Unusual question.... 6 lug Rotors?

[jorgensensc]

In my never ending search for wheels I have just run across some custom made 6 lug 15 x 8 steel wheels powdercoated white with 4.5" BS. My rear is 6 lug, but my front is 5 lug conversion using crossmember from 73-87 truck. Can I purchase 6 lug disc rotors for the front? If so what do I need to look for. Would they be for a 4x4 of those years? I may jsut stick to 6 lug all the way around. Help me figure it out please.
Shawn

[bryanw1968]

I still run 6 lug all the way around on the '68 and did the disc conversion on the front. I'm not sure about 4X4 spindles but I got mine from Early Classic.
Running ralleys from a '71 4X4 with '89 suburban trim rings and '05 6-lug center caps.

Check the link in my sig if you wanna check em' out.

Good luck,
B

[jorgensensc]

I looked on the zones website and it shows the rotors are 6 lug in the front, so lets talk spindles, it seems this may be getting more dificult..... I do want to get drop spindles, so I guess now I need to look for drop 6 lug spindles and 6 lug rotors... This is going to be costly!!
Shawn

[Ole Blue 68]

Why go back to 6 lug on the front? Why not go to 5 lug on the back? All you'd need is some used 5 lug axles and some 5 lug drums so it would probably be cheaper.

[jorgensensc]

Never mind.. Crack kills. The rotors have the studs, I don't need the spindles right?

[jorgensensc]

5 lug axles are 300.00. + drums+ diff gasket+ axle seals when I screw mine up. If I can change the front rotors for 25.00 I can get the wheels for hopefully 100.00. Then I just need to lower the ride hieght. There isn't a real benefit to 5 lug except the more choice in wheels. I could save the axle money and get the lowering spindles and front and rear springs. The lugs will be covered anyway, so nobody has to no. Shhhh don't tell anyone.

[Tx Firefighter]

You need a pair of 6 lug rotors. They are not a stock rotor. You have to get them from a specialty place that deals in our old trucks. These rotors will use the same bearings and seals you have now in your 5 lug rotors.

[jorgensensc]

Tx,
I have the crossmember and disc brakes from a 73 + truck. Do I still need the rotors from a specialty place for our trucks? I thought the 4x4 had 6 lug on the 73 + trucks. Will that rotor not fit with the brake calipers, etc?
Shawn

[Big D]

I think the rotors for a 4x4 are a completely different setup, the center section is way larger to allow the axle to pass thru.

I know I have seen someone that sells 6 bolt rotors that fit your front end. I'm thinking that I saw them advertised in Classic Trucks magazine for around 200 bucks including new calipiers and pads.

[Classic Heartbeat]

jorgensensc, It is my understanding that the Ball joints and tie rods ends from 71 to 87 are the same. If that is true you can purchase 71-72 2 1/2 drop spindles. The 6 lug rotors will work with the 71-72 drop spindles. We put together custom kits for our customers to save them money. For example, I will put a disk brake conversion kit together using 71-72 lowering spindles, and 63-70 6 lug rotors. The kit also includes the calipers, brake pads, bearings, seals, dust caps, castle nuts, and cotter pins. All for the same price as a 63-70 disk brake conversion kit. Let me know if you are interested. WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com

[70C10Toejam]

6 bolt rotors are the same as 5's...same bearings, seals. But you have to get them aftermarket. Got mine a few weeks ago from CPP for $119 +shipping. They will fit all disk spindles w/ 1 1/4 inch 5 bolt rotors.

[Bus Ted Knuckle]

Looking at part numbers before I swapped my truck to disk, this is what I found:

67-70 ball joints are the same. 71-72 ball joints are the same. 73-87 ball joints are the same. All three sets of years ball joints are different than each other. But any year ball joints will interchange with any year A-arms. Just make sure that you get the ball joints that are the same year as the spindles that you use. And, 4x4 rotors and 2wd rotors are totally different. Don't let anybody tell you that you can use early 90's 3/4 ton rotors either (that info has been floating around some... ) those rotors use a seperate sealed hub and will not work.

If you are dead set on having 6 lug disk, go with the aftermarket rotors.

[70C10Toejam]

I have seen the 3/4 ton spindles and rotors, they are on the LIGHT DUTY (7600lb gross I believe) 2500's, sometimes listed as 2500 W/T. I did go to NAPA and compare the 6 bolt rotors to the standard 5 bolt ones. The 6 bolt 3/4 ones have a different backspace (for lack of another description) from the rotor to the inside bearing race. That is why they are not direct replacements for this swap. research is necessary to make sure they don't have the more current sealed hub assembly your are refering to.

I believe the available years are '88-'92.

[Bus Ted Knuckle]

yeah, I'm talking about the light duty ones (7200 lb) they have a seperate hub, at least from the early 90's (earlier than that I do not know). I think 91 was the year I looked at in the parts store. I dunno

[70C10Toejam]

Knowing GM, they could have started using them in '88, and no one has noticed yet