The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Disk Brakes 2 TON

Just wanted to throw an idea out to you all .
Why not use 2 smaller calipers .
2 Per side one at the 12 o'clock position and one at 6 o'clock .Say 2 full size GM calipers and a 12" or 13" disk this way you keep the stock hubs and axel . The only 2 pitfalls I can see would be bleeding the bottom calipers but if you used flex hose for the lines you could take it off put a piece of wood between the pads and hold in the upright position while they are blead .
The other you would have to increase the fluid capacity of the reservoir or watch the level in the stock reservoir very carefully .
Lots of caliper brackets out there for these calipers , you would have to only buy one set and copy them for the other side .
If you go to the rockauto website you can find the disks and calipers real easy at pretty decent prices .
I'm going to look into this later for my truck .
As I said just a thought
Paul
1948 2 ton

Dual disc brake calipers on a truck has been done before. Unimog is one example, here's a picture.
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/5404/dsc09590.jpg

Why not get the disc brakes from a Chevrolet Top kick and make brackets to use them. Those trucks use a 19.5 wheel so clearance for the original wheels should work.

You would have to make sure that the brake disc diameter and calipers match. If you use a larger disc than the calipers are designed for, part of the pads will be off the disc when installed.

You would have to have a master that had bore/stroke sufficient to move that much fluid.

From what I've read they would have to be mounted top and bottom to avoid problems with the steering like said in my post and as Jim said below you have to match things up not only the od of the disk but the thickness of the disk also.
Paul

Hi Jim
The bore size only equates to pedal pressure and pressure to the brakes .You could run 50 calipers with the same bore size ,but as the pads wear there has to be sufficient fluid in the reservoir to compensate for the wear .

When you take your foot off the brakes after a stop the piston only retracts a few thou of an inch ,that's all the fluid your moving .
Thats why with drum brakes you have to keep them adjusted or you have a lot of pedal travel
Look at some of the motorcycles that are out two 6 piston calipers one on each side ,or look at some of the supers cars out there .
Paul

Bleeders have to be up. Maybe 6 and 3..

True the bore is about the pressure, but the stroke will change. Even of the caliper travel is small, If the current pedal travel is 1 inch with 2 calipers, it will be 2 inches with 4 calipers if nothing else is changed.

If you are using a dual cylinder, that will mean the rear brakes will be locking up first since the rear volume will remain the same.

Hi Jim
The stroke will stay to same .I've changed bikes over to dual calipers where you have 4 pistons afterwards instead of 2 on one side . Never have to change the master or have to even adjust it.
Remember your still moving the pistons the same amount of travel.
Just like an electric light switch you can turn on one bulb or 100 all will stay the same with the switch(yes if the is enough amperage to push that many bulbs and the switch can handle the load)
As I said you could run 50 calipers the stroke would stay the same .
Paul

Hi Tomco
As I said you would have to bleed the bottom caliper with it off the disk with a piece of wood between the pads about the same thickness as the disk then hang it up with the bleeder facing up , after it's bled it wont make any difference which way it points .
Paul

Don't know parts availability in OZ, but since you are in US, GM 2500/3500 axles are reasonably common, great brakes, discs front and rear. Could get the Saginaw steering gear, power steering pump, Hydroboost brake that go with it; sure would save a lot of fabricating and make parts easier to get, sure, some freight costs to OZ.