Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread

[Captainfab]

The C20 LCA has the correct size ball joint bore to accept the '88-'98 ball joint. The C10 LCA's do not.

Since you have read the later posts in this thread and also posted in FoMoCoguy's thread, I will assume that you understand that there has been a camber issue that some members have experience. None of those members have been back to update with what they have done.

If you do have those same issues, please do let us know what you do to correct the situation.

[TypeSL2]

I was kinda afraid of that. It will be a while before I am ready for the alignment stuff since I am still in the process of swapping my LS motor in. If I can't get a hold of the guys that have fixed it, I will see what I can come up with. It doesn't look incredibly bad by the naked eye, but it is a little difficult to tell. The ball joint on my LCAs seemed to fit the knuckle snug, but maybe I need to double check them.

James

[Captainfab]

What lower ball joint are you currently using?

[TypeSL2]

I assume the factory C10. I didn't change the ball joints or control arms at all. Just unbolted the factory stuff and bolted up the 99 Express stuff.

James

[Captainfab]

I would suggest double checking the fit on the lower ball joint. I suppose it is possible that the Express van spindles use a different lower balljoint.

[TypeSL2]

If I ever get some free time I will go back out there and check. Thanks for the assistance.

James

[aggie91]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

I would suggest double checking the fit on the lower ball joint. I suppose it is possible that the Express van spindles use a different lower balljoint.

Originally Posted by TypeSL2

If I ever get some free time I will go back out there and check. Thanks for the assistance.

James

I thought the same thing, so I looked it up. The Express and the 88-98 1/2 ton trucks use the same lower ball joint.

We be nice to get a few pics of the parts installed...

[COOP3726]

Sorry for getting off track guys, but I am putting disc brakes on the rear of my 1985 Silverado and I have the Camaro calipers and the Impala rotors. My question is how do I hook up the E-Brakes? I have the Camaro brake cables, but they are the same lengths. Can someone help me with the hookup?
Thanks.

[Captainfab]

So I assume that your '85 has a longer e-brake cable on the right side?

I do not have an answer for you since I am not familar with your year of truck. The '63-'72's have a different e-brake cable arrangement

You might get a better response if you have this post moved to either the Camaro caliper bracket for sale thread, the suspension section or the '73-'87 section of the forum.

[COOP3726]

Thanks, I will go over to the Camaro caliper bracket for sale thread, the suspension section or the '73-'87 section of the forum.

[TypeSL2]

Silly question, but what is everyone doing for their brake lines? I am going to be making my own to replace all the old rusty lines, but I wanted to know if you guys did anything special, or if it is just a pretty straight-forward brake line fabrication?

James

[Ozzy2013]

So could the ball joint hole in the c10 lca be enlarged to work?Would be a lot easyier than finding a c20 lca

[Captainfab]

I am assuming you are thinking about the 6 lug disc conversion using the '88-'98 LD 2500 parts? If so, are you aware of the possible camber issues talked about above?

To answer your question. Most anything can be done if you want to spend the money to make it happed. I don't know if there is enough meat on the C10 LCA to be able to be machined out to accept the '88-'98 lower ball joint. If this is the route you want to go, I would consider having a ring machined and welded in as ChiefRocka did for his '62 Suburban before he changed direction. Here is a link:

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...=533641&page=6

Originally Posted by Ozzy2013

So could the ball joint hole in the c10 lca be enlarged to work?Would be a lot easyier than finding a c20 lca

[Ozzy2013]

Thanks captain fab i think i will stick to the 73-87 spindle rotors and calipers since no one has posted back about how and if they addressed the caster and camber issues .Thanks for the info!

[RoyL]

65 Burb, PO did a cross-member swap from 1980-something truck.

Seems to hit the stops too soon, have to make 4-5 point turns getting in tight spots... Is this a known issue with this swap or do I look for something else that may not be quite right?

Also has 2" dropped spindles (believe they are McGaughys) and 2" drop springs on the front. Rear has 3" drop springs. It's a bit too low in the front relative to the rear.

Thx,
Roy

[Captainfab]

Does it turn farther to the left than the right? If so a front end alignment should take care of that. How sharp/tight of a turn are you making that takes 4 or 5 points to make?

[Slow Build]

I've noticed that some brands of drop spindles will increase your turning radius. I had a problem on a 93 C1500 that I had several years ago. It had a terrible turning radius compounded by it being an xcab. One of the spindles had a problem and the company wouldn't back up their product so I bought BellTech spindles because they do. When I installed them my turning radius was way better.

[RoyL]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Does it turn farther to the left than the right? If so a front end alignment should take care of that. How sharp/tight of a turn are you making that takes 4 or 5 points to make?

well, now that you mention it, it does turns further right than left. I looked and found the left side hits the stop the right side does not. It's had an alignment since I bought it. The only issue they mentioned was the front was too low to align it right, so I dropped the back 3" then took it back... Sounds like a return trip to see if they can straighten it out and/or tell me why they couldn't fix it the 1st time...

[Jeff La]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

I am assuming you are thinking about the 6 lug disc conversion using the '88-'98 LD 2500 parts? If so, are you aware of the possible camber issues talked about above?


http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...=533641&page=6

Is it to much or to little??? thinking about trying this.

[TypeSL2]

From what I can gather, it will have too much positive camber, i.e top of tire leaning out from the fender.

James

[Jeff La]

I've got a whole 90's model truck and would really like to keep the six lugs. I'll start looking at what it might take to do it on my 65. Thanks

[Captainfab]

I haven't had time to check into this any further, but going by what some of the others that have done this, either the top ball joint will have to move inward, or the lower outward. The lower could move outward easily by modifying a '73-'87 lower control arm as ChiefRocka did. I had originally planned on modifying a '73-'87 LAC to accept the larger balljoint anyway.

Here's the page of ChiefRocks's build thread that shows the LCA mod to accept the '88-'98 ball joint.

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...=533641&page=6

A while back I sent a PM to one of the originators of this conversion, but he did not remember having any alignment issues and had long since sold the truck.

Originally Posted by Jeff La

I've got a whole 90's model truck and would really like to keep the six lugs. I'll start looking at what it might take to do it on my 65. Thanks

[rbkagey]

Where do I purchase the adapter sleeve to go from 69 to the 73-87....it was option #2 above

[Captainfab]

The big vendors such as CPP, ECE and POL have them. But if you just change your entire steering linkage to the '73-'87 components, you don't need them. On a '67-'72 all that just bolts up.

Originally Posted by rbkagey

Where do I purchase the adapter sleeve to go from 69 to the 73-87....it was option #2 above

[rbkagey]

? Everything I read says if I use later I will have to drill several new holes. guy somewhere on this board says 1 of 3 options. Use adapter or rethread later tie rod end or use all later and drill new holes. Of course I think when I gut on the later spindles I thought they were just 71 so I think I got 71 upper and lower ball joints...Turns out its a 79 and not 71 and the ball joints still fit. I did this several years ago so I will have to go back to autozone and see what year ball joint I got for sure....Thanks, Rick