&postcount=4

If your truck is a '72 it should have disc brakes already.
(Disc brakes started with the 1971 model trucks)

[jocko]

hmmmm.... 72 should have disks from the factory. Either you've got a 71 without the disk option or someone went to a lot o trouble to retrofit drums(!) Lemme dig, there are a thousand disk brake threads on here - stby....

[jocko]

here's a great thread by lolife himself! http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...68&postcount=4

some more
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=508088
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=446358

EDIT.... OK, I'm a moron - I didn't see your links lolife!! Sorry for the spam. Anyhoo, welcome to the forum irishmike

[Irishmike]

Guess I just hit my first dilema.......wondering if my truck has a 67-70 frame and a 72 body on it, with the title saying 72. hmmmm. Here comes some fun figuring out what exactly I have. If I posted pics of the wheel off and showing the steering assembly with the tie rods and whatnot,,,,,can it be determined if so it is another year as far as frame and suspension goes?

[Shyguy]

There should be a number on the top of the frame just behind the steering box, this might help determine the frame year.

Also if it is a '67 it would not have a dimple for the steering box.

The frame for my '67 is '68 or new because it has the dimple for the steering box, but since the number on the frame has been cut out I can not tell for sure what year frame it is.

I know all the running gear is from my '71 and has disc brakes.

[Irishmike]

Well I found out the numbers on my frame if anyone is willing to help me out as far as telling me any new information as far as what year drivetrain I have under my titled 72. The frame numbers are.......OJ139801

Like I said in the beggining the truck has drums all the way around and I want to, actually need to do a disc brake swap up front to stop the 402. The spindles appear to be stock and the drop seems to be all spring so I have another question....

Can I use my stock upper and lower A-arms and just buy a 71-72 spindle for a disk setup, new lines that fit the new setup, a new caliper/rotor and master cylinder with a new proportioning valve? If not can someone explain what I need to do please?

Is there a issue with the balljoints that I need to pay attention to also? Sorry for all the questions guys but I'm so into this truck that I want to lear as much as I can and finish it the right way. I appreciate any help and I'll keep you posted.....Irish

[lolife99]

I guess you didn't read this thread I posted?
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...68&postcount=4

67-70 Crossmember Installed:
1) There are many advantage to leaving your 67-70 crossmember in place to add disc brakes.

2) 67-70 truck owners can now purchase "year specific" standard and drop spindles, from many aftermarket suspension vendors.
* No need to change ball joints.
* No need to change tie rod ends.
* These new "conversion disc brake spindles" are a true "bolt-on" mod to add disc brakes to your truck.

3) The 67-70 a-arms can also be used with any other (71-72 or 73-87) spindle, with a simple ball joint change.
* The upper and lower ball joints and outer tie rods must match the correct year of spindle you choose.

4) You will need a "conversion" rubber brake hose to connect your disc brake caliper to your existing steel brake line.
* 71-72 rubber brake hoses can be adapted.
* Much longer 73-87 brake hoses can also be adapted.
* Aftermarket steel braided brake hoses are an option.

5) Keeping your original 67-70 crossmember allows to to leave the engine and transmission in place.
* No need to remove drivetrain.
* No need to temporarily support the engine, while removing the crossmember.
* Complete disassembly of the front suspension also allows you the ability to clean, inspect, replace or rebuild all the individual components.

[Irishmike]

I read through everything, I'm just all twisted around here, moved to another state because of work, living in a friends basement, waiting for school to end for my wife and daughter to move to new residence, house is on market, blah, blah blah......got truck down here and in garage, so its the only thing keeping me moving forward, so I'm being lazy I guess and just trying to get answers easily, which is all on me, rather than doing what I know needs done, and doing the research the hard way. I appreciate everyones effort to help, I'm far from a kid anymore,lol.....So what I gathered is I can get either stock or dropped spindles for a 72 and the lines/calipers/rotors and need to change the upper/lower ball joints to the specific 72 spindles I buy. I still need to purchase the master cylinder and proportion valve correct?

[lolife99]

No. Incorrect.

You can buy "direct bolt on" drop spindles or stock spindle that will work with any 1963-1970 drum brake front end.
(which it sounds like you have)
No ball joint change.
No tie rod change.

Add 1-1/4" rotors, calipers and bearings from the 71-80 trucks and you are done.
Choose a 71-72 Master cylinder and prop valve,... or any of the aftermarket disc/drum M/C and prop valves.

Brake hoses can be 71-72 version, 73-87 longer version, or drum brake "conversion" brake hoses sold by the aftermarket suspension companies.

IF,... you have your heart set on using 71-72 spindles,... you will need to change all the steering linkage, ball joints, and tie rod ends.

Sorry my thread is so confusing.

[lolife99]

Can you post any pics of your front suspension?

[j1970GMC]

Welcome to the site. You came to the right place for help.

[oldschool18]

HOTTRUCKS told me how he did his, and all he did was use 71-72 spindles and 71-72 balljoints and the 7200 GVW 2500 6lug rotors off the late 80's early mid 90's trucks.

[special-K]

About front disc brakes...They came on "all" 1971 and 1972 trucks. Disc brakes were never an option.

About the numbers on the frame of your truck...They should match the numbers on your title and body VIN-plate,and glove box door SPID if that's there and original to the body.
Can you post pictures? We can solve this mystery. I assume you also have a 6-lug rear? If your truck is sitting on a '70 frame it will be the closest to a 71/72 because the axle width is the same. If it's a 67/68 frame the way the emergency brake cable is routed will be different.

[Irishmike]

The frame numbers match my title numbers, so it's a 72........sitting here scratching my head as far as wht someone would go through all the trouble to put drum brakes on the darn thing?,,,,,amazing

[starvinartis]

Very Little is cast i stone with these old trucks it seems... I had a 72 longbed a few year back..6 cyl 3-on-the-tree with factory 5 lug drum brakes up front. Irish Mike, welcome and does your truck have 5 or 6 lug wheels? If it has 5, simply swap out the spindles and do the proportionong valve change-out n you should be good to go, with brake line mods of course. All 2 wheel drive 71-72 C-10's are five lug, disc or drum.

[john]

Originally Posted by Irishmike

The frame numbers match my title numbers, so it's a 72........sitting here scratching my head as far as wht someone would go through all the trouble to put drum brakes on the darn thing?,,,,,amazing

The frame number you posted OJ139801 would be for a 1970 truck made in janesville.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by john

The frame number you posted OJ139801 would be for a 1970 truck made in janesville.

Ding, ding, ding.
We have a winner!
Problem solved.

[Blazenherbs]

I have a 69 chevy with 6 lugs front droms will spindles from a 1990 chevy3/4 ton fit to convert them to disc brakes
Posted via Mobile Device

[BeerCan]

So im pretty sure im getting this figured out. I have a 69. Ultimatly if i change to 71-87 disk spindles i need ball joints outter tie rod and and the line conversion which i think im looking at the right ones on earlyclassics.com for 55 bucks a pair pn #03-6480. My question is if i can leave the master and just run manual disk brakes?

[PanelDeland]

Originally Posted by Blazenherbs

I have a 69 chevy with 6 lugs front droms will spindles from a 1990 chevy3/4 ton fit to convert them to disc brakes
Posted via Mobile Device

No,there are no mounting points for the calipers.I'm not sure about the bearings and spindle length.

[PanelDeland]

Originally Posted by BeerCan

So im pretty sure im getting this figured out. I have a 69. Ultimatly if i change to 71-87 disk spindles i need ball joints outter tie rod and and the line conversion which i think im looking at the right ones on earlyclassics.com for 55 bucks a pair pn #03-6480. My question is if i can leave the master and just run manual disk brakes?

You'll need to swap MC and use the matching,proportioning valve.Disc use a different MC and a Prop valve instead of the distribution block.

[BeerCan]

Ok thanks