Want a disc brake kit for a 69 six lug...

[bandit0067]

Hi Guys, site newbie here, and I am understanding there are now kits available to swap out our original front drum brakes over to disc brakes on a six lug and keep most other front end steering parts OEM. Sounds like several companies are now supplying these, any opinions on which kit gives the best bang for the buck.....thanks

[jocko]

POL - Performance Online

[bandit0067]

thanks jocko, I was just looking at their kit and it stated it would not work with drum brake wheels......which is what I have the stock 6 lug. I tried to purchase some new 6 lug steel wheels from Summit a while back and found the new 6 lug wheels do not have the "center rim bumps" that hold on the dog dish hubcaps. And I yet to find any new ones that do. Now, I am not even sure those would work with a new , added disc brake setup. Even though my stock drum system is as good as I can make it.....I feel the need for much better braking. I still use this truck as a daily work truck.

[jocko]

You need used 71-87 K5/K10 steel wheels (not rallies, unless you want rallies). They are 6 lug and look the same as your original wheels except they have 4 nubs (instead of 3, but will retain stock caps), and clear the caliper (assuming you're buying a stock size disk kit - big brake kits require custom wheels usually).

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by bandit0067

Hi Guys, site newbie here, and I am understanding there are now kits available to swap out our original front drum brakes over to disc brakes on a six lug and keep most other front end steering parts OEM. Sounds like several companies are now supplying these, any opinions on which kit gives the best bang for the buck.....thanks

www.earlyclassic.com would be my choice.

[bandit0067]

Ok, thanks jocko. So any model with a K in it means 6 lug . Can an untrained eye look at a steel wheel and determine that is a 71 or later from a 70 or earlier wheel.
Also, any disc brake kit ordered will HAVE to include new spindles, either stock or dropped, is that right? I have seen several kits advertised that do not show spindles so not sure how that would work for any mod upgrade.

[demian5]

Scarebird classics. Its a caliper bracket and spacer that allows the use of parts you can actually buy from a parts store like autozone that are from later models trucks.

Sucks getting suckered into a kit, then have to go back to the supplier for fricken pads.

[RedRider]

Originally Posted by lolife99

www.earlyclassic.com would be my choice.

I'm in the same predicament, looking to upgrade my 70 6-lug. ECE would be my first choice if money wasn't a issue. With that though, I'm considering the Classic Performance Drop Spindle Kit 6370SWBK-6OE. Looks like it has everything, and is available via Summit so free shipping. $600 out the door isn't too bad.

[FRCvette]

I installed the ECE kit with 2 1/2" drop spindles two weeks ago. Things went really smooth and all parts as stated. Highly recommend.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by RedRider

I'm in the same predicament, looking to upgrade my 70 6-lug. ECE would be my first choice if money wasn't a issue. With that though, I'm considering the Classic Performance Drop Spindle Kit 6370SWBK-6OE. Looks like it has everything, and is available via Summit so free shipping. $600 out the door isn't too bad.

I have an ECE kit on my truck with their 6 lug rotors. It's been on my truck since 2004, and probably 60-70K miles, mostly cityish driving (so lots of braking). I've only ever had the PS shaved down once because a pad broke apart on me. They're heavy duty rotors that will last, not cheap autozone crap, but yes... $$$$.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by RedRider

I'm in the same predicament, looking to upgrade my 70 6-lug. ECE would be my first choice if money wasn't a issue. With that though, I'm considering the Classic Performance Drop Spindle Kit 6370SWBK-6OE. Looks like it has everything, and is available via Summit so free shipping. $600 out the door isn't too bad.

ECE sells a VERY complete kit.
The last one I helped install had everything I needed.
No chasing around auto parts stores for parts and pieces.

CPP is ok if you buy from a good source like Summit Racing.
Dealing with CPP directly has been a pain for me personally.
I'll never do it again.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by bandit0067

Ok, thanks jocko. So any model with a K in it means 6 lug . Can an untrained eye look at a steel wheel and determine that is a 71 or later from a 70 or earlier wheel.
Also, any disc brake kit ordered will HAVE to include new spindles, either stock or dropped, is that right? I have seen several kits advertised that do not show spindles so not sure how that would work for any mod upgrade.

Old pre-71 wheel on the left and '71-'87 wheels.

[bandit0067]

Thanks for the wheel foto s Lo, I think I can now identify the difference as to what I need. Thanks of the kit info guys, but I do not want to be held hostage to purchase additional pads from the supplier only.......so , do these kits mentioned allow for replacement pads from OEM parts.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by bandit0067

Thanks for the wheel foto s Lo, I think I can now identify the difference as to what I need. Thanks of the kit info guys, but I do not want to be held hostage to purchase additional pads from the supplier only.......so , do these kits mentioned allow for replacement pads from OEM parts.

Replacement parts are the same as any 71-87 2wd C10. The only difference is the 6-lug rotor. It's the same rotor as the 5-lug truck uses, except it's been drilled with the 6-lug pattern in the manufacturing process.
It's hard to believe it took the aftermarket industry so long to develop these parts.
Same with conversion spindles drilled with the drum brake balljoint and tie rod hole sizes.

[RedRider]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Replacement parts are the same as any 71-87 2wd C10. The only difference is the 6-lug rotor.

What about the ball joints? I'm reading on the CPP website:
Our upgrade kits use the more readily available, better designed 1973-87 ball joints
http://www.classicperform.com/NewPro...opSpindles.htm

I'm looking to get the disc conversion with the front-end rebuild (ball joints, tie rods, etc). If they send me 73-87 ball joints, then those won't work for my 1970 C10. Am I missing something here?

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by RedRider

What about the ball joints? I'm reading on the CPP website:
Our upgrade kits use the more readily available, better designed 1973-87 ball joints
http://www.classicperform.com/NewPro...opSpindles.htm

I'm looking to get the disc conversion with the front-end rebuild (ball joints, tie rods, etc). If they send me 73-87 ball joints, then those won't work for my 1970 C10. Am I missing something here?

CPP has been selling this kit for a long time. More profit for them because 73-87 stuff is cheaper. You also have to convert the outer tie rods which is easy on the 71-72 trucks. More complicated on the 63-70 trucks.
This was also before EVERY spindle company started making direct bolt on spindles for 60-70 C10s. Do your research. Look for customer complaints and bad reviews on CPP.
Call and talk to these companies and you will soon find out who knows these trucks and who just pushes parts.
ECE was where I ordered from in the mid 1980's on my first C10.
And they are still in business today,...

[RedRider]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Call and talk to these companies and you will soon find out who knows these trucks and who just pushes parts.
ECE was where I ordered from in the mid 1980's on my first C10.
And they are still in business today,...

ECE is just too pricey. Call me cheap, but I can't stomach $1k for their kit. The research has made my head spin (and installation may be another headache) I'll admit, but I can almost add a rear disc conversion kit with the money I'm saving.

[69BUCKET]

What about brake booster, master cylinder, brake lines?...

[RedRider]

Originally Posted by 69BUCKET

What about brake booster, master cylinder, brake lines?...

...definitely factors to consider. Seeing that I needed a prop valve and new front brake lines, I would definitely re-consider the ECE kit in retrospect.

[berch 69GMC]

I am considering these options also. I have the mghaueys kit in a shopping cart on Summit.

[69BUCKET]

I haven't checked Summit...but Early Classic has a 9" booster for my LS swap.