help i search drum brakes updated to disk with a 5x4 3/4 lug

[mr mike]

I have Search the Forums and need to to know If i am good to go

Ok so I have a 1969 short bed 3 on the tree with a 327 v8
I have drum brakes front and back and, I would like to do the disk brake swap
so I can put some rims on the truck and get a brake job update at the same time, But The rims that i have are 20" 5 x 4 3/4 the same as a Camaro.

So is this what i need

The 73-87 truck spindle or Belltech 3" drop spindle that uses the A-6 inner bearing as long as it has a 1-1/4" bore

the Camaro 1" 5X4.75 bolt circle rotor

Camaro rotor will work on the 73-86 spindles if the 81-86 calipers are used as well.

stock brake pads for a 81 to 86 camaro

What else do i need to get a brake booster or something
I can not recall

but some day i plan go doing air ride and some 24" rims but as of now i am planing on just stuff some 20" under it Got them so cheap I lol just thinking about it and getting it as low as i can. If any one can help I would real love the help thanks mike


I found this info when I was Search the Forums


Now we all know that the 73-87 front crossmember and suspension components can be swapped into the 60-72 trucks. The 73-80 Chevrolet C10 pickups used a 1.28 rotor. Then in 81-86 GM switched to a 1" rotor. I did a bit more digging and found that the calipers are different for the 1" rotor but use a common bolt pattern with 73-80 so, it looks as if the 91 Camaro rotor will work on the 73-86 spindles if the 81-86 calipers are used as well. Also the flexible brake line will need to be changed if you have the 73-80 caliper as one of the calipers uses American standard thread and the other uses a metric thread. The parts house could not tell me which one used what thread but that they were different. I will figure that out when I purchase the parts. I have not done this yet but it does look like it will work. fones1966 a member here PMed me telling me about this possibility and I want to thank him for that. I just thought I would post this information in case there were others that could use it. Olympic Brake here in Washington is who provided this information. One note I want to point out is the specs that I have all show the same bearings on all three rotors. I was told by fones1966 that the 73-80 1.28 rotor used a A-5 inner bearing so that bearing would have to be replaced when switching to the Camaro rotor but, what I found was the 73-80 heavy duty 1.28 rotor used the A-5 inner bearing and the 81-87 light duty rotor used the A-6 as shown in the specs I have provided. I hope this information is helpful. Here are the specs on both the truck and Camaro rotors:

73-80 Truck rotor specs are:

Height 4.88
Diameter 11.85
Min. Thickness 1.220
Hub 3.06
Outer bearing A-3
Inner bearing A-5
Seal Part # 8871
Bolt Circle 5X5

81-86 Truck rotor specs are:

Height 4.63
Diameter 11.86
Min. Thickness .96
Hub 3.20
Outer bearing A-3
Inner bearing A-6
Seal Part # 8871
Bolt Circle 5X5

91 Camaro 1LE Performance Package rotor specs are:

Height 4.65
Diameter 11.85
Min. Thickness .97
Hub 2.78
Outer bearing A-3
Inner bearing A-6
Seal Part # 8871
Bolt Circle 5X4.75



Well after much research and comparisons this is what I have come up with. I would like to thank gringoloco he helped me out here. The 73-87 2-1/2 drop spindle from CPP uses the A-5 inner bearing that has a 1-3/8" bore. This spindle uses the 1-1/4 rotor with the 5X5 bolt circle. This is the same size spindle as the OEM as well. Belltech has a 3" drop spindle that uses the A-6 inner bearing that has a 1-1/4" bore. This spindle uses a 1" rotor and there for can either be used with the light duty truck 1" 5X5 bolt circle rotor or the Camaro 1" 5X4.75 bolt circle rotor. There it is. This is the only way that I found to switch from the 5X5 bolt circle to the 5X4.75 bolt circle using the OEM rotors. Hope this helps

[lolife99]

I guess you are using adapters on the rearend?

[mr mike]

Yes I would like to push the rear out about 1 1/2 2 " at the max.

So if anyone can help with my shopping list (what is missing)

[mr mike]

master cylinder or can i run a brake booster or what do i need I am lost thanks mike

[lolife99]

Man,... your going to alot of expense to make the 5x4.750 wheels work.
If it was me I would ditch those wheels and do a conventional disc brake swap.
No rear spacers.
No mix and match tie rods.
No hoping all this stuff works.

You can buy spindles that will convert your '69 to disc brakes.
No need to change ball joints or tie rod ends. (unless you are changing them anyway)
These spindle will use '73 style (aka cheap) rotors, calipers, and brake hoses.

Save your money and do a 5x5. Sell the wheels that are 5x4.75. You will be money ahead. (Keep the tires and use them,... but ditch the rims)
Just my $.02.

Also search around the "suspension" section. I've been on here since 2002 and this topic is brought up every day. Also check the "project section".
Good luck.

[lolife99]

Also,... you need a master cylinder for disc/drum application. Look at many of the board vendors,... or check with ECE, (Early Classic Enterpises).

[mr mike]

My truck is not up to par with the ball joints and tie rod ends (all nasty and stuff
ok i was just looking and it looks like 82-95 S10 S15 Camaro Truck / SUV Front Brake Pads and Rotors are all the same and are cheap
so all i would need is
# 1 the 73-87 truck spindle and ball joints and tie rod ends
# 2 82-95 S-10 / Camaro Front Brake Pads and Rotors
# 3 a master cylinder for disc/drum application

Do i need to get the inner and outer Wheel Bearing as well for the 82-95 S10 / Camaro

It look like to me that this would be a cheap and ezzz swap If you get most of the parts out of the junk yard unless I am missing something HELP OUT IF YOU CAN

[mr mike]

[/quote]I've been on here since 2002 and this topic is brought up every day.[/quote]

Then this should be ezzzz some post the link on what i have to buy

so i can get to work on my truck and not sit here and try to pick everyone's brains to make this work
thanks:

[lolife99]

'73 outer tie rods won't connect directly to the inner '69 tie rods. If you change both,... they won't connet to the center link. You need EITHER,... a conversion tie rod sleeve (from CPP, POL or other venders) OR,... you need everything to match. (All 71-72 steering components or all 73-87 components which are cheaper)

Inner and outer bearings need to match whichever rotor/spindle you decide to use.
I don't think an s10 rotor will work on a 73-87 spindle,... but I never did the research. The spindles are definitely 2 different part numbers.

I did a search in the suspension section. Came up with this:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...archid=1285839

87 threads.

[mr mike]

This is what i came up with

1968 C20 lower control arms
1990 3/4 ton Light Duty 2X4 must have (1.25" rotors) spindles
1990 1.25" thick 6 lug rotors changed over to s-10 1.25 thick rotors
1990 calipers off same truck or s-10
1990 upper and lower ball joints
1990 outer tie rods
inner tie rods MOOG part #ES2020RL
1990 style tie rod coupler


The only catch is to cut 3/4" off each end of both tie rods on each side of the truck so you can have enough room to align the truck. Well at least I had to since mine is lowered 4" in the front.

The front end I bought off the 1990 truck was 5 lug. All I did was went and bought the 6 lug rotors and bolted them on. If you wanted to stay with the 5 lug, you'd save yourself about $120 bucks.

[mr mike]

am i on the right track ????