Disc Brake question

[ChadW]

Hello..nice forum!

I am hopefully picking up a 63 this weekend and the front disc conversion has already been done, but....they kept it a 6 lug truck...I want to go to 5 lug. Is the front as easy as buying new 5 lug rotors? I keep hearing talk of different thickness of rotors from 5 to 6 lug...

Second question...On the rear, my plan was to pull the axels and take them to a machine shop and have them fill and redrill as a 5x5. Is that ok? Then while its apart, should i go ahead and put discs on the rear too? cheapest way?

Thanks and ill be a heavy question poster for a while if i get this on saturday..

Chad

[The Rocknrod]

Yes your original '63 axles can be plugged and re-drilled to the 5 x 5 wheel stud pattern. Make sure that if the axle bearing surfaces are in excellent condition though. And the original '63 12 bolts had the backing plates pressed on.

[chevy_mike]

Welcome to the forum.

If they have the 1 1/4" front rotors, then yes, you can just by stock '73-'87 5 lug (1 1/4" ones) rotors and swap them in.

As for the rear, you could have them filled and drilled and then use '71-'72 drums. This will keep the weaker axle shafts and spider gears.

Another option would be doing a conversion kit which will give you new, stronger shafts, spiders, drums, etc. in one kit.

http://www.classicperform.com/Store/...k/6364RACK.htm

If you want to move to disc brakes, you'll need those items in the kit outside of the drums. CaptFab on this forum sells brackets that allow you to use '89-'97 Camaro calipers and late model Impala SS rotors. That is what I did on my panel.



Good luck on your purchase.

[Indian113]

When I bought my disc brake and spindle kit I had the option of 5 or 6 lug rotors so I'm sure you can change over to 5 lug. You will need to find out the brand of rotors you have so you can match them up. As far as changing rear it's your truck bear in mind you will have to change MC again to a disc/disc MC.

[Chevy Fleetside]

Originally Posted by ChadW

Hello..nice forum!

I am hopefully picking up a 63 this weekend and the front disc conversion has already been done, but....they kept it a 6 lug truck...I want to go to 5 lug. Is the front as easy as buying new 5 lug rotors? I keep hearing talk of different thickness of rotors from 5 to 6 lug...

Second question...On the rear, my plan was to pull the axels and take them to a machine shop and have them fill and redrill as a 5x5. Is that ok? Then while its apart, should i go ahead and put discs on the rear too? cheapest way?

Thanks and ill be a heavy question poster for a while if i get this on saturday..

Chad

Find out what he used for the front disc swap.

[Rusty63]

when you have the rear axles redrilled to 5 on 5" do you need to turn the hub down to fit drums,and rims? i think the 6 bolt center is bigger?

[Lobotie]

Will the '73-87 spindles bolt on to the '63 control arms?

[ChadW]

Originally Posted by Rusty63

when you have the rear axles redrilled to 5 on 5" do you need to turn the hub down to fit drums,and rims? i think the 6 bolt center is bigger?

Yes..i believe they have to be turned down to 3.06 when the axles are redrilled.. someone please correct me if im wrong..

[Chevy Fleetside]

Originally Posted by Lobotie

Will the '73-87 spindles bolt on to the '63 control arms?

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...isc+brake+swap 63 to 66 are the same you need the later model ball joints. I covered it a bit in this thread but probably enough to figure it out.

[Lobotie]

Originally Posted by Chevy Fleetside

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...isc+brake+swap 63 to 66 are the same you need the later model ball joints. I covered it a bit in this thread but probably enough to figure it out.

Thanks for your help!

[Captainfab]

Since the '63 12 bolt has pressed on backing plates, there is no backing plate flange to bolt any rear disc conversion to. You will be stuck with drums on the rear unless you change the entire differential.

[ChadW]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Since the '63 12 bolt has pressed on backing plates, there is no backing plate flange to bolt any rear disc conversion to. You will be stuck with drums on the rear unless you change the entire differential.

Tks...this forum is going to make updating this truck a lottt easier when you can get info like this...

so here is the plan..

New 5 lug rotors on front...

Rear axels plugged and drilled for 5 lug, then purchase 5 lug drums for a71-72 chevy

5 lug conversion done.... then onto power steering :-) hopefully its as easy..lol

[Chevy Fleetside]

I believe there are two sizes of drums for 71-72. There is a 2" wide shoe and a 2 1/2" wide shoe. Correct me if I am wrong. I used the whole 72 rear end in my truck that came with 3.08 gears. I bought new drums and if I remember correctly there were two sizes.

[ChadW]

Originally Posted by Chevy Fleetside

I believe there are two sizes of drums for 71-72. There is a 2" wide shoe and a 2 1/2" wide shoe. Correct me if I am wrong. I used the whole 72 rear end in my truck that came with 3.08 gears. I bought new drums and if I remember correctly there were two sizes.

So your just saying to be sure i get the correct ones, right? if so....will do...

[Captainfab]

You do not have to use '71-'72 drums only. That's just what the aftermarket tells you, you need. The 2" wide 5 x 5 drums were used up thru at least the mid 70's.

Power steering and power brakes are just as easy. And you do not have to buy a complete aftermarket conversion kit.