New question about Disc brake spindle cross

[red211]

I am swapping in an 87 cross member assembly to my 63 for disc brakes and ps. Now I find I have 1” rotors so I can’t use six lug rotors to keep my wheels which I like. I have found three donor vehicles with 1 1/4 rotors, but they are on 1996 2500 five lug vans. Control arms, calipers, rotors and the way the sway bar hooks to control arms looks exactly like the square body. They have one 86 van that looks the same but rotors are gone so I can’t verify if it had 1 1/4. Will van spindles be the same? Sure looks like it but don’t want to take them off and pay to find out they are wrong. What do the experts think?

[red211]

No one wants to touch this? I have to go back in the morning and was hoping to get someone with much more knowledge than Me before I pull the trigger.

[Captainfab]

I do know that a '86 van spindle is the same as a '73-'87 truck spindle, but I'm not sure about the '96. I'll have to do some checking.

Edit: I'm finding some conflicting info on the 1996 van. Most info says that the G series vans ended with the 1995 model year. However I did find a few pics of supposed 1996 vans in which some looked like the earlier G series vans and some looked like the Express/Savana van. If the one you found looks like the earlier vans, it might be worth the chance of taking the spindles.

[red211]

Thanks for the reply. Just looked at my pics and one is an 86, one a 95 and one a 96. They all are 20s but five lug 1-1/4 rotors and control arms out look exactly like 87 back square body. I am heading that way first thing this morning to snag a set with calipers. Going to grab a propositioning valve and a rag joint for my steering box since my donor one was gone and I think the 63 is different. Will update if they work since these could be an good addition to the suspension swap sticky. Can’t have too much info on these and vans are not picked over like the trucks are and not as beat on usually. All three of these are conversion vans and two look good all around. Heck no one has even left a door open and got them wet inside. Shame I don’t need some old school captain chairs!!!😉
Posted via Mobile Device

[red211]

Pulled the trigger and got spindle assemblies with rotors and calipers. I will swap six lug rotors but never know if I might go to five in the future I have some. Will let Y'all know how they work when I get a chance to compare them.

[MikeB]

Check with Early Classic Enterprises. I think they used to offer a 6-lug rotor for 73-87 spindles. Not sure if it was 1" or 1.25".

[red211]

Will do, are the six lug 3/4 ton rotors the same? I checked with orielleys today and they list that one and thickness is 1 1/4, just not sure if it fits spindle or are the six lug rotors an aftermarket deal?

[Captainfab]

There are a few vendors that sell the 6 lug rotors for the '71-'87 1-1/4" spindles.

While the '88-'98 light duty C2500 rotors will physically fit the '71-'87 spindles, they will NOT line up with the calipers. This has been discussed several times in the "Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread".

[red211]

Thanks for that, I have been reading but missed that tidbit of info. Like to support those that keep this place going and at the rate I'm moving a few extra days won't make a difference.