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Old 05-31-2017, 10:18 PM   #1
Classic v6 GMC's
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1957 Chevy Grumman Front Disk Brake Conversion

I usually stay on the 60-66 side but recently picked up a 57 Chevy Grumman van and was wondering what is the best way to convert the front to disk brakes.
Is the van front axle the same as a 3/4-1 ton truck axle?
Any good disk brake kits?
I want to keep the stock 19.5" Wheels.

I found this bracket kit. Any opinions on it? Will it push the wheels out to far?
http://www.thehollisterroadcompany.c...converion.html


I have a 2003 Chevy 2500 van rear axle with disk brakes and 3.73 gears so just need to figure out the front.
Thanks
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Last edited by Classic v6 GMC's; 05-31-2017 at 10:48 PM. Reason: spelling
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Old 05-31-2017, 11:49 PM   #2
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Re: 1957 Chevy Grumman Front Disk Brake Conversion

Send me a picture of the front hub. wheel off. and I'll tell you if t will work
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Old 06-01-2017, 10:37 AM   #3
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Re: 1957 Chevy Grumman Front Disk Brake Conversion

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Send me a picture of the front hub. wheel off. and I'll tell you if t will work
Okay I will take some pics today.
Thanks
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Old 06-01-2017, 09:12 PM   #4
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Re: 1957 Chevy Grumman Front Disk Brake Conversion

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Send me a picture of the front hub. wheel off. and I'll tell you if t will work
Here are some pics
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Old 06-01-2017, 09:15 PM   #5
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Re: 1957 Chevy Grumman Front Disk Brake Conversion

Pics
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Old 06-01-2017, 09:45 PM   #6
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Re: 1957 Chevy Grumman Front Disk Brake Conversion

That hub uses our SRW kit. Its a standard single rear wheel front axle. On the dually truck there is an extended hub that sticks out about 6" from the drum.
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Old 06-01-2017, 11:28 PM   #7
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Re: 1957 Chevy Grumman Front Disk Brake Conversion

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That hub uses our SRW kit. Its a standard single rear wheel front axle. On the dually truck there is an extended hub that sticks out about 6" from the drum.
Okay thank you for the reply. Before I purchase I need to do my home work on the other parts I will need.
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Old 06-02-2017, 01:08 AM   #8
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Re: 1957 Chevy Grumman Front Disk Brake Conversion

Why do you need the discs? Again, I have to ask the question. Unless you are driving a lot on winding mountain roads you do not need disc brakes.

Forget all the "modern highway" BS you don't need disc brakes unless you are driving it on windy mountain roads or something like that where the drums get overheated.

Just normal driving you don't need them.

Brian
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Old 06-02-2017, 10:32 AM   #9
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Re: 1957 Chevy Grumman Front Disk Brake Conversion

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Why do you need the discs? Again, I have to ask the question. Unless you are driving a lot on winding mountain roads you do not need disc brakes.

Forget all the "modern highway" BS you don't need disc brakes unless you are driving it on windy mountain roads or something like that where the drums get overheated.

Just normal driving you don't need them.

Brian
Well I could get by with the drum brakes but I want to pull a trailer and drive anywhere (Through Colorado and Arizona) with out having to worry about it. The brakes need redone anyway and the rear axle already has disk brakes so might as well upgrade the front.
Andy
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Old 06-02-2017, 12:30 PM   #10
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Re: 1957 Chevy Grumman Front Disk Brake Conversion

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Why do you need the discs? Again, I have to ask the question. Unless you are driving a lot on winding mountain roads you do not need disc brakes.

Forget all the "modern highway" BS you don't need disc brakes unless you are driving it on windy mountain roads or something like that where the drums get overheated.

Just normal driving you don't need them.

Brian
The main reason for disc upgrade is drums are getting non existent. Below 1951 I doubt you'll even get parts for 3600 3800 other than wheel cylinders and seals. It can take weeks to months to find new drums if yours are not cutable. You can find some 3600 fronts but 14" rears are longer available anywhere.

The safety enhancements of disc brakes over drums are well known. The main one is if an outer wheel bearing fails on these trucks the wheel does not come off if its a disc brake. Disc brakes stop better with less maintenance, They don't fade in weather like drums and with the 2003 up parts this kit uses you can replace them in 10 years if you need to. Towing with a big van like he has its just a plain smart decision. Keeping up with traffic I one thing but you also need to be able to stop with traffic.
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Old 06-02-2017, 12:46 PM   #11
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Re: 1957 Chevy Grumman Front Disk Brake Conversion

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I usually stay on the 60-66 side but recently picked up a 57 Chevy Grumman van
pics or it never happened
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Old 06-02-2017, 01:12 PM   #12
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Re: 1957 Chevy Grumman Front Disk Brake Conversion

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Well I could get by with the drum brakes but I want to pull a trailer and drive anywhere (Through Colorado and Arizona) with out having to worry about it. The brakes need redone anyway and the rear axle already has disk brakes so might as well upgrade the front.
Andy
I hear you, yeah, that is a different story. I just have to ask the question some times I hear the craziest reasons to put discs on and they simply aren't a MUST as some people have been brain washed to think.

Brian
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Old 06-02-2017, 04:38 PM   #13
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Re: 1957 Chevy Grumman Front Disk Brake Conversion

hey Brian, have you ever had to hit the brakes after one wheel goes through a big puddle, or both for that matter. not as good as discs plus they tend to pull. if it was me it would be discs already. haha
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Old 06-02-2017, 05:06 PM   #14
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Re: 1957 Chevy Grumman Front Disk Brake Conversion

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hey Brian, have you ever had to hit the brakes after one wheel goes through a big puddle, or both for that matter. not as good as discs plus they tend to pull. if it was me it would be discs already. haha
I have been driving for 40+ years, too many miles on drum brakes to count. I have never had anything happen that disc brakes would have somehow solved. That black rubber thing that is on the floor under the steering column that activates the brakes and the long black rubber thing that adjusts your speed mean a LOT more than the brake pads or shoes do.

I have to ask, what happened 40 or so years ago that changed everything? 40 years ago about 95% of the cars on the road were drum, it wasn't that many years before, 1970 or so where about 99.9% of the cars were drum. How did we survive? There must have been crashes on every street every day. Nope, there weren't, how in the hell did we survive.

Brian
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Old 06-02-2017, 06:08 PM   #15
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Re: 1957 Chevy Grumman Front Disk Brake Conversion

Listen guys, let me make this clear. I understand there is often a need for upgrading the brakes, of course there is. In this case, he plans on towing a trailer, driving on windy roads a lot, high speed on the interstate, that sort of thing. Of course there can be a need for it, as I agreed with the original poster told me why he wanted them.

But it is WAY overblown as to the need for disc brakes. Every time I hear someone say "modern highway" I want to puke, first off about 90% of the roads in America where made before disc brakes were "the thing."

But it really depends on how the car/truck will be driven. I drive a car with 9" drum brakes every day, they don't even have self adjusters and it has a single reservoir master cyl even. I maintain them checking them every 5-6 thousand miles, I it's not a big deal. It stops amazing good, I was blown away the first time I had a real life "panic stop," I was amazing how fast that sucker stopped.

But I drive it, get this, like it has drum brakes, what a thought. I drive it conservatively. Not slower, just simply leaving more room than the average driver has gotten accustomed to. I feed my family with car wrecks, people with all the disc brakes and abs and all that have paid for my home and feed my family, people have adjusted to drive the way they do and honestly get in more wrecks than years ago.

When I see things that don't need it, people get all freaked out and spend money and change something that doesn't need to be, I am going say something. Wish I had gotten to the guy I saw last Goodguys show before he RUINED this virgin garage find 58 Impala Conv with a tri-power 348. OMG it was a virgin car original paint and all, and he put power disc brakes! Those were the only shiny new parts on the car! Geeeez

But yes, there is a place for discs, of course there is. We just need to stop the brain washing that is MUST be done. Let the guy who doesn't need them go out with a smile on his face with his old car or truck like I do every day.

Brian
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Chopped, Sectioned, 1953 Corvette 235 powered. Once was even 401 Buick mid engined with the carburetor right between the seats!
Bought with paper route money in 1973 when I was 15.

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Old 06-02-2017, 10:09 PM   #16
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Re: 1957 Chevy Grumman Front Disk Brake Conversion

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I hear you, yeah, that is a different story. I just have to ask the question some times I hear the craziest reasons to put discs on and they simply aren't a MUST as some people have been brain washed to think.

Brian
Yeah I should have put my goals for the truck in the first post.
Andy
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Old 06-02-2017, 10:14 PM   #17
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Re: 1957 Chevy Grumman Front Disk Brake Conversion

Here are a couple pics of the master cylinder.
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Old 06-02-2017, 10:19 PM   #18
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Re: 1957 Chevy Grumman Front Disk Brake Conversion

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pics or it never happened
Here a couple pics
When I am ready to start working on it I will create a build thread.
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Old 06-02-2017, 10:21 PM   #19
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Re: 1957 Chevy Grumman Front Disk Brake Conversion

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Yeah I should have put my goals for the truck in the first post.
Andy
No biggie, that rig is AWESOME! I want to see that build for sure!


Brian
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Old 06-02-2017, 10:25 PM   #20
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Re: 1957 Chevy Grumman Front Disk Brake Conversion

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No biggie, that rig is AWESOME! I want to see that build for sure!


Brian
Thank you, it's a neat truck! Hope to start working on it in a couple months.
Andy
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Old 06-02-2017, 10:48 PM   #21
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Re: 1957 Chevy Grumman Front Disk Brake Conversion

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Here are a couple pics of the master cylinder.
It has two rods that operate the master cylinder. You may have to get a pedal bracket for a pickup and mount it to get a vac booster on and in the right position for the dual piston disc brake to operate properly. Its doable so when ever your ready let me know
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Old 06-02-2017, 11:16 PM   #22
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Re: 1957 Chevy Grumman Front Disk Brake Conversion

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It has two rods that operate the master cylinder. You may have to get a pedal bracket for a pickup and mount it to get a vac booster on and in the right position for the dual piston disc brake to operate properly. Its doable so when ever your ready let me know
Okay Thanks. I will.
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Old 06-03-2017, 12:58 AM   #23
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Re: 1957 Chevy Grumman Front Disk Brake Conversion

It looks like the windshield is made up of 6 pieces? A flat piece at the center and then a curved one with the flat one on the sides?

If that is the case those flat ones will be easy to change. The curved ones are a while different story but if you had the flat ones new it would be what you are looking threw most of the time and it would make a big difference.

Brian
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Chopped, Sectioned, 1953 Corvette 235 powered. Once was even 401 Buick mid engined with the carburetor right between the seats!
Bought with paper route money in 1973 when I was 15.

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Old 06-03-2017, 01:18 PM   #24
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Re: 1957 Chevy Grumman Front Disk Brake Conversion

those curved glass pieces are probably rare as hens teeth

thanks for posting up the pics, that body looks pretty clean
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Old 06-03-2017, 01:45 PM   #25
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Re: 1957 Chevy Grumman Front Disk Brake Conversion

I saw a few videos on how to make those out of Lexan. Seemed to be moderating easy but time consuming
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