Drum to Disc Conversion

[cobra1966]

Hello

Does anyone out here have the best Drum to Disc Conversion? I have a 72 C-10. It has the 5 bolt Pattern.Truck came with a 350. I have heard of many but let me get some final opinions. Thanks to everyone


Lewis

[Monte Carlo Man]

The question is - what are you talking about. We are not mind readers here.

If the truck is 1971 or newer, it might already have front disc brakes. Especially if it was four wheel drive.

The rear - you need to buy a kit and weld it on.
That takes an experienced welder to weld the brackets to the tubes and speedway motors sells a kit where they even sell you a kit that shims the brake calipers for you - so all you have to do is mount it to the rotor and weld in place. Those are the best kits you can get.

The front spindles - can be replaced with disc brake spindles out of a 1973 to 77 chevy truck with no other modifications - other then maybe replacing the ball joints or tie rod ends or center link.

[69GMC910]

I'm looking at doing the same thing to my 69 in the front end with a donor 70 chev. I assume it is a straight across bolt on??

[cobra1966]

Monte Carlo Man

You are right. I did not tell you this was for the rear axle. I do have front disc.

Lewis

[jamie72]

most rear kits are bolt in...

[cobra1966]

What is being mostly used?

Lewis

[mpauly]

Originally Posted by 69GMC910

I'm looking at doing the same thing to my 69 in the front end with a donor 70 chev. I assume it is a straight across bolt on??

1970 are drums up front.

[blime81]

All 72s were discs.

Board Member CaptFab makes a few different kits for the rear ends. No welding. They are based on a few different caliper/rotor combos. You supply the calipers/rotors.
D52/Astro Van http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=398352
Camaro http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=382633
Impala SS http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...77#post3259777

I have been toying with the idea of getting his D52/Astro van rotor setup. I think this is probably the best bet for a truck. Probably pull my front calipers and put them on the back and then get a set of wilwood D52s for the front.

Make sure you do your homework on whatever kit you get. Many of the kits out there require you to have the axles or flanges machined for everything to line up right (Mcgaughys, CPP, etc.) I was planning on going the CaptFab route just because of this.

[Kidd-7]

I have a 72 w/ front disc rear drum; What about swapping out the rear end with one set up for disc's?

[leddzepp]

Most rear disk brake kits do NOT have an e-brake.

[68 TT]

Originally Posted by Kidd-7

I have a 72 w/ front disc rear drum; What about swapping out the rear end with one set up for disc's?

This would be more work than it is worth as the newer rear disc equipped rear ends are not the right width and have the wrong mount brackets on them. Sure you could make one fit and work but the cost of the rear end plus the time to do the work would be much more than a rear disc kit to fit your current rear end.

CaptFab's parts are top notch and easy to install. The Astro van rotor / D52 caliper kit is probably the one you should look into.

[68 TT]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

Most rear disk brake kits do NOT have an e-brake.

You can use the 76-78 El Dorado D52 rear brake calipers with integral parking brake mechanisms (if you can find a set) with the Astro van rotor / D52 caliper bracket kits from Captainfab.

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=398352

I heard somebody was selling new sets of the El Dorado calipers for $200 for the pair but don't remember the source.

[rodstored-72]

i have a '72 swb with a stock (i believe) rearend. i purchased the CPP rear disk brake kit & also got the e-brake cables for it as well. the kit went on very easy (although the instructions are a little vague). i would recommend it if you can afford it, it was around $600 when i purchased the kit.
well anyways good luck!

[raycow]

Before committing to one path or the other, I would want to see an actual cost comparison for a factory disc rear + welding on the suspension brackets vs. aftermarket caliper mounting brackets + calipers with a parking brake + rotors + machining the stock truck shafts to accept the rotors.

Of course if you can do the welding yourself, I think the complete rear end swap would be a no-brainer, cost-wise.

According to this thread, the full size car disc rears are very close to the width of our stock truck rears.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=417493

The Camaro rears are pretty close to stock width too, but they have a 4-3/4" bolt circle.

Ray

[68 TT]

Originally Posted by raycow

Before committing to one path or the other, I would want to see an actual cost comparison for a factory disc rear + welding on the suspension brackets vs. aftermarket caliper mounting brackets + calipers with a parking brake + rotors + machining the stock truck shafts to accept the rotors.

Of course if you can do the welding yourself, I think the complete rear end swap would be a no-brainer, cost-wise.

According to this thread, the full size car disc rears are very close to the width of our stock truck rears.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=417493

The Camaro rears are pretty close to stock width too, but they have a 4-3/4" bolt circle.

Ray

The factory truck disc rear ends sell for a fortune up here. The wrecking yards get $900 to $1200 for one and they don't come with the brakes.

Car-part.com has a few new ones for $1500 with brakes but the cheapest ones I found that are not damaged were still $500 and those had many miles on them.

Cost break down for disc brake conversion:
$242 - D52 caliper / Astro van bolt on brackets from Captainfab
$33 x 2 - new Astro van brake rotors
$13 x 2 - new 76 to 78 Eldorado rear caliper hoses
$31 x 2 - rebuilt D52 brake calipers including core charge
_______
$396 w/o parking brake

Swap out the truck calipers for 76 to 78 Eldorado calipers with e-brakes
$242 - D52 caliper / Astro van bolt on brackets from Captainfab
$33 x 2 - new Astro van brake rotors
$13 x 2 - new 76 to 78 Eldorado rear caliper hoses
$100 x 2 - rebuilt Eldorado calipers with e-brakes including core charge
_______
$534 with parking brake

You can also pick up used calipers & rotors if you are on a really tight budget. I picked up a set of Eldorado calipers for $7 each and the Astro rotors for $13 each at a pull it yourself wrecking yard. That will cut my cost down to just $308. I will most likely use the calipers as cores so that will bump the cost up to $474 with e-brakes.

It is good to know the Impala rear end fits too. That is definitely an option if you can track one down in good shape.

[raycow]

68 TT, thank you very much for that cost breakdown. Actually, I was thinking about the car disc rears, not truck, because I knew the truck rears were too wide. I had no clue they were that expensive though.

Ray

[68 TT]

Originally Posted by raycow

68 TT, thank you very much for that cost breakdown. Actually, I was thinking about the car disc rears, not truck, because I knew the truck rears were too wide. I had no clue they were that expensive though.

Ray

The rear ends are the first or second thing to go on the newer half ton rigs. The trans is the other weak link. It is a toss up with which one goes first. Both in good shape go for a pretty penny used.