Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread

[KACKERMANN]

hey guys thanks for this post it is very helpfull with my 66 build. but got a question. so i went to the local junk yard and pulled the front suspension from a 88 1/2 ton chevy truck got all the suspension except for the k-member. now if i rebuild that can i bolt that up to my 66. upper lower control arms spindle springs. steering linkage and all. i have read all the post on here and just wanted to see if i needed anything else for it.

[Captainfab]

The suspension from a '88 pickup will not bolt up to your '66. If you had gotten your parts from a '71-'87 pickup or '71-'92 Suburban, you could do as you are asking.

The complete pickup platform changed in '88, and is not interchangeable with earlier years. The only way you can use those parts on your '66 is to use your original upper control arm, a '63-'66 C20 lower control arm, and then install the '88 upper and lower balljoints, spindles, rotors, calipers, etc. This is the same as the 6 lug conversion described in this thread.

Originally Posted by KACKERMANN

hey guys thanks for this post it is very helpfull with my 66 build. but got a question. so i went to the local junk yard and pulled the front suspension from a 88 1/2 ton chevy truck got all the suspension except for the k-member. now if i rebuild that can i bolt that up to my 66. upper lower control arms spindle springs. steering linkage and all. i have read all the post on here and just wanted to see if i needed anything else for it.

[Fast Freddy]

This maybe a dumb question but; (Mine is a 68), Why not just put a whole front end under the truck, one with dics brakes. If I remember correctly, the 71 or 72 with 4 wheel drive front ends had a 6 lug patten too? Tell me if this can be done?
Thanks

[aggie91]

Originally Posted by Fast Freddy

This maybe a dumb question but; (Mine is a 68), Why not just put a whole front end under the truck, one with dics brakes. If I remember correctly, the 71 or 72 with 4 wheel drive front ends had a 6 lug patten too? Tell me if this can be done?
Thanks

The 4wd trucks were 6 lug, but none of the front end parts will work on for converting a 2wd truck disc brakes and stay 2wd.

You can however remove the complete crossmember assembly with arms and spindles/brakes from a 71-87 1/2 ton 2wd truck to make it 5 lug with disc brakes. There are companies that make a 6 lug rotor to go on the factory spindle, that way you would keep 6 lug front.

[edszuk]

Here's a question. The previous owner of my truck put a 3/4 8 lug rear end on now my C10. I found a 80's 3/4 2WD suburban, a may sound silly, but can I put the front spindles on my truck so I can have matching rims? Does someone have a step by step on how to replace a rear end. either way I think i'm going to have to spend some cash. I just think it my be easier to do the front than the rear.

Ed

[Captainfab]

If you want a 3/4 ton, then by all means go ahead and switch the front. But you will at a minimum have to change the lower control arm as well as the spindles, rotors, calipers, etc. IMO if you don't necessarily want a 3/4 ton, just change the rear end, it's a lot simpler. What year of truck do you have? If you want discs on the front, just get a 1/2 ton '71-'87 front suspension for the front. Then you could get away with just changing the balljoints, spindles, rotors, calipers, etc. Regardless whether you go to 3/4 ton or 1/2 ton front discs, you will need to upgrade the brake master to a dual reservior unit.

Originally Posted by edszuk

Here's a question. The previous owner of my truck put a 3/4 8 lug rear end on now my C10. I found a 80's 3/4 2WD suburban, a may sound silly, but can I put the front spindles on my truck so I can have matching rims? Does someone have a step by step on how to replace a rear end. either way I think i'm going to have to spend some cash. I just think it my be easier to do the front than the rear.

Ed

[edszuk]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

If you want a 3/4 ton, then by all means go ahead and switch the front. But you will at a minimum have to change the lower control arm as well as the spindles, rotors, calipers, etc. IMO if you don't necessarily want a 3/4 ton, just change the rear end, it's a lot simpler. What year of truck do you have? If you want discs on the front, just get a 1/2 ton '71-'87 front suspension for the front. Then you could get away with just changing the balljoints, spindles, rotors, calipers, etc. Regardless whether you go to 3/4 ton or 1/2 ton front discs, you will need to upgrade the brake master to a dual reservior unit.

I have a 66 C-10 1/2 and would like to keep it a 1/2. On the rearend you have reweld perches and panhard right? Do you know what the pinion angle would be? I would love to convert to 5 lug. I went to a local junkyard to see what they had. He had a 5 lug front clip sitting there collecting dust. I asked him how much would it be for the 5 lug front end and a rear end. He said 500.00. That's how much I paid for the truck. I thought this was much for junkyard parts. I called a few junkyards around here and all want close to 250.00 for rear ends. Does anyone in California have a 6 lug rear end laying around for less?

Ed

[bubba327]

I agree with The Captain- I used 6 lug CPP rotors and calipers on 71 spindles and had no problems.

[malford]

I am looking at this post as a reference for a project I am working on to find some donor parts. The project is a 1963 SWB Stepside C10. I recently ran across a guy parting out a 1986 2wd Suburban and I think there are some parts on it I can use to convert to disc brakes up front as well as power steering. What can I use off of this vehicle?

[protrash64]

Originally Posted by malford

I am looking at this post as a reference for a project I am working on to find some donor parts. The project is a 1963 SWB Stepside C10. I recently ran across a guy parting out a 1986 2wd Suburban and I think there are some parts on it I can use to convert to disc brakes up front as well as power steering. What can I use off of this vehicle?

You can use the whole front x-member, steering gear and power steering pump, and also the brake booster/ms-cyl set-up. Some other stuff I'm probably forgetting.....

[Captainfab]

You can also use the rear differential so you have 5 lug in the rear as well as the front. However this will require some cutting and welding. If this Suburban happens to have an engine and transmission, that can be used also.

[Slow Build]

I read somewhere that you can use the tranny crossmember from the suburban if you plan to do a 700R4 swap.

[Russ65C10]

88 - 98 rotors will NOT fit on the 73 - 87 spindles. You need to order 6 lug rotors from CCP or whom ever. It's the easist way to stick with 6 lugs.

[karlbenz]

wow, this is a lot of info. I am confused(which usually doesn't take a whole lot) I am wanting to put 8lug on my front end of my 1/2 ton 64gmc. I have a 91 8lug truck sitting here that I can use for parts. can I use anything off it?

[rain_man]

so is it true that if you swap to disk brakes 6/5 lug that your organal wheels wont work any more?
if this is true why not just go to 5?
thanks

[Captainfab]

If you have original style 6 lug wheels, they won't work with disc brakes. Some guys have aftermarket or later model 6 lug wheels that are disc brake compatable, so switching to 6 lug discs will allow keeping your wheels. Plus you wouldn't have to change your rear differential, or change the axles in your existing one, if you went with 6 lug discs up front.

Originally Posted by rain_man

so is it true that if you swap to disk brakes 6/5 lug that your organal wheels wont work any more?
if this is true why not just go to 5?
thanks

[rain_man]

thanks capt

[jocko]

Wow, what a thread. This is a very helpful one. Have seen several comments that discs will not fit the original 6 lug steelies. A couple questions -
1. Can a spacer be used to make the original 6 lugs work with a disc set-up (i.e. I've not tried it yet - where does the interference actually occur between the caliper and the original 6 lug wheel? is it a wheel diameter thing or backspacing thing, etc)
2. Captain Fab, you mentioned aftermarket and later model 6 lugs would work. Which later model 6 lugs? (all 88-up 1500's?) and what company makes stock-appearing steel wheels that will fit discs? (I've looked at stockton and a few others, but seems their stock looking wheels are not quite stock looking - they are missing the air gaps in between the wheel center and rim, at least on some of the wheels I've seen. Seems later model 6 lugs (88-up) were 16 inch rims? So are you saying that aftermarket steel wheels would also need to be 16 inch to work?

I've got 15 inch truck rallies also in addition to the stock steelies, and I'm pretty sure they will work - but I'm going to a bit of effort to just run steelies and poverty caps - looking for the simplest to keep that look yet eventually upgrade to front discs.

Thanks a lot folks, great thread.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by jocko

Wow, what a thread. This is a very helpful one. Have seen several comments that discs will not fit the original 6 lug steelies. A couple questions -
1. Can a spacer be used to make the original 6 lugs work with a disc set-up (i.e. I've not tried it yet - where does the interference actually occur between the caliper and the original 6 lug wheel? is it a wheel diameter thing or backspacing thing, etc)
2. Captain Fab, you mentioned aftermarket and later model 6 lugs would work. Which later model 6 lugs? (all 88-up 1500's?) and what company makes stock-appearing steel wheels that will fit discs? (I've looked at stockton and a few others, but seems their stock looking wheels are not quite stock looking - they are missing the air gaps in between the wheel center and rim, at least on some of the wheels I've seen. Seems later model 6 lugs (88-up) were 16 inch rims? So are you saying that aftermarket steel wheels would also need to be 16 inch to work?

I've got 15 inch truck rallies also in addition to the stock steelies, and I'm pretty sure they will work - but I'm going to a bit of effort to just run steelies and poverty caps - looking for the simplest to keep that look yet eventually upgrade to front discs.

Thanks a lot folks, great thread.

If your plan is steelies w/dog-dish (poverty) caps, the bolt pattern of the wheels won't be distinguishable.

I did a disc swap on my 68 & ran poverty caps on OE 5-lug truck wheels up front w/poverty caps on the OE 6-lug wheels for the rear for several months before swapping the rear axles to 5-lug.

If the concern is a spare that fits all 4 corners, Wheel Vintiques, Early Classic, & Stockton each make an OE appearing steelie in various sizes (they don't have to be 16's).

[jocko]

Thanks Scoti, that's good info. Good point about the 5 and 6 / front and back - not a big deal visually (but that spare thing..... I better find a jack too, I keep forgetting to pick one up - then I can worry about tires). Also, thanks for the 15 inch info.

[raycow]

To add to the wheel discussion, you might want to look at factory wheels from a 71-up K-10. These trucks had disc brakes with 6 lugs, and at least some of them had 15" wheels.

Ray

[jocko]

would it be the correct bolt circle? that's a great idea, had not thought of that, but they would clear discs. You might be onto something there.. Seems most of them had rallies on them that I have seen, but I think that's because folks PUT them on afterward in many cases - I know I've seen some K10s with steelies.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by jocko

would it be the correct bolt circle? that's a great idea, had not thought of that, but they would clear discs. You might be onto something there.. Seems most of them had rallies on them that I have seen, but I think that's because folks PUT them on afterward in many cases - I know I've seen some K10s with steelies.

Yes, some later model 4x4's came w/6-lug steelies (lots of military Blazers did)..... They are very elusive though as more than one board member has searched for months trying to find them w/o luck. When they do pop up, it becomes a timing thing. Or, you can buy them new from the aftermarket when you're ready.

[ozman3803]

I've looked this over a couple times and maybe still missed it. My 70 2wd has 6 lug disc. On the part swap from 6 to 5, what thickness of 5 lug rotor (1 1/4?) is needed and will this work with the current disc brake caliper?

[Captainfab]

If your '70 has 6 lug discs up front, they aren't original. They could be either aftermarket rotors for the '71-'87 spindles (I believe those are the 1 1/4" rotors) or they are the '88-'98 light duty 2500 series rotors, spindles and calipers. In light of those possibilities, I would suggest taking a few pics of what you have (particularily the calipers) and post them here, and we can determine which front disc's you have. The parts are not interchangeable between the two options I listed.

Originally Posted by ozman3803

I've looked this over a couple times and maybe still missed it. My 70 2wd has 6 lug disc. On the part swap from 6 to 5, what thickness of 5 lug rotor (1 1/4?) is needed and will this work with the current disc brake caliper?