K20 brake part question
 

I'm trying to correct P.O. butchering of the front drum brakes on a stock 65 K20. The adjuster hardware is nowhere near correct, but I can't seem to find new or used replacements. Even old worn parts would help as could use to match correct parts. Any help or parts numbers/sources would be great.

Thanks, Tom

Re: K20 brake part question
 

Do you know what axle you have? IIRC, GM didn't build 4WD's in-house during that time period.

Re: K20 brake part question
 

Do you have a pic? post up a pic if so. GM started building k trucks in 1960 1/2t and 3/4t. one ton and up was still NAPCO

Re: K20 brake part question
 

It's a stock factory 65 K10 1/2 ton 4x4 with a stock factory 65 K20 3/4 ton front end that I bolted up to it. Brakes are the stock 3/4 ton 12x2 inch. Parts for 1/2 tons are easy, but nobody has much for the 3/4 tons. I have tried all the usual local and mail order sources with no luck
Thanks for any help, Tom

Re: K20 brake part question
 

So what you're saying they are different than 1/2 t? They changed the front brakes in 63 or 64 in the 1/2 ton. don't know about 3/4t. A pic of what you have would help figuring wat you have.

Re: K20 brake part question
 

I'm sorry I was not very clear. I looked back at my original post and saw I should have said the SELF adjuster hardware. This would have been newly introduced in 64 and should be the same for 64 65 66, but don't know if parts the same for later years of drum setups. I have the correct backplate/shoes/drums/cyls/adjusters/etc. All I need is the self adjuster leavers and springs. I have complete 65 1/2 ton set-up but is not same as 3/4 ton. Can't really post a picture as all I have is a bunch of parts I can't bolt together until I have everything. Was hopping somebody with a K20 could post a picture.
Sorry I messed up original question. Anybody out there with a 4-5-6 K20 still have original brakes?
Thanks, Tom

Re: K20 brake part question
 

Still looking-Anybody?

Re: K20 brake part question
 

i went thru a long process with my 69 gmc. it has 12'' brakes also. 3/4ton. some parts may be the same

Re: K20 brake part question
 

I'm thinking that they are pretty much or exactly the same. Where did you get the parts? Pictures or part #'s would be a great help if possible.
Thanks, Tom

Re: K20 brake part question
 

heres what my 69 book shows,

Re: K20 brake part question
 

Re: K20 brake part question
 

Your axle is a Dana 44f, closed knuckle but I don't know how much difference that makes. I have a 66 k20 that should still be original. I also replied to your classified post, I will take some pics when I tear into mine, but I'm not sure when that will be.

Re: K20 brake part question
 

Thanks, saw your other post

Re: K20 brake part question
 

Thanks for the picture, is a lot better than the one in my book. Looks like everything is the same as mine, so should be helpful.

Re: K20 brake part question
 

Unfortunately this looks to be for 11 inch brakes. 12 inch is the same but everything is just a little bit longer. Looks like P.O.used parts from this kit on last brake job and made a real mess of things.

Re: K20 brake part question
 

Did they even have self adj on the 12" brakes? Or on a closed knuckle dana44?

Re: K20 brake part question
 

According to the FSM, yes.

Re: K20 brake part question
 

Just a suggestion so don't kill me. Over on Pirate they have kits to convert to disk that typically use mid-70s 3/4 ton front callipers and rotors.
Assuming the brackets are available for a closed D44, I see no downside other than drum wheels may hit the calipers.

Re: K20 brake part question
 

I put disc on mine (closed knuckle 44 6 lug) I have 16" by 6" wheels that fit and a set of 15"x8 that fit. Don't have any stock wheels to see if they fit though.

Maybe the hole (for the adjuster) in the 12" brake shoe in lower than the 11"?

Re: K20 brake part question
 

This is for a 64-72 chevy 2wd 3/4t from classic truck parts # br1610 left. different than 1/2t. don't know if 4wd is the same.

Re: K20 brake part question
 

Unfortunately is the same application as post #11, which is for 11 inch brakes or rear of K20. I have all parts for a K10 front and they are smaller. P.O. tried to make these parts work on front with very bad results.
Thanks to all who are trying to help me on this one. Tom

Re: K20 brake part question
 

this is for 12"x2" brakes but does say rear spicer. not 11" Dodge/IH/ford have some for 12"x2" shoes but use a cable instead of a rod. Pictures on rockauto. good luck

Re: K20 brake part question
 

Appreciate all the help, but still no luck. Any body else ?
Thanks, Tom

Re: K20 brake part question
 

I know this is wayyyyy late and I'm guessing you've figured it out by now, but I did say I'd post pics when I finally tore into mine which is today. This is the right front:

Re: K20 brake part question
 

Thanks for remembering me.
Yes, I did finally figure it out, and brakes are working great now. Your lucky that it looks like you have all the parts, and they are correctly installed. Are your drums still good? That turned out to be the biggest challenge for me. Was thinking of starting a thread on options I found.
Thanks again for getting back to me on my original question,
Tom

Re: K20 brake part question
 

The one I took off looks fine, cant get one of the screws off to separate it from the hub but I'll work through that. I'd still be interested in hearing what you did for drums as I'm sure others would as well. I've got a factory service manual and I've found several things that don't jive, like the drums can come off separate from the hubs and the axle shaft will not come out the hole after the backing plate is off on the d44hdf. What did you do for brake hose? I've got a short hard line that runs from the wheel cylinder to a bracket on the knuckle and the hose connects there. There is no way I can get something bent like that and I don't think a longer hose is an option, I don't think a hose would fit between the wheel cylinder and the knuckle.

Re: K20 brake part question
 

Please post up what you guy's have found. Pictures is possible. Not much info of real life rebuilds on these old axles and brakes.

Re: K20 brake part question
 

So far NAPA here in town has had everything I’ve needed. Wheel cylinders, shoes, hardware kit and grease seals all on the shelf. They do not have drums but I don’t need any yet. I don’t know how much this helps but here’s the part number of my front drum:

Re: K20 brake part question
 

Same part number as my originals. PO had run them down to the rivets and put some nice 1/4 inch grooves in them. Was able to find hoses, shoes and cylinders local no problem, but hardware was a problem. was able to re use some and match some of the others. Most do not list a hardware kit for the 3/4 ton, and I found that the ones that did were really for the 1/2 ton and while close, were not right, so check what NAPA sold you very close. If you did happen to get the correct hardware kit, please post the number, as I spent many months looking, and finally gave up.
As for the drums, hope yours are still good. They have been out of production by all suppliers for many years. Finally found a set of old stock through a place in Southern Cal called Drum Garden. Guy named Craig runs it and is the one to see for stuff that doesn't exist. Not cheap but after a year of looking was not in a position to complain.
So while I was looking for the correct drums I came up with a plan B to get my truck rolling. There is a 70's era Ford drum that is the right dimensions except for a few 10ths too large in diameter, so the shoe contact is high in the middle. Well I drove it around a little while I got the rest of the truck dialed in, and pretty soon those shoes wore in just perfect, and now after about 3000 miles it stops great. If I had known how well they were going to work I would have had the shoes arched to fit the larger drums and been done with it. Still haven't installed the correct drums.
Hope this helps,
Tom

Re: K20 brake part question
 

They list a hardware kit whether or not its correct is yet to be determined. I'm picking it all up this afternoon. All I really need out of it is the pins but I will compare the rest to see what matches.

Good info about the Ford drums. I thought these axles were pretty much the same no matter what brand they came in, so I would think someone would still be making a drum for them.

Re: K20 brake part question
 

One more thought: did you try the back drums on the front? According to the factory manual the fronts should be 1/8” larger. Rear is listed as 12” front 12.13”. Not sure if that would matter.

Re: K20 brake part question
 

Both front and rear are 12x2 and rears are readily available, but offset is different, so rears don't fit on front.
On your brake lines, sounds like HD is different, as my standard 3/4 was the same as 1/2 ton. If you can't make that short line yourself you can send to Classic Tube and they will make a new one for you.
For the Ford drums, the part number on my receipt is 60131-2028 (2018) Not sure what Brand that number is for, but got those drums at Drum Garden as well.
Do you know about Torque King? They are a great source of parts and info on that front end. (but unfortunately no brake parts).
Hope this helps,
Tom

Re: K20 brake part question
 

I'm familiar with Torque King, have them bookmarked mainly for the T221 parts they carry.

Does your rubber brake hose go directly to the wheel cylinder then? If so does it have a 90* fitting at the wheel end? There is not enough clearance on mine between the knuckle and wheel cylinder fitting to get a regular hose on there.

The hardware kit I picked up seemed pretty generic, the hold down springs and cups weren't exactly the same but seem like they work. Found I've got a broken bottom shoe spring, so now to try to find one of those. Any idea what exactly it's called? It's the one by the adjuster that keeps the bottom of the shoes together.

Re: K20 brake part question
 

Yes, my hose goes directly into the cylinder with a straight fitting, so sounds like HD is much different

Looks like you are having same problem with springs as I had. Wound up having to dig through bins at a brake supply house and a local shop that does a lot of work on the kind of old/odd junk that seems to always follow me home. Never found any parts sources with complete/accurate listings on the hardware and springs for 3/4 ton, so is a match by eye scavenger hunt. I needed the same spring as I recall, and everybody tried to sell me the 1/2 ton version, which was too short

Re: K20 brake part question
 

I found adjuster springs. Oreilly also carries them as part number H415

Re: K20 brake part question
 

Good to know, ones I found I recall all too short, thanks for sharing info