6-lug to 5-lug questions,... (experts/gurus check-in)

[lolife99]

OK, experts,...
what do I need and where do I do my shopping.
My '69 swb is getting disc brakes and 5-lugs up front.
I know I need 5-lug axles out back.
What else do I need?

Do I just buy 71-72 brake drums?
Do I need 71-72 shoes and all the other brake hardware?
Are the backing plates the same?

And lastly,... who has the best deal on axles? ECE, Moser,... who?
Thanks, in advance,...

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by lolife99

OK, experts,...
what do I need and where do I do my shopping.
My '69 swb is getting disc brakes and 5-lugs up front.
I know I need 5-lug axles out back.
What else do I need?

Do I just buy 71-72 brake drums?
Do I need 71-72 shoes and all the othe brake hardware?
Are the backing plates the same?

And lastly,... who has the best deal on axles? ECE, Moser,... who?
Thanks, in advance,...

Not an expert, but I was able to buy 71-72 drums (both are 11" X 2") and everything thing else was the same (besides the axle of course). I welded up my 6 lug axles and machined down the hub diameter and drilled and reamed the 5 lug pattern in flange, so I don't know the best source for axles. I wanted to keep the narrower '69 axle so I will be able to run a wheel with a deeper dish on the front. I mention this because stock 71-72 axles are wider than the earlier 6 lug axles.

[jbristo67]

I bought some McGauphy drop spindles(on late model I always use beltech these were every bit as good). Then I went to a junk yard and got some 5 lug rotors off of a 94 Chevy 1500. I got my rotors for 20 dollars and got them turned for another 20. Rotors through LMC will cost about 120. 73 to 87 will use mostly 1 inch rotors and 88 to 98 will use inch and a quarter. When you order your spindles you will need to tell them if you plan to use 1 inch or 1 1/4 rotors. To be honest with you unless you have alot invested in your rearend I would just find a rear end out of a 71 or 72. You will easily have 400 in converting your rear end and I know where there are about 20 rear ends for about 200 complete. So it just comes down to finding one in your area. LEt me know if you have any more questions

[SCOTI]

Do I just buy 71-72 brake drums?

Yes.

Do I need 71-72 shoes and all the other brake hardware?

They're the same. If your original stuff still has service life.... use 'em.

Are the backing plates the same?

They're different for 71-72's. However, the replacement axle route makes it a non-issue (no need to change them).

And lastly,... who has the best deal on axles? ECE, Moser,... who?

Sorry.... no help here. Google & tell us!

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by jbristo67

To be honest with you unless you have alot invested in your rearend I would just find a rear end out of a 71 or 72. You will easily have 400 in converting your rear end and I know where there are about 20 rear ends for about 200 complete. So it just comes down to finding one in your area. LEt me know if you have any more questions

I actually agree with as well unless you have new internals in your rearend or just want the narrow one. . If wasn't machinist by trade, I would have probably just changed out the rearend. I have several 5 lug axles, but I only changed mine over because I specifically wanted the narrow axle.

[jbristo67]

If you have a grey hound stop close to you you could get one of these rear ends shipped to you for almost nothing. They have so many you could prob pick you ratio too. He is a board member if you think you might be interested let me know.

[67/72junkie]

lolife,you will be better off getting a 71/72 rearend unless you especialy want a narrower rearend for wider tires and deeper inset.67,68,69 and some of the earlier 70s had narrower rearends than 71/72 .some of the 70 models had the wider rearend and the axels will swap.You can also do as suggested and weld up your axels and drill for the 5 lug pattern then you would only have to swap out the brakes.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by jbristo67

.....To be honest with you unless you have alot invested in your rearend I would just find a rear end out of a 71 or 72. You will easily have 400 in converting your rear end and I know where there are about 20 rear ends for about 200 complete. So it just comes down to finding one in your area. LEt me know if you have any more questions

Originally Posted by 67_C-30

I actually agree with as well unless you have new internals in your rearend or just want the narrow one.

I disagree. If you swap to a used 5-lug rear end, you'll still want to pop the cover off to inspect everything.... right? So the only extra work to keep his orginal rear-end would be removing the retaining pin for the spider gears & c-clips for the axles.

He has a rear-end that he already knows about it's service life & it's already installed; it's just a different bolt pattern. Swapping in stronger than OE, brand new (zero wear @ the bearings) axles is a no brainer vs. a rear-end of unknown quality from a wrecking yard.

[lolife99]

thanks for all the replies.
SCOTI,... thanks for the specifics.
I have a 71-72 rearend,... I'm just trying to decide if the narrower 67-70 rearend is worth the extra money. I want to tuck my 15x10 truck ralleys.

[lolife99]

I agree with the new bearings idea.

Both of my rearend will require new brake parts.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by lolife99

I have a 71-72 rearend,...

Heck..... You don't even have to get drums then.

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

I disagree. If you swap to a used 5-lug rear end, you'll still want to pop the cover off to inspect everything.... right? So the only extra work to keep his orginal rear-end would be removing the retaining pin for the spider gears & c-clips for the axles.

He has a rear-end that he already knows about it's service life & it's already installed; it's just a different bolt pattern. Swapping in stronger than OE, brand new (zero wear @ the bearings) axles is a no brainer vs. a rear-end of unknown quality from a wrecking yard.

You make good points, but on a 40 year old truck unless you know who owned it all of its life, who really knows about service life? I know about as much about the rearends in the 5 trucks I drive as I do about the 6 parts trucks I have sitting in woods. I don't know what axles cost, maybe they are reasonably priced. I know new drums are going to be around $100, and if new axles and seals are only $250 - $300 then you are looking at $350 - $400. I can buy used axles for $150 all day long. If they are clean on the inside, turn smooth and freely, and the lash checks out, I have and will run the fool out of them. Its about how much you want to spend I guess.

There's still the issue of width though. Lolife says he may want the narrow rearend for same reason I did. However, if you change out the axles in a '69 rearend and just pop a set of 5 lug rallies on them, they sit further up in the wheelwells and don't look as good (IMO). If I wasn;t planning on running bigger, wider rims in the rear, I would want the 71-72 rearend.

[jbristo67]

Originally Posted by lolife99

thanks for all the replies.
SCOTI,... thanks for the specifics.
I have a 71-72 rearend,... I'm just trying to decide if the narrower 67-70 rearend is worth the extra money. I want to tuck my 15x10 truck ralleys.

how much narrower is it

[lolife99]

I believe about 3/4" per side. (1.5" total)

[lolife99]

Thanks again for all the input from everyone. I have a set of 15x10 (5" B.S) truck ralleys with new 275/60-15's that I had on my blazer. I want to use these on the '69. So I think the "narrower" rearend will be the way to go.
I'll have to check the condition of my 71-72 brake drums to see if they are useable. Hopefully new axles, bearings, seals will do it.

[Woody]

I have a 69 Short Fleet that has had the axles redrilled for 5 lug. It has worked fine except for one minor detail. I have 8" x 15" Rallys (Don't know the backspacing) on it with 275/60/15 tires. The inside of the rear tires will rub the inner side of the wheel tub when turning into a driveway and the rearend is twisted from climbing the curb.

So in my case I would like to have the wider axles to give me another 3/4" offset.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by 67_C-30

There's still the issue of width though. Lolife says he may want the narrow rearend for same reason I did. However, if you change out the axles in a '69 rearend and just pop a set of 5 lug rallies on them, they sit further up in the wheelwells and don't look as good (IMO). If I wasn;t planning on running bigger, wider rims in the rear, I would want the 71-72 rearend.

Hence why I suggested changing the axles/drums for the narrower 6-lug rear*. I pretty much always prefer the rear end as short as possible w/the correct BS on the wheels for a deeper 'lip' on the rear of these trucks.

I still stand by my recommendation of using what you have if it's a pre-69 truck unless you know the rear-end is junk. Even @ 1yr of service under my ownership, I would still feel better vs one that came from a pile of rears.

*I actually thought he aready had a shorter width housing installed & he just wanted to get it to 5-lug.

[lolife99]

SCOTI,... You are correct. The original 6-lug "narrower" rearend is in the truck already. I just want to go to 5-lug. My old '71 swb is getting parted out. I had thought about using that rearend,... but it has a pretty good leak at the pinion seal and I don't know much about it.

[72BlckButy]

Great thread lolife99!

[lts70]

Here is a post with some prices and links for you.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=326098

[Gumby'sC20]

Hey guys,

Just would like to chime in here for a second. I just sourced out and am going to pick up this weekend a 67 chevy rear-end. It's 3.63 vs. my 3/4 ton's 4.11...ideal for some quicker speed. Here's the Link

The question is: is the 3.63 going to be narrower than my '71's 4.11 just based on what year truck they came on?

[lolife99]

Its70,... thanks for the link!

[gcburdic]

Hey lolife,

I think someone did a write up rebuilding the front suspension (including disks etc) with part numbers etc from a local auto part store....cost him like $600 for everything....I'll try and find it for you, unless you would rather go another route?!?!...I'll look for the thread....

[HuggerCST]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Thanks again for all the input from everyone. I have a set of 15x10 (5" B.S) truck ralleys with new 275/60-15's that I had on my blazer. I want to use these on the '69. So I think the "narrower" rearend will be the way to go.
I'll have to check the condition of my 71-72 brake drums to see if they are useable. Hopefully new axles, bearings, seals will do it.

I understand why you want the narrow rearend, and I agree, but if you want to run that backspace/tire, I think the wider rearend is going to be what you need. I have the wider rear in my 70, and with 5 & 1/2" backspace, I only have about 1/2" of clearance between my tubs and tire. If I had the 1 & 1/2" narrower axle, they wouldn't fit, and if my math is correct, that's only going to give you 1/4" of clearance.(If you don't have too much tire buldge)

[scottrod71]

Hey lolife, for my .02. I bought a pair of 5 lug axles from ECE and was very impressed with the quality and service. You definately need to measure your old axle for length (and spline count?) as I ended up with the wrong one on the first attempt. Also, somebody mentioned used rotors at $20 and then paying $20 more to resurface. Man, that is too high in my book. You can buy the new 5 lug rotors all day for that or less at any NAPA or O'Reilly's. I think most vendors are around $750 - $800 for a complete front end conversion kit. If I remember right, I think I ended up with about $1100 for the kit plus a couple of rear axles.