5 lug and 6 lug spindles and brake conversion?

[My F4i]

I have a 69 long bed with manual brakes and am looking to upgrade to power brakes. Ive been researching on here for a while and was wondering if 5 and 6 lug spindles are they same size (which I doubt). but I have also found a complete conversion kit for about 500$ and am wondering if that wouldnt just be the best way to go? Got any advice? Thanks.

[Jim_PA]

I used 71-72 spindles, tie rod ends, brakes, etc. on my '68. If I were to do it again, I would get a complete 73-87 front crossmember, and swap over the whole works.... power steering, engine mounts and all!

I have a 67 rolling frame I will perform this exact swap on... some day

I think in the end it would be cheaper. 71-72 ball joints were $60 or so a piece.

[72BlckButy]

My F4i... I would highly recommend a kit, if it's from a reputable business. With a kit all the guess work it taken out, that is, if it's a kit made for our era of trucks, and not a universal fit.

There's two different types of spindles: 67-70 and 71-72 (different tierod/balljoints)

On my '69 I purchased the 6-lug disc brake upgrade kit from ECE (Early Classic Enterprises) and the kit had everything I would need (minus bearing grease). Now one thing you need to understand is that when you add disc brakes to the front of a 67-70 it will widen the front trac by 1.5" overall (.75 on each side), meaning your wheels will be that much closer to the inner/outer fenders. To compensate for this we located a set of 15x7 6-lug wheels (tough to locate) and installed them. If you're planning on ordering a custom set of wheels for a 5/6 lug setup, then it won't be a problem.

If you decide to swap the front to 5 lug, you will need to do the same for the rear. For the rear, the rearends are different for the years as well: 67-70 (narrower) and 71-72 (wider since these trucks already had disc brakes on them). If you retain the '69 rearend you can contact ECE and order a set of 5 lug axles replacements for the narrower rearend. Or, you can swap in a 71-72 rearend. There again, if you are ordering a custom set of wheels the BS will not be a problem.

Refer to my build thread in my signature for the install of my kit with the help of a fellow board member.

[70 Suburban]

Are you wanting 5 or 6 lug for the front

[j_cst_10]

This got me interested, I have a complete front end off of a 72 C10 with disc brakes and 5 lug spindles. I also have a set of 5 lug 15x8 truck rally rims with 4" b.s. Will I be able to use these rims on the conversion to my 70 C10?

[70 Suburban]

Yep

[michael bustamante]

im doing the same conversion right now on my 67. I used 72 control arms and spindles, you also have to change your steering rack as the tie rod ends and angle are different, you also have to change the front end brake lines. to compensate for the width difference I put in a 72 5 lug rear end as well. once you notice the width difference between the new front end and the old rear endm itll eat at you until you fix it. Ill be using the 5 lug truck rallyes as well with 255-70-15 tires. (longbed)

[oldblue1968chevy]

I used a 72 parts truck,

if i were to do it again, id buy a kit for 500 WITH drop spindles..

[j_cst_10]

Sorry for hijacking this thread, what is different about the tie rod/steering rack assembly. I am kicking myself right now because I threw it away in the back of my parts 72 when the yard hauled it away. Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.................Damn it.

[michael bustamante]

the inner and outer tie rods have a thicker thread and they wont fit properly in the 72 hubs. as for the center link, I didnt see any difference but I changed it anyways in case the angle was different that I just couldnt see

[Smallz72project]

So I was getting ready to jump in my truck and head out to my 72 GMC to rob parts for my 67 chevy. I understand that the balljoints are different but will the 72 balljoint bolt into the 67 control arm? Secondly, so looks like I wont be robbing the axle shafts out of the 72 since as many have pointed out they are longer then the 67 housing but the GMC is also leaf so the kinda makes it pointless to rob the rear end as well. Guess its back to the drawing board...its always gotta be something.

[michael bustamante]

Originally Posted by Smallz72project

So I was getting ready to jump in my truck and head out to my 72 GMC to rob parts for my 67 chevy. I understand that the balljoints are different but will the 72 balljoint bolt into the 67 control arm? Secondly, so looks like I wont be robbing the axle shafts out of the 72 since as many have pointed out they are longer then the 67 housing but the GMC is also leaf so the kinda makes it pointless to rob the rear end as well. Guess its back to the drawing board...its always gotta be something.

its not hard to change the rear end from leaf to coil. you just have to grind off the leaf shackle mounts and position the trailing arm mounts on the axle assy and weld on. hardest part is centering them, Unless you dont have acces to a welder
the ball joints should mount into both the upper and the lower control arms just fine. but you would have to use 71-72 ball joints for sure

[Smallz72project]

Oh I just bought a new miller 211 with a tank so thats not the problem...just time is whats kicking me now. Anyone have a coil axle out of a 71 or 72 they want to trade straight across for a leaf spring!? that would be cool, mine has 3.73 gears.

[profe56]

I took the following parts from an 80 C10: upper control arms (balljoints were almost new),calipers,spindles, rotors,dust shields. I also had to change lower ball joints as well as outer tie rod ends and here is a little problem because 69 tie rod ends are 5/8 and 73-87 are 11/16 or 11/16 - 3/4 but you can solve this looking on classic performance parts catalogue for a custom adjusters sleeves and if you like to see how to do this they also have a PDF article about how to convert drums into disc brakes using 73-87 C10 parts good luck. I¨m not mechanic and I did it

[PHAT TONY]

As per the initial post;are you doing a drum to disc swap? If so, 5 lug rotors will fit the spindles.

[lowhoe]

I dont think this really appliys to you question but just for the info. im converting my 85 to 6 lug and all i had to was make sure i bought a drop spindle that used a 1 1/4" rotor and then ordered some 72 and prior 6 lug 1 1/4" rotors from early classic