DIY Disc Brake Conversion

[BurgerMan]

Good work so far, been following the thread closely. Pictures are helpful. Just one question: did you buy the brackets to mount the calipers? I think I missed that part.

[whitedog76]

I went back to the drawing board and came up with this.
http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/wh...tml?sort=6&o=3
http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/wh...tml?sort=6&o=4
I know the top bracket will work, I have a template made out of wood. I wanted some more support, so I came up with the bottom piece. The top will bolt to the backside of spindle and the bottom will bolt to the front side. I'll have to come up with a spacer block to join the two, either by bolting them together or welding them.

[mechanixman]

Thanks Burgerman, I don't have brackets yet, That last picture was me just holding it in place. I'm going to pick up some 3/8" steel plate and make mine out of that. I'll post the drawings out so everyone can make their own if they wanted to. But I like where whitedog76 is going. When you make your on, you shouldn't have to worry about what thickness metal you need. It'll fit just the same with 1/4" or 3/8".
Whitedog, that looks pretty slick!

Anyone else think it's interesting that they had tapered roller bearing standard in 1936 on the rear axle, but kept the front axle the same with normal bearings?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...j7JSpSpU#t=152

[whitedog76]

It is interesting how the General, and other manufacturers pick and choose their battles.

I'm guessing it had to do with how trucks were used at the time. Most trucks had the rear axle centered under the bed for weight distribution. You didn't see a truck pulling a trailer back then, if you needed to haul something bigger, you got a bigger truck. It may have had to do with convenience also. The HO52 and HO72 use the same wheel bearings, so if you had a 3600 or a 4100 truck, you could use the same bearing.

I still haven't figured out why GM paired the front wheel bearings up like they did. The 3.15x1.5" Inner bearing is actually still a commone size, but the outer .905x2.24 is an oddball by all standards.

Chris

[BurgerMan]

WhiteDog, those links to the images didn't work. Says they were removed.

Mechanixman, what is the reason you aren't buying the bracket set that is available? Is it because of price?

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Basic-...ckup,7688.html

I'm at a weird point, i am not sure if these will work on my 6 lug pattern, but I assume they should, just need a different rotor.

[whitedog76]

My mistake. I moved my pics around in my albums.

http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/wh...99957045988476

[mikec4193]

Originally Posted by BurgerMan

WhiteDog, those links to the images didn't work. Says they were removed.

Mechanixman, what is the reason you aren't buying the bracket set that is available? Is it because of price?

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Basic-...ckup,7688.html

I'm at a weird point, i am not sure if these will work on my 6 lug pattern, but I assume they should, just need a different rotor.

I am curious about if those Speedway parts will fit or not....I think I can come up with the calipers and those rotors from my local NAPA store...larger lug studs I think they sell too..They dont sell that bracket to hold the caliper on tho...has anybody tried to see if these will work with the 8 lugs rotors and calipers?

Any insight would be great...

MikeC

[mechanixman]

They'll fit the spindle, not the new caliper.
Yeah everything except the bracket you can buy at your local auto parts store
At the beginning of this thread 2 other people commented on how they made their 8 lug trucks work with disk brakes. But as long as everything fits, there is no reason that it shouldn't work.

[BurgerMan]

Originally Posted by mechanixman

They'll fit the spindle, not the new caliper.
Yeah everything except the bracket you can buy at your local auto parts store
At the beginning of this thread 2 other people commented on how they made their 8 lug trucks work with disk brakes. But as long as everything fits, there is no reason that it shouldn't work.

-Works with 5 on 4-3/4 Inch bolt patterns

From the speedway page....i guess i just don't understand why they say that if they work with all patterns.

[mikec4193]

Originally Posted by mechanixman

They'll fit the spindle, not the new caliper.
Yeah everything except the bracket you can buy at your local auto parts store
At the beginning of this thread 2 other people commented on how they made their 8 lug trucks work with disk brakes. But as long as everything fits, there is no reason that it shouldn't work.

Hey Mechanixman

So once you figure out the bracket configuration you will have something that all the parts can be bought over the counter at the local parts store...I hope you can share the bracket sketch dimensions so I can send a copy off to the local machine shop and have him make up a pair for me...

Suddenly that makes a stock 1 ton that much more drive-able and stoppable too...thanks for all leg work your are doing. I think you are saving a lot of us from having to swap front axles too.

Thank you thank you thank you...

MikeC

[mechanixman]

Originally Posted by mikec4193

Suddenly that makes a stock 1 ton that much more drive-able and stoppable too...thanks for all leg work your are doing. I think you are saving a lot of us from having to swap front axles too.

Thank you thank you thank you...

MikeC

Ha Ha No problem!
Yeah that's the goal. This should be the closest thing to a kit so far. and when all is said and done, I'll make a recap of the whole swap.

Sorry it's been a while, I've been trying to juggle a bunch of things at once, between this, having the driveline redone, planning out a straight axle rack and pinion set up, and then all this FRIGGIN SNOW.
I brought the original backing plate to school to measure out the hole pattern for the spindle. Got this far. Now I'll take this template and finishing measuring the caliper side of the bracket.

[whitedog76]

Nick-

I was cleaning out my "favorites" and found this link I saved awhile back. Maybe it'll give you some inspiration.

http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/wh...99006953628577

http://www.performanceonline.com/blo...isc-brake-kit/

[whitedog76]

[mechanixman]

That's fantastic!
I hadn't thought of setting up spacers like that. Thank you!

[BurgerMan]

That looks like it would be super, but i just bought all the parts to rebuild my rear drums. Same idea bracket for the front? Does it need the spacers?

[whitedog76]

That's actually a setup from a 9" Ford kit.

It's basically the same as one of my original ideas.

[yossarian19]

So, anything new?

[mechanixman]

I'm afraid not much as of late.
I've been finding the right design for the spindle side of the bracket, the problem being keeping enough material there for the bolt to support, yet still allowing it to fit properly.

It's hard to get the right measurements for the caliper, so it's been a whole lot of guess and check. Getting a ballpark guess, make a template, try to adjust it, make another template, realize you screwed up again, make yet another template........

I'm almost there

[FarmerSid]

Hey Nick, what are you using for software? SolidEdge or SolidWorks? Is that MasterCAM as well?

[mechanixman]

I'm using Autodesk Inventor. For this particular project, I just make a .DXF of the drawing file, and send it plasma cam for our plasma cutter.
But otherwise, its inventor to Mastercam mx6.

[whitedog76]

Someone beat us Nick

http://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/...77#Post1014977

http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/gi...26406476988996

[whitedog76]

Here's some pics

[mikec4193]

Hi Whitedog

I just went over to the Stovebolt site...looks like this might work...How long do you think you are going to have to make the lug studs??

Do you think they screw the billet spacer to the existing vintage Chevy truck hub?

I knew someone was gonna figure this out. Thank GOD for the internet. I would still be scratching my head on this one for sure...

MikeC

[whitedog76]

Even though I kind of like the looks of the bracket. After talking with him I'm not for sure if I like the complete setup. He's using a 1.5" spacer behind the rotor. With that being said, he would have to be using something like a 3.5"-4" wheel stud. I would want a wheel with a heavy offset then. Something from a 99 and up truck or 03 and newer van.

I think I will stick with my setup for now and keep tweaking it.

[mechanixman]

Aww man..
I don't see any kind of plans though.
Why the spacer behind the rotor?
If anything, I'd bring the rotor and caliper back farther.