Disc brakes on 1970 Chevy C-10 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

The Blue Pig · 04-24-2002, 04:12 PM

Hey, I am new to this site, but I am happy to see so much information, I am sure I will put much of it to use. I have a 70 C-10 longbed that dI would like front disc brakes on. I know that the 71's were the first half ton-2wheel drives with disc, but I dont know if they went to 5 lug in 71 or 73. Also, I was wondering if anyone has done this conversion, it seems simple enough, transfer the master cylinder, combo valve, spindles and that stuff onto the front end of the 70, but is there anything I need to anticipate will cause problems? I dont have a problem with fabbing up a few new mounting points or anything like that if I need to, and I plan on getting new lines when I do it. Just wondering if anyone has done it on this year (or 67-69) of truck, and if there are any tips for installation, and also, any tips for hunting down a good donor truck. Thanks for any helpful info. Also, has anyone else ever looked into or bought from Chisholm suspension? I am looking at getting some control arms, shocks and leafs from them, I called with a couple tech questions and they seemed to know a little bit about what they are doing. The guy didnt know if their springs were linear or progressive rate type springs, and he wasnt sure about anti-dive angle geometry, or camber change when cornering. Just wondering if anyone is actually employing one of these systems on a truck. ok, I am done.

j-dogg · 04-24-2002, 05:50 PM

They went to 5 lug in 71. I did this conversion on my 70 last year and used an entire crossmember and all from a 72. The only problem I ran into was trying to use my original upper control arms... for some reason my truck different pivot shafts than the disc brake suspension, and they wouldn't work. For that reason and because the brake hose mounting brackets, which are located on the front of the disc brake crossmember as opposed to the rear for drum crossmember, I decided to use the whole '72 crossmember. I'm real picky about stuff like bracket location, and I can't weld so I couldn't fab up a new bracket. If you can weld and you want the bracket in the stock disc brake location, it should be no problem for you. Also, if you use a whole new crossmember, you may have to make one of the mounting holes on your frame a little bigger so that it will line up with the holes on your new crossmember. I can probably answer some more questions about this setup, just ask. Sorry, don't know anything about the custom stuff!

Stroker · 04-24-2002, 05:59 PM

Welcome to the board. The disk swap your talking about has been done by a lot a members. I personally have not done this so I'll let someone else field that part of your question. I assume your looking at Chisholm's lower control arms with the dropped spring pockets. I know someone who has used them but it was on a 90 Chevy truck. The arm broke about 6 mo after it had been installed. After doing some checking he found that several of the front end shops had seen the same thing on other truck using the Chisholm control arm. Personally I perfer the drop spindle and spring set up. Good Luck with your truck.

Longhorn Man · 04-24-2002, 08:24 PM

Instead of going to 5 lug, you can keep your 6 lug rims by getting 6 lug rotors from http://www.gmcpaulstruckparts.com/ .

------------------
'69 G.M.C. 350/350. Trying to clean up the left over damage from the Dope-Smokin-Old-Man
I've been dubbed the Longhorn Freak/Fanatic/Expert, I just hope I can live up to it.
FINALLY got the HORNIAC...a '70 one ton Longhorn with a Pontiac 350/350 and lots of 'personality'. Check out The Longhorn Webite.
If you need a pic posted, E-mail me at longhornmail@yahoo.com
Andy, in Columbus Ohio

The Blue Pig · 04-25-2002, 03:26 AM

Hey guys, thanks for the info. I am surprised to hear about those control arms busting, for as much as they want for those things, you would think they would hold up. I was looking into those guys mainly cause I want a lowered stance for my truck, somewhere around a 2-4 drop, but not for looks only, I want something that will better my handling also without messing up my alignment angles. If anyone has any good advice on that area, it would be appreciated. Some of my questions may sound absurd once in a while, but I have not seen my truck in months, and sometimes I forget dumb things. I am down here in Wyoming going to tech and the blue pig is at home in alaska waiting to be brought back to life. I do have 6 lug rims, so I will check out that web site for the 6 lug rotors. Now the search begins for a 71-72 parts truck. thanks guys.

04-24-2002, 04:12 PM	#1
The Blue Pig Thread Wizard Since 2002 Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fairbanks, AK Posts: 102	Disc brakes on 1970 Chevy C-10 Hey, I am new to this site, but I am happy to see so much information, I am sure I will put much of it to use. I have a 70 C-10 longbed that dI would like front disc brakes on. I know that the 71's were the first half ton-2wheel drives with disc, but I dont know if they went to 5 lug in 71 or 73. Also, I was wondering if anyone has done this conversion, it seems simple enough, transfer the master cylinder, combo valve, spindles and that stuff onto the front end of the 70, but is there anything I need to anticipate will cause problems? I dont have a problem with fabbing up a few new mounting points or anything like that if I need to, and I plan on getting new lines when I do it. Just wondering if anyone has done it on this year (or 67-69) of truck, and if there are any tips for installation, and also, any tips for hunting down a good donor truck. Thanks for any helpful info. Also, has anyone else ever looked into or bought from Chisholm suspension? I am looking at getting some control arms, shocks and leafs from them, I called with a couple tech questions and they seemed to know a little bit about what they are doing. The guy didnt know if their springs were linear or progressive rate type springs, and he wasnt sure about anti-dive angle geometry, or camber change when cornering. Just wondering if anyone is actually employing one of these systems on a truck. ok, I am done. __________________ --70 C-10 Longbed --71 C-10 Longbed --72 K-20 Longbed --74 C-10 Shortbed --86 Toyota Tercel (His Driver) --05 Chevy Trailblazer (Her Driver)

04-24-2002, 05:59 PM	#3
Stroker Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Moore, Ok Posts: 1,149	Welcome to the board. The disk swap your talking about has been done by a lot a members. I personally have not done this so I'll let someone else field that part of your question. I assume your looking at Chisholm's lower control arms with the dropped spring pockets. I know someone who has used them but it was on a 90 Chevy truck. The arm broke about 6 mo after it had been installed. After doing some checking he found that several of the front end shops had seen the same thing on other truck using the Chisholm control arm. Personally I perfer the drop spindle and spring set up. Good Luck with your truck. __________________ 72 SWB parts and pieces Oklahoma

04-25-2002, 03:26 AM	#5
The Blue Pig Thread Wizard Since 2002 Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fairbanks, AK Posts: 102	Hey guys, thanks for the info. I am surprised to hear about those control arms busting, for as much as they want for those things, you would think they would hold up. I was looking into those guys mainly cause I want a lowered stance for my truck, somewhere around a 2-4 drop, but not for looks only, I want something that will better my handling also without messing up my alignment angles. If anyone has any good advice on that area, it would be appreciated. Some of my questions may sound absurd once in a while, but I have not seen my truck in months, and sometimes I forget dumb things. I am down here in Wyoming going to tech and the blue pig is at home in alaska waiting to be brought back to life. I do have 6 lug rims, so I will check out that web site for the 6 lug rotors. Now the search begins for a 71-72 parts truck. thanks guys. __________________ --70 C-10 Longbed --71 C-10 Longbed --72 K-20 Longbed --74 C-10 Shortbed --86 Toyota Tercel (His Driver) --05 Chevy Trailblazer (Her Driver)

04-24-2002, 05:50 PM	#2
j-dogg Registered User Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Texas Posts: 189	They went to 5 lug in 71. I did this conversion on my 70 last year and used an entire crossmember and all from a 72. The only problem I ran into was trying to use my original upper control arms... for some reason my truck different pivot shafts than the disc brake suspension, and they wouldn't work. For that reason and because the brake hose mounting brackets, which are located on the front of the disc brake crossmember as opposed to the rear for drum crossmember, I decided to use the whole '72 crossmember. I'm real picky about stuff like bracket location, and I can't weld so I couldn't fab up a new bracket. If you can weld and you want the bracket in the stock disc brake location, it should be no problem for you. Also, if you use a whole new crossmember, you may have to make one of the mounting holes on your frame a little bigger so that it will line up with the holes on your new crossmember. I can probably answer some more questions about this setup, just ask. Sorry, don't know anything about the custom stuff!

04-24-2002, 08:24 PM	#4
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Instead of going to 5 lug, you can keep your 6 lug rims by getting 6 lug rotors from http://www.gmcpaulstruckparts.com/ . ------------------ '69 G.M.C. 350/350. Trying to clean up the left over damage from the Dope-Smokin-Old-Man I've been dubbed the Longhorn Freak/Fanatic/Expert, I just hope I can live up to it. FINALLY got the HORNIAC...a '70 one ton Longhorn with a Pontiac 350/350 and lots of 'personality'. Check out The Longhorn Webite. If you need a pic posted, E-mail me at longhornmail@yahoo.com Andy, in Columbus Ohio



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