To disc or not

[Sharps40]

I don't know fellas....drums is pretty darn good. Discs is better, I'll admit that anytime but drums is fine for the original engines and gears. I think lotsa folks, including corporate steared away from drums for two reasons, discs stop better, discs are set it and forget it till they are worn out.

But for me, I'll stick with drums, properly adjusted and well maintained...they are a tinkerers friend!

[BR3W CITY]

Originally Posted by Sharps40

I don't know fellas....drums is pretty darn good. Discs is better, I'll admit that anytime but drums is fine for the original engines and gears. I think lotsa folks, including corporate steared away from drums for two reasons, discs stop better, discs are set it and forget it till they are worn out.

But for me, I'll stick with drums, properly adjusted and well maintained...they are a tinkerers friend!

...cheaper to make, less part #'s in the company catalog, less retooling, and less complaints from customers.


I also think this thread shows more than it is supposed to about a posters age..... the only ones who think that drums stop good are those who were alive to drive non-power drums and cable operated brakes..I'm sure drums seem great if you can actually remember something that stops worse.

[sixTsix]

You guys do make valid points. I also know that discs are the safest and I do plan on making it my daily, if you want to call it that, hahah. I drive a co. truck during the day ...and mainly use the truck when I want to go somewhere and the wife doesn't, or she has different plans that I do.
That being said, I do want to be able to cruise down the road and stop when needed. Also discs are the easiest to maintain considering im looking for stopping power, reliability without working on them all the time. I don't mind wrenching by any means , but I also want to be able to get in and go with out wondering if its going to be pulling to the left or the right ...needing adjustments ect....

As far as keeping it 6 lug and running steelies what kind of back spacing am I going to need to clear spindles? or does the back spacing even play into effect when it comes to the spindles? I plan on buying new steelings not oem. Do you think ill still have clearance issues? What I plan on running are the chrome smoothies from wheel vintiques, without the center caps. I have been wondering as far as the wheels, what to expect, as ive read here, I know there is clearance issues.

I have thought about , and found some front ends off 73 chev trucks in the salvage yards ...just (at the time) didn't feel like tearing into them and ripping it apart to have to rebuild it. Hence the reason I was looking into kits. Also am looking the route that's going to keep down time to a minimal. I haven't been driving the truck much ...mainly on sundays ...every once in a while ...because of the known brake issues. I mean it stops ...just no where near as responsive as I want them to be. It could be a bleed issues or adjustment issue at this point.
Yesterday evening I got out there and adjust the brake pedal rod ...there was at least 2" of slop in the pedal. Also try bleeding, only to realize theres a order you need to follow in order to bleed properly. So I Stopped. TIme to regroup , then try and tackle again?

Let me ask you guys this. Do any of you guys have issues getting to the bleed screws on the front? The bleed screws I have are short and hard to make quick open/close movements due to the brake line being in the way.

[sixTsix]

Continued...(hit submit while trying to preview)


Ok bare with me guys. As I was typing my last post I had a realization.
Couldn't I just go to O"Rileys or Napa auto ...to buy new spindles, calipers, rotors, dust shields, pads, Bearings and toss them on my truck? I know that it would probably be a tad harder getting dropped spindles from somewhere like that. But hell I'm running factory spindles now, with cut springs. I could just buy lowered springs for the front and not worry about the drop spindles, right?
Correct me if i'm wrong, but one of the main advantages of having drop spindles allows you to lower the truck further than just drop springs correct? So with that being said, say I run factory disc spindles and say 3" to 4 " drop springs how bad will it effect camber ect...?
Another thing I stumbled across while browsing the forums is the caster mod. Should I attempt this as well since im going to have the front end tore down anyhow? I do like the idea of moving the wheel forward by an inch. Ok ill let you guys respond now lol....Sorry for the "new guy" questions ...this is the first early to mid sixties truck I've owned