DIY Disc Brake Conversion

[mikec4193]

Here is a fellow on EBAY who is selling a disc brake setup for the next version up from the truck we are all building here..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/350973126802...S:1123&vxp=mtr

I have talked to the seller and he seems to think it would work on the AD style trucks. He is even offering up just the brackets for sale so I can see if they do fit...

What do you guys think???

MikeC

[mechanixman]

Get a set for me!

[whitedog76]

I know I'm a terrible critic, but I kind of like it.

One of the problems I ran into early on was making a bracket that would clear the axle when turning. It looks like they solved that by notching it and offsetting around the steering arm.

I would've liked to seen a bigger caliper, but no sense in splitting hairs. Our trucks weight less than 4000 lbs. The 3/4 tons only about 3600 lbs.

Looks like an S10 caliper, which is what alot of the 1/2 tons use. Should work good.

[mechanixman]

I was concerned also, but I realized I can just add some material to it and fit my calipers. No worries!

[mikec4193]

Originally Posted by mechanixman

I was concerned also, but I realized I can just add some material to it and fit my calipers. No worries!

Hey Mechanixman

I got my caliper brackets from the vendor (I had talked about earlier)and they look great...looks like 3/8" thick plate and it is anodized too....I am going to try and post some pictures on here if you dont mind...In his ad he said they were for the 1955 style 8 lug pickup truck...I am hoping they will adapt to the 48-54 stuff without too much problems.
He sent me all the fasteners too.
I am thinking if I can figure this thing out I might buy the rest of the parts from him.
He told me the calipers were from a Chevy Suburban and the rotors were from a K20 truck...Dont quote me on that..I will have to check my notes..

He seems to be a real straight shooter too.

MikeC

[whitedog76]

What kind of price did he have on them?

[mikec4193]

This is the complete caliper bracket kit as it arrived at my place
another view
another view
An end view kinda...he also sent some hardware as shown in the first pic and some steel spacers...quality wise...I am very impressed...
This kit was sold to me for $125.00
Oh yeah I just went back and looked at my notes from him and he said the kit was to have Chevy Suburban rotors and 1982 K10 calipers...
So all you 1 ton AD guys will this stuff fit??...I am new at this stuff so we are all learning together...

[whitedog76]

Looks like the same rotor you would find on the 2000 and newer trucks, burbs, and 03 and newer vans.

[mikec4193]

Hey Whitedog

The vendor that sold me the caliper brackets told me the rotors have part no. of 4886830 which when I was on the NAPA auto parts website came up as a 8 lug rotor. He also told me the the caliper is from a 1982 Chevy K10. The NAPA website has a bunch of rotors under that search. I am super excited about this project.
I also found a company named CPP brakes and they have a power booster / hanging brake pedal assembly for $300.00 and it even comes with the proportioning valve.

http://www.classicperform.com/Store/...s/4753FBBD.htm

link is above.

I love the ease of working on a brake system when the master cylinder is on the firewall. I can bleed all the brakes all by myself just by cracking the wheel cylinders and or caliper bleeders...

Mechanixman I hope this helps you out...

MikeC

[yossarian19]

For what it's worth, every product I've bought from Clasic Performance Products has had terrible fit & finish. They were engine / trans cross members, too - simple stuff.
I don't think they make their brake pedal boxes in house so they might be fine, but be warned - their customer service was, in my experience, as sub-par as the product. I hate to be so venemous (well, maybe I don't) but really, I'll never buy from them again.

[mikec4193]

Originally Posted by yossarian19

For what it's worth, every product I've bought from Clasic Performance Products has had terrible fit & finish. They were engine / trans cross members, too - simple stuff.
I don't think they make their brake pedal boxes in house so they might be fine, but be warned - their customer service was, in my experience, as sub-par as the product. I hate to be so venemous (well, maybe I don't) but really, I'll never buy from them again.

Hey yossarian

Any thoughts on another vendor that might sell the same type of product??...Also thanks for the heads-up...I would not want to buy something sub par and with the braking system you want top shelf stuff..

MikeC

[whitedog76]

I thought Tom's Classics made that bracket not CPP.

[mechanixman]

Hey Guys
I don't think the brackets will fit. Reason being, when I was designing the spindle side of the bracket, I found out the bracket could only come out .6" from the center of the hole, otherwise it would hit the rest of the knuckle. But maybe it mounts to the back? without any dimensions or mike's axle for reference, it's hard to tell one way or another.

Mike, If you don't mind me asking, why do you want to mount the MC like that?
I'm making a bracket so I'll have a dual master cylinder in roughly the same place as the stocker. The reason I like mine a whole lot more, is because I spent $35 for the booster and master cylinder, and about $12 for the metal and hardware to make it.
Just another option

[mikec4193]

HI Nick

I just finished a 1947 CJ2A Willys Jeep rebuild and the master cylinder is located under the floor board...it is a pain to fill...a pain to try and bleed the brakes...with a firewall mount you can literally bleed the brakes out by just opening the bleeder screws and keeping an eye out for the fluid levels in the reservoir. Any brake work on an underfloor master cylinder you are gonna be laying on your back to do it...

Whitedog you are right...the bracket in the pictures is from the Toms Classics...the CPP stuff was something I was pondering as a possible turn key assembly for firewall mounted pedals...still not sure what way I wanna go...

MikeC

[whitedog76]

Check out the wilwood pedal assembly.

http://www.wilwood.com/Images/PEDALS...40-1290-lg.jpg

Also, I've been looking at GM vans in the scrap yard. Doesn't look too hard to get pedal out. Should center somewhere above steering column on firewall.

Here's Wilwood pedals in a TF truck.

http://www.customclassictrucks.com/t...n/viewall.html

[mechanixman]

Ha ha Altight.
Mike I had no idea it was such a pain.
I was going to just make an access panel so i could reach it just as easily as a firewall mounted one.
I like that wilwood setup.

[whitedog76]

It's too bad the Wilwood unit doesn't offer an offset pedal. I think it'll work to the right of the column, but it doesn't leave alot of room to squeeze a booster in, before you get into the motor.

Here, they offset the column to clear the pedals.

http://www.customclassictrucks.com/t.../photo_22.html

[mechanixman]

Hey Mike
Did you ever fit those brackets to the spindle?
Did they fit? Did they fit?
I've made some progress, it's not worth posting much till I get my axle back from the welder.
Here are the two PDF's for the caliper bracket. Now the one labeled Brake Spindle $h!t is one you can cut out right away. I just left my axle with the welder and when I get it back I'll make a better version of the caliper side bracket. These two are full scale so you can print them out and use them as a template no problem.

[Dan Bowles]

Keep the info coming. We have 4 3600/3800 trucks this info will be good for.

[Dan Bowles]

What is your material thickness? I don't see this dim on the drawings.

Originally Posted by mechanixman

Hey Mike
Did you ever fit those brackets to the spindle?
Did they fit? Did they fit?
I've made some progress, it's not worth posting much till I get my axle back from the welder.
Here are the two PDF's for the caliper bracket. Now the one labeled Brake Spindle $h!t is one you can cut out right away. I just left my axle with the welder and when I get it back I'll make a better version of the caliper side bracket. These two are full scale so you can print them out and use them as a template no problem.

[b.sharp]

I'm just getting into this information on changing my 1950 3800 dually over to disk brakes. I am glad you guys are in the same boat and have put in a lot of time to figure this out. I am going to change out my rear for a 14bolt for better gearing, the 513 gears are just way to low for todays driving around. Great article.

[mikec4193]

Hi Mechanixman

I bought a set of 1 ton disc bracket caliper brackets I think it was around the end of March. They set around my living room as I was trying to keep working on another project so it sorta got shuffled to the back burner....right now I am not sure if it fits or not...I am currently trying to sell off some unfinished projects I have hanging around here...one went away last Thursday but I still have 2 more to go...as soon as those are gone I will be back on the "3800"...I did buy a set of 4.10 gears off of EBAY for the rear end so at least we can keep up with the flow of modern day traffic with the stock 1953 drivetrain....

I will be posting more once I get back on it...

MikeC

[mechanixman]

Dan, whatever you want. I'm using 1/4" for the plate that mounts to the axle, I was talking with the welder, and I think we might step it up to 3/8" for the caliper side, and probably 1/2" for the metal tot connect the two.

Thanks B.sharp

Alright Mike!
DANG! I wish I could get a set of 4.10 (maybe with the factory posi?). I've got the 5.13's and a 4.56 gear set.

[mechanixman]

It's done! I finally have them!!
After several months of waiting, I finally got to work with the fabricators in person to build my axle.
I'll be making a new thread with all the steps from start to finish so someone can see everything in 1 or 2 posts instead sifting through a few pages of comments.
I'll post a link of that thread here when I'm done.

[mechanixman]

The NEW and IMPROVED Thread