The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Tons 'o Fun 1952 front disc brakes

It's been a while since I've been on the stovebolt. Good to be back. Here's the front brake setup that I designed for my 1 ton panel. Maybe this will spur a few ideas of your own. Enjoy!

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb460/gibsonflatpicker/bracket1_zps0e6e3f6a.jpg

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb460/gibsonflatpicker/rotor_zps9ac48bb8.jpg

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb460/gibsonflatpicker/rotorandpads_zpscf1ac24f.jpg

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb460/gibsonflatpicker/calipercomplete_zps1e594aef.jpg

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb460/gibsonflatpicker/brakerearview_zps9e73f73f.jpg

Looks workable to my UNTRAINED eye. Your 52 was Huck brakes? Are those disc components "Available Factory parts or your own home design? You got a Parts List? Thanks Bill
Jerry

I love it bro!!!

What rotor is that?

The Caliper looks like 99 and newer GM, right?

The rotor and caliper assembly are off of a 2007 Chevy one ton Express Van. 3/4 ton would likely work as well. I had an eight lug billet spacer machined to fit the hat of the rotor. Otherwise, it's a "one off" bracket that I designed and had a pair cut locally. Michael.

I was wondering how you got everything to line up. I actually have a complete setup from an Express Van here too.

How thick did you have the spacer made? 3/4?

1 1/2" billet spacers are what I used. They work like a champ. And 3" extra width on that narrow front track can't hurt. You will have to run 17" wheels for everything to clear...

Hi Gibson

So you put the 1.50" spacer behind the Chevy Express rotor, how do you attached the spacer to the old Chevy hub?
With this spacer it enables you to have a one piece flat caliper bracket right? Looks like .25" steel plate...yes???

Any insight would be great. I am trying to figure this part of my project out before the project even hits my back door yard.

MikeC

Hi. It's a common aftermarket billet spacer that is drilled to an 8 x 6.5 lug pattern and has lug bolts in the same pattern. Available virtually anywhere. Bolt it on your hub. Then bolt the rotor on to it. Yes, 1/4" mild steel plate.

Just recently I found out that 96 f350's have a rotor that is not quite as deep. It's 3.1 thick vs, 3.5 for your rotor. So, it cuts about 3/8 off your total thickness of spacer. It's 13" round though, so 17" or larger wheels would definately be required for that caliper.

I'm planning on using a spacer too, but I'm using slightly smaller calipers. I think I'll end up with only about 3/4" of spacer at the most.

Chris,
I have been researching rotors as well and from what I have found is that while the F350 rotor is more shallow, it also mounts behind the hub vice over the hub. So you may not gain any space, just measure your hub to see if the f350 rotor will slip over the hub.

The ones I'm talking about are for the 95-97 Super Duty 4wd. Maybe even later for Cab/Chassis trucks. Seems like they're a little hard to come by, but they are out there.

They are actually hat-type. They also have the 8x6.5 bolt pattern.

I've been using rear rotors from an 03 and newer van. They are slightly shallower, but again 13" round. I'm also using the van rear calipers. The setup fits in a 16" rim. I only have my plywood bracket right now to work with. I may try to get my hands a Ford rotor though.

I started off with the van front rotor and caliper, but I couldn't get it to mount like I wanted it. The 53-59 trucks have a taller spindle and kingpin, which created just enough clearance issues for me to abandon it.

Good job.

Thanks for the info, I have never seen the rotor that you are referring to, I have only ever seen the type that mount behind the hub which have the same dimensions from your earlier post. Let me know if you come up with a part number.

Here's a few more pics to round it all out...as mounted on the axle under the panel...enjoy!

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb460/gibsonflatpicker/spacer_zpsa9b5d48f.jpg

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb460/gibsonflatpicker/brakemounted_zpsb59cb690.jpg

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb460/gibsonflatpicker/Brakemountedtop_zps90ede6b6.jpg

I personally don't like bolt on spacers.
I have an vibration with my Mustang that I can't correct because of them. They are impossible to install without being off center to the hub.
It compounds the problem when a wheel is bolted to the spacers.
I'm looking for new wheels now to eliminate the spacers.

What did you do for a master cylinder to run your discs? Do you have math or drawings of the bracket you made? Or even a copy you could fax/scan that I could duplicate?

I used a power disc/disc brake booster that triangulates between the dash and the firewall from a well known aftermarket parts supplier. I also rebuilt a 14 bolt rear end out of an early 70's cab and chassis truck and used a commonly available bracket to help provide disc brakes in the rear. Sorry, I don't have a mock up of the bracket that I can provide to you. Good luck!

Picture is worth a thousand words. At least you gave a great head start. I'll see what I can do with this. I'm most likely going to go for Disc Drum for now. I am thinking I want underfloor just to keep the firewall clean but I don't look at the firewall much so I could do the S10 swing pedal thing. I will swap out the pedal for a n AD stamping so I can keep the same pads, though.

Just an update. The Ford rotors I mentioned earlier are a no-go.

While they are the 8x6.5 bolt pattern, the hub won't fit inside them.

Back to the drawing board.