Need disc brake conversion expertise

[Streudels68]

I've asked for info about doing a disc brake conversion before, but I haven't been able to decide what I should do as far as the parts go. I'm pretty sure I want to use the parts off of a donor vehicle, but I've heard some say that you can only use parts off of a 71-72 C-10, while others say components off a Caprice, a 73-87 C-10, etc. Does anybody know without a doubt what I can use?? I'm using drop spindles and possibly springs, so other than that do I just need the calipers, rotors, and hoses. I'll buy that stuff new anyway, so do I simply buy the ball joints, tie rods, and brakes hoses for a 71-72 Chevy C-10 or what? It seems like doing that would be a lot cheaper than buying a "disc brake conversion kit" from say LMC or Brother's. I think I'm making something that is very simple very confusing for myself. Probably b/c I've heard so many different options. I just want to know EXACTLY what I need to get using the stock control arms and new drop spindles. If anyone can help me out I'd really appreciate it. I'd also like some opinions on whether I should go 5 or 6 lug. I'd rather go 6 lug so I don't have to buy new wheels right away, but if there is some MAJOR advantage to switching to a 5 lug I'll just have to figure something out for wheels.

I've got to go work on my honey-do list so I'll have to sign out for a while, but I'll be back!!

[ah_5500]

as far as worrying about wheels you can usually get some old 5 lug rallys for under 100 bucks on craiglist. i dont know about using caprice parts except for the rearend because they are 5 lug and more narrow. anything from your year through 87 will work with stock arms. i just did this with drop spindles for a 73-87 and all parts were for 73-87 with 1.25 rotors. lower ball joints press right in just make sure to keep them perfectly straight or they will be sloppy. and the upper control arm needs to be opened up more where the ball joint goes in at (not the bolt holes). also youll need tie-rod adapters and a disc/drum brake proportioning valve. also check this website for pricing and comparing http://www.classicperform.com

[ah_5500]

i bought everything brand new and have a good bit tied up in it and a "kit" wouldnt be too mmuch more. plus usually with a kit you can get some nice fancy rotors and/or calipers.

[Streudels68]

I suppose if a kit isn't that much more than buying all of the parts separately I'll just go that route. That way I won't have to alter the control arms at all. Thanks man. I appreciate the feedback

[57larry]

just buy a complete front end from a 73-86 and swap it for yours, a bolt in for discs

[TobyArnot]

Buttin' in here,
I see that Brothers sells a dropped spindle that works with the early ball joints and tie-rod ends.
http://www.brotherstrucks.com/prodin...number=DLS6370
Would that help down the cost of a disk conversion?
It would appear that you would need only the rotors, calipers, bearings and seals from a '71 up. to complete the setup?? Where am I off-base?
Thanks for the help.

[nightmare]

I went the cheap route when I converted my '69 from drums to discs. I purchased an '84 front end for about $50 and basically rebuilt the entire thing. I didn't use the engine cradle, but everything else. Four new ball joints, new rubber bushings for the upper and lower control arms, new bump stops, new inner and outer tie rod ends, new pitman arm, new idler arm, and new rotors, all for an '84. I bought new calipers, front brake hoses, and the master cylinder for a '72. I also had to buy adapters to adapt the disc brake rubber hoses to the drum brake steel hard lines on the front. I purchased all the replacement parts from the local O'Reillys for about $250. Of course I reused the stock '84 spindles.

I ordered the disc/drum proportioning valve from CPP, as I needed a new proportioning valve for the discs. That was about $80.

Everything bolted right in and I did all the work myself.

[oldblue1968chevy]

Do you wanna lower it?

Are you planning on replacing the bj tie rod ends etc?

Id get something like a conversion spindle maybe or get a 73-87 frontend if ihad to do it again..

I had a 72 parts truck, I put 72 bj in my 68 control arms and took the steering stuff off the 72 and the MC etc etc, ended up having to buy all new

so in the long run its just about cheaper and simpler to buy a kit, it comes down to how much $ ya wanna spend

[TobyArnot]

Yea, I'm thinking . . . (that's trouble), My new truck seems to drive O.K. , just won't stop (drum/drum). I believe the ball-joints and tie-rod ends are fine, I just want to cut one coil, add a dropped spindle and basic disc brakes. I'm assuming that the Brothers spindle uses '72 and up rotors, etc. I think I'll call them on Monday and see if they have a "parts list" for the brake conversion.
.
Thanks for all the input

I don't think I'm physically up to changing out the whole x-member. That's sounds like a good upgrade, but a boat-load of work.

[oldblue1968chevy]

Ok then if I were u id get the conversion drop spindle, a 6 lug rotor calipers prop vavle mc new soft lines bearing seals pads maybe new hard lines while your there and a swaybar if you dont have that either (HUGE UPGRADE)

[nightmare]

Originally Posted by TobyArnot

... I don't think I'm physically up to changing out the whole x-member. That's sounds like a good upgrade, but a boat-load of work.

There really isn't a need to swap the entire x-member. The x-members on the 67-70 and 71-87 are the same, with the exception of 2 bolt holes on the newer ones on the bottom that would need to be elongated.

The upper and lower control arms from 73-87 are a straight bolt on. There is no excess modification that needs to be performed.

[red69ss]

have you checked early classics enterprises they have the complete kits, I believe cpp does too.
http://www.earlyclassic.com/catalog.aspx heres a link to the ece kit

[oldblue1968chevy]

Ece ftw

[Streudels68]

So basically what I have gathered from this conversation is that I might as well buy a conversion kit.

[nightmare]

Originally Posted by Streudels68

So basically what I have gathered from this conversation is that I might as well buy a conversion kit.

It looks like the kits from ECE include everything, even the master cylinder and proportioning valve. It's also very pricey. Most other kits are cheaper, but don't include them, and they are required when going from drums to discs.