upgrade 57 3100, 6 lug drums to disc cheaply

[sqrlnts]

Searched and only found one thread. Looking for a cheap OEM way to convert 6 lug drums to disc keeping the stock spindles.

Will be contacting ECI hot rod brakes tomorrow as they have a kit listed but no price. Truck is still solid axle with leafs. Thanks in advance for the advice.

[cheapoheapo]

i just put in the disc brake setup from speedway i love it so far liked the price 2 keepin straight axle just the way grandpa liked it on the farm i still have to order a brake master cyl kit wanna find the rearend first lookin @ %^&* explorer

[sqrlnts]

What year did you put it on? Did you have any issues with rim to disc or caliper fitment?

[mr48chev]

This rotor http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...0062&ppt=C0009

Fits 72/87 Chevy six lug 4x4 front ends. It has a four inch center hole. If the center hole is too big a guy would have to have a machine shop make a pair of rings that would fit between the hub and the rotor but that shouldn't be all that hard to have one

That rotor is 11.86 diameter so the regular 11 inch brake caliper brackets won't work but it shouldn't be that hard to come up with brackets.

[mr48chev]

A bit of hunting shows that the center of the 4x4 rotor is 4.0 inches while the hub on the 56 Chevy front brakes is 3.56. That means that while the rotor should slip on the hub one would have to have a ring made to take up the .44 inch difference meaning that the ring would have a .220 wall thickness.

I've got a message in to the guys who made my caliper brackets to put disk brakes on the back of my 71 3/4 ton and who do really nice work to see if they can come up with something that guys could use.

[sqrlnts]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

A bit of hunting shows that the center of the 4x4 rotor is 4.0 inches while the hub on the 56 Chevy front brakes is 3.56. That means that while the rotor should slip on the hub one would have to have a ring made to take up the .44 inch difference meaning that the ring would have a .220 wall thickness.

I've got a message in to the guys who made my caliper brackets to put disk brakes on the back of my 71 3/4 ton and who do really nice work to see if they can come up with something that guys could use.

Thanks mr48chev your on to something, I have a dude near me who does machine work at $25/hr plus materials. I know he could whip up something quick like. My biggest concern is if my 15x6 steelies would clear a caliper on this rotor or if I would have to run spacers a well. What type of front caliper would you recommend? With those two pieces I could mock this up and check spacing as well as get an idea for the caliper bracket. Thanks again for your help.

[cheapoheapo]

ok let me start by saying 1959 stepside this kit from speedway converts 6lug to 5lug disc the kit was very straight froward and fit great i put cragars 15"wheels with no problems looks great im very satisfied the kit cost 3 bills wheels and tires ran650

[robin58]

You might get some ideas from this thread (http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=244114) which while it deals with 88-98 6 lug models, lists some pretty decent resources by kevhill85.

[sqrlnts]

Originally Posted by robin58

You might get some ideas from this thread (http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=244114) which while it deals with 88-98 6 lug models, lists some pretty decent resources by kevhill85.

Thanks for the lead but all his links are dead, they must be too old. I will try to contact him directly.

[cadman89]

I did this several years ago using the kit from CPP . I also upgraded the bearings from ball to roller.








I have all the pictures here
http://www.jalopyweb.com/cpp/

Cadman

[sqrlnts]

Originally Posted by cadman89

I did this several years ago using the kit from CPP . I also upgraded the bearings from ball to roller.

I have all the pictures here
http://www.jalopyweb.com/cpp/

Cadman

Nice conversion. I have to think there is a way to piece this together for under $375. I also don't like the fact that they say "Some stock wheels may rub the caliper, it may be necessary to use a spacer. May not work with some stock wheels". as I want to run stock 15" steelies.

Cadman, what rims are you running on your conversion? Did you have any fitment issues with the wheels?
Thanks!

[cadman89]

I am using 15x8 Chevy/GMC Factory 6 lug 4x4 wheels off a silverado





I used spinners to cover up the 4X4 logos and have had no problems.

I also swapped (Bolted in) in a 88 GMC rear end that was 2 inches wider and they work.

[cadman89]

[QUOTE=sqrlnts;5291886] I have to think there is a way to piece this together for under $375. I also don't like the fact that they say "Some stock wheels may rub the caliper, it may be necessary to use a spacer. May not work with some stock wheels". as I want to run stock 15" steelies.
[QUOTE]

Well.. Bracket's should not be too hard to make with only a slight bend in them.





I suppose the front spacer ring might be made from your old drums by cutting the center out....



And you'll have to pound in some longer lug studs.



But WOW did it make a difference in how the truck stopped even with the original master cyllinder. I later upgraded to a power booster..

[sqrlnts]

Originally Posted by cadman89

But WOW did it make a difference in how the truck stopped even with the original master cyllinder. I later upgraded to a power booster..

When you did your bearing upgrade did you happen to write down the new style bearing part numbers? I am trying to piece a kit together at a local bearing house. Thanks for the pictures.
Thanks again.

[cadman89]

Originally Posted by sqrlnts

When you did your bearing upgrade did you happen to write down the new style bearing part numbers? I am trying to piece a kit together at a local bearing house. Thanks for the pictures.
Thanks again.

I think I might have kept the boxes they came in..... I can take a look around this weekend.


Hmmmmm.....


Looks like: 909067R for the outside bearing and National 3054 ??? seal

[LDO]

Don't mean to hijack but (Cadman) is there anything needed besides the CPP kit? Just curious if I need to get wheel studs or anything like that when doing this mod.

[cadman89]

Originally Posted by LDO

Don't mean to hijack but (Cadman) is there anything needed besides the CPP kit? Just curious if I need to get wheel studs or anything like that when doing this mod.

The CPP kit came with everything including brake lines... they did send the wrong brake hose bolts ..Quick trip to the auto parts store..



The bearing kit was a seperate item that could be purchased much cheeper when I get the other part numbers...

[robin58]

Originally Posted by sqrlnts

Thanks for the lead but all his links are dead, they must be too old. I will try to contact him directly.

The individual specific links may be dead, but the sites are still up, e.g.

http://www.smileysracing.com/shopping/?page=1&ic=1226

http://www.kore3.com/products.php?pg=9

It may take some piecing together to figure out exactly what he was referring to but pretty sure all those items are still around including the impala 6 lug rotors he suggests from summitracing.

[LDO]

I believe the original post was for a front brake mod, the last few links are for a rear disk mod correct? Or is it the same stuff?

I'm very interested in the PNs needed for the tapered bearings...

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by sqrlnts

Nice conversion. I have to think there is a way to piece this together for under $375. I also don't like the fact that they say "Some stock wheels may rub the caliper, it may be necessary to use a spacer. May not work with some stock wheels". as I want to run stock 15" steelies.

Thanks!

I've had trouble in the past with non disk brake oem wheels not clearing the calipers in some cases in the past and had to run a spacer. That was real common in the early 70's when some of the custom wheels had to have a spacer to clear calipers because they were designed for drum brakes.

The place that I have the email into is a shop that already does disk brake conversion calipers for the rear of these trucks and I have a pair for my 3/4 ton that are quite well done.
I asked if they could make some up like this:

That were blank in the center with just a pilot hole where they would center on the spindle. It may be that someone could make a pattern and send it to them so that they could cut the holes so it was pretty much a bolt on.
That might turn it into where the cost would be for rotors, calipers, brackets and brake hoses which shouldn't go much over 200/250 with new parts with a bit of diligent shopping. That and outside of the bracket you could walk into your local auto parts store and buy everything except the caliper bracket.

[sqrlnts]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

I've had trouble in the past with non disk brake oem wheels not clearing the calipers in some cases in the past and had to run a spacer. That was real common in the early 70's when some of the custom wheels had to have a spacer to clear calipers because they were designed for drum brakes.

The place that I have the email into is a shop that already does disk brake conversion calipers for the rear of these trucks and I have a pair for my 3/4 ton that are quite well done.
I asked if they could make some up like this:
That were blank in the center with just a pilot hole where they would center on the spindle. It may be that someone could make a pattern and send it to them so that they could cut the holes so it was pretty much a bolt on.
That might turn it into where the cost would be for rotors, calipers, brackets and brake hoses which shouldn't go much over 200/250 with new parts with a bit of diligent shopping. That and outside of the bracket you could walk into your local auto parts store and buy everything except the caliper bracket.

Exactly, I am interested to hear what your machine shop says. Do you physically have that bracket in the picture?

[LDO]

not to hijack this thread but in reference to the wheels not fitting calipers, is this for the front or rear? Reason I ask is because I would like to run 15x8 corvette style rally wheels sold by summit racing. Are these considered 'stock' wheels and does anyone know if there are clearance issues? The 16x8 sold by summit bump the price up considerably.

[sqrlnts]

Originally Posted by LDO

not to hijack this thread but in reference to the wheels not fitting calipers, is this for the front or rear? Reason I ask is because I would like to run 15x8 corvette style rally wheels sold by summit racing. Are these considered 'stock' wheels and does anyone know if there are clearance issues? The 16x8 sold by summit bump the price up considerably.

I started the thread about front disc brakes, sorry I am no help on the vette rally wheels.

[yossarian19]

I have heard that the 73 Blazer 4x4 front brakes will work and, with bracket, are sold as a kit by one of the popular suppliers. Have not independently verified, though conversationally the guy I heard it from seems to know what he is about.

It seems to me that any center bore differences will not be too big a deal provided that the lug holes are the proper diameter. A spacer ring would be ideal but once you bolt the wheel on over the rotor it should sit correctly without it, I'd think. Probably talk to your local fabrciation / machine shop and have them make the spacer at the same time as the bracket.