Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread

[66_C20]

Originally Posted by Clyde65

Roll the cross member out and roll the disc brake one in, 14 bolts, 4 you will need to drill.

You make it sound so easy but I think we can all agree it’s never quite that easy. At least with the cross member swap, there shouldn’t be any issues with what tie rod ends to use where or any of that.

Originally Posted by Captainfab

You can NOT just swap the control arms on a '63-'66 C20 as can be done on the C10's. The C20 suspension crossmember does not have any saddles to accommodate the '73+ round LCA shafts. The '63-'66 C20 LCA shafts are flat. I do not know if on the C20's you can just change the outer tierods to accommodate the disc brake spindles. Additionally I do not know of anyone that makes the special aluminum tierod adapters as they do for the C10's. You may end up changing the entire steering linkage, which is what I always recommend doing on the C10's.

I replied to your PM from earlier today. With help from member Aotte1, I have determined that in order to install the K6129 lower ball joints into the '63-'66 lower control arms, the holes will need to be enlarged .010-.012". The K6129 lower ball joint fits '73-'92 C20/2500 and '71-'91 C30/3500's.

So it sounds like the only option for us C20 guys is to do a full crossmember swap from the 73-87 trucks? If so then that’s fine, at least I know for sure what has to be done to accomplish this. Looks like I’ll be doing some junkyard shopping.