Brake conversion question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

JREs69er · 02-01-2005, 09:37 AM

I have a 69 k20 with dana 44 axle up front. I have a possibility of buying a dana 44 axle from a 72 for $150.00, which is said to be complete. I'm assuming that means from rotor to rotor, what else will need to be done to complete the conversion. Trying to figure out if it would be more cost effective to replace entire axle and make additional changes or to go with a complete conversion kit. I believe these kits run around 800-900. I have power steering and power brakes already so I don't know if booster and proportioning valve are needed. What I am trying to avoid is buying the axle and then getting nickeled and dimed to where I could have went with the kit instead.

I wouldn't mind staying with the drums all the way around but can' find the drums for up front. Any help would be appreciated.

**JIMs70GMC** · 02-01-2005, 11:52 AM

New brake lines(banjo fitting for calipers). your steering gear box should be like the newer ones all ready. If the axle is complete the steering arm should be there.

Americanrider · 02-01-2005, 03:14 PM

You'll need a different proportioning valve when you change over, you have the Drum-Drum type, you'll need a Disk/Drum type p-valve. I think the Master cly is differnt also, as in the size of the fluid chambers. Your booster should be OK. Your going to need new rubber or braided lines coming off of the calipers to the first steel line joint or are they included with the '72 Axle? Have you tried looking on Pirate 4x4 boards for the drums you need?

**JIMs70GMC** · 02-01-2005, 04:47 PM

I'm using a 1970 C20 MC and power booster(came w/ the cab) on my 71. Brakes work fine.

JREs69er · 02-02-2005, 02:57 AM

American rider,
What do you mean by Pirate 4X4? I am not familiar with this. Please advise!

Also, thanks for the help. That definitely sounds like the way to go as far as cost. It is rotor/rotor! Either one of you guys have a proportioning valve for the disc/drum setup? Where would you recommend buying the hoses for calipers? Local parts or someone like lmc, chevy duty, gmc paul's?

JREs69er · 02-02-2005, 05:17 AM

Is there any difference between the 4x4 and 4x2 types or are they the same?

4bynut · 02-02-2005, 05:41 AM

Hi John , Seen this and figured it's just as easy to post pic's here for ya. The axle is a 1976 model so it might be a little wider than stock and I can get a measurement for you. Someone here may also know. But it's not much wider as far as I know. I can also leave the rubber lines on it. I also have a used proportioning valve off a 2WD, if that's the same. Thank's Jason

JREs69er · 02-02-2005, 06:01 AM

can anyone answer that question? is this a straight bolt up or are mods necessary?

**JIMs70GMC** · 02-02-2005, 07:03 AM

I used the stock 70 drum 2wd stuff with no problems on my 71 disc 4wd.

JREs69er · 02-02-2005, 07:43 AM

I thought that this was a from a 72' and it appears to be from a 76', does this change things regarding spring perches or any other mods?

**JIMs70GMC** · 02-02-2005, 12:30 PM

nope

Americanrider · 02-02-2005, 04:46 PM

They run a bull-board exactly like this one but it's for SERIOUS off roaders and rock crawlers. Look it up in Google, free to join and free to post, and they don't tolerate deadbeat buyers/sellers either. Most members sell off the old and un-used stuff to finance the builds of bigger & better. I've picked up some things there cheaply. My ID on Pirate is the same as here. Lotsa good reading info in their tech dept. Another site for Chevy 4x4 stuff is ColoradoK-5, but they want $25 just to use the site. Without paying it's a read-only thing. Which reminds me... I'll drop a fiver in the mail today to help this our board, I've gained more knowlegde here and saved more money on here than I can count, besides, it's the right thing to do.

JREs69er · 02-03-2005, 08:09 AM

Thanks for the help fella's, appreciate all the info.

02-01-2005, 09:37 AM	#1
JREs69er Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Romeoville, IL Posts: 75	Brake conversion question I have a 69 k20 with dana 44 axle up front. I have a possibility of buying a dana 44 axle from a 72 for $150.00, which is said to be complete. I'm assuming that means from rotor to rotor, what else will need to be done to complete the conversion. Trying to figure out if it would be more cost effective to replace entire axle and make additional changes or to go with a complete conversion kit. I believe these kits run around 800-900. I have power steering and power brakes already so I don't know if booster and proportioning valve are needed. What I am trying to avoid is buying the axle and then getting nickeled and dimed to where I could have went with the kit instead. I wouldn't mind staying with the drums all the way around but can' find the drums for up front. Any help would be appreciated.

02-01-2005, 11:52 AM	#2
JIMs70GMC user # 2756 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 4,612	New brake lines(banjo fitting for calipers). your steering gear box should be like the newer ones all ready. If the axle is complete the steering arm should be there. __________________ 1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm

02-01-2005, 04:47 PM	#4
JIMs70GMC user # 2756 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 4,612	I'm using a 1970 C20 MC and power booster(came w/ the cab) on my 71. Brakes work fine. __________________ 1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm

02-02-2005, 05:17 AM	#6
JREs69er Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Romeoville, IL Posts: 75	Brake booster,mc, prop valve Is there any difference between the 4x4 and 4x2 types or are they the same?

02-02-2005, 05:41 AM	#7
4bynut Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Morrison, IL Posts: 793	Hi John , Seen this and figured it's just as easy to post pic's here for ya. The axle is a 1976 model so it might be a little wider than stock and I can get a measurement for you. Someone here may also know. But it's not much wider as far as I know. I can also leave the rubber lines on it. I also have a used proportioning valve off a 2WD, if that's the same. Thank's Jason __________________ 2007 Chevy 2500HD crew cab, 4x4, duramax w/Allison trans. 2001 Chevy ZR2 Ext. cab 4x4 (DD) 1967 Chevy SWB 4x4, BBC, Th400, NP205, 6" lift, and 35's (In Process) 1970 Chevy Blazer 4x4, BBC, TH400, NP241, 6" lift, and 38.5 boggers in front, 44 boggers on the rear ( mud racer project) Last edited by 4bynut; 10-04-2007 at 09:35 PM.

02-01-2005, 03:14 PM	#3
Americanrider Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NW, WA. Posts: 1,421	You'll need a different proportioning valve when you change over, you have the Drum-Drum type, you'll need a Disk/Drum type p-valve. I think the Master cly is differnt also, as in the size of the fluid chambers. Your booster should be OK. Your going to need new rubber or braided lines coming off of the calipers to the first steel line joint or are they included with the '72 Axle? Have you tried looking on Pirate 4x4 boards for the drums you need?

02-02-2005, 02:57 AM	#5
JREs69er Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Romeoville, IL Posts: 75	American rider, What do you mean by Pirate 4X4? I am not familiar with this. Please advise! Also, thanks for the help. That definitely sounds like the way to go as far as cost. It is rotor/rotor! Either one of you guys have a proportioning valve for the disc/drum setup? Where would you recommend buying the hoses for calipers? Local parts or someone like lmc, chevy duty, gmc paul's?

02-02-2005, 06:01 AM	#8
JREs69er Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Romeoville, IL Posts: 75	can anyone answer that question? is this a straight bolt up or are mods necessary?

02-02-2005, 07:03 AM	#9
JIMs70GMC user # 2756 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 4,612	I used the stock 70 drum 2wd stuff with no problems on my 71 disc 4wd. __________________ 1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm

02-02-2005, 07:43 AM	#10
JREs69er Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Romeoville, IL Posts: 75	I thought that this was a from a 72' and it appears to be from a 76', does this change things regarding spring perches or any other mods?

02-02-2005, 12:30 PM	#11
JIMs70GMC user # 2756 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 4,612	nope __________________ 1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm

02-02-2005, 04:46 PM	#12
Americanrider Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NW, WA. Posts: 1,421	They run a bull-board exactly like this one but it's for SERIOUS off roaders and rock crawlers. Look it up in Google, free to join and free to post, and they don't tolerate deadbeat buyers/sellers either. Most members sell off the old and un-used stuff to finance the builds of bigger & better. I've picked up some things there cheaply. My ID on Pirate is the same as here. Lotsa good reading info in their tech dept. Another site for Chevy 4x4 stuff is ColoradoK-5, but they want $25 just to use the site. Without paying it's a read-only thing. Which reminds me... I'll drop a fiver in the mail today to help this our board, I've gained more knowlegde here and saved more money on here than I can count, besides, it's the right thing to do.

02-03-2005, 08:09 AM	#13
JREs69er Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Romeoville, IL Posts: 75	Thanks for the help fella's, appreciate all the info.



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