The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts disc brakes on dayton style wheels?

i kind of like my big cast iron wheels and i was wondering if any of you guys have mounted rotors in place of the big drums on the back of the dayton cast spoke wheels?

i am not a master fabricator, but it seems like it would be possible. the bolt pattern diameter is around 10.5" that mounts the drum to the wheel. 5 bolts hold it. i cant find a rotor with a bolt diameter that large. what do you think about making an adapter to fit those holes and on the other side making the pattern fit a standard rotor from something like a c60 or c70 or kodiak. seems possible...

I would still need to fabricate a way to mount the calipers to the axle but there is a rigid plate there that holds the shoes. there is a flange on the axle with 8 bolts holding it. would modifications need include a new master cylinder and booster?

i am just throwing this out there to see if this is a bad idea or if it is plausible. Thoughts?
Gene

Before I got into all that machine work I'd hunt down a set of disc brake Dayton axles. They exist, I've seen several.

The rear would be a pretty simple swap, might gain you a more favorable gear ratio if desired.

Front might can swap entire axle depending on over all width and the spring center measurement. Or could possibly keep original axle beam and simply install or slightly adapt spindles to the old axle, hubs and brakes follow after spindle are fit.

I have not read of anyone adapting and machining and making disc fit in place of drums on Dayton axles, probably the difficult way to go if even possible.

Grigg

Ok, i did not know they existed. that would make it easy and a numerically lower gear ratio would be nice. Any idea what trucks these cam on?

I've seen them on some Fords from the 80's and perhaps also on IH.
While hunting I'd look at every make and model medium duty truck. Something that obviously has Dayton wheels, might have hydraulic brakes, and hopefully new enough to have disc brakes. Leave no rock, or fender, unturned.

Though Daytons are uncommon on school buses in most states or counties I expect if you do find a bus (not terribly old) with Daytons they could likely have hydraulic disc.

Hy Gene_Spartan80, I recently purchased a 1979 Chev school bus which has Dayton wheels and disc brakes all around, it has a Hydroboost hydraulic dual brake system. So there are donors out there, good luck with your search.

i will keep an eye out. does your school bus have an eaton rear axle. wonder if those rotors and calipers are available and fit my wheels and axles. is it a c70 chassis?