The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 3600 conversion to disk breaks

Guy's I looked for quite a while in here for the answer to this so sorry if its been covered too many times - but I can't find answer here in the forum - I have. 49 3600 and would like to improve breaks - convert to disk system. The last time I looked and asked you guys about 2011 there were no off the shelf kit's has this changed . Are there any on the market now?

There is now a kit, this is it.
http://www.thehollisterroadcompany.com/discbrakeconverion.html

There have been other discussions on the forum and projects in the works but nothing completed to buy or just bolt on like the kit above.

Hi,

I swapped my front axle out of my 1950 3600 with a doner axle from a 1950 3100. Axle is same except the spindles\king Pins a bit smaller, which allow you then to install disc brakes from most any kit then

Using 1/2 ton axle you can't use 8 lug wheels, and you have reduced the capacity of the truck.

Yes, mine is now a 1/2 ton long bed as well...!

1/2 ton axle in the front.

Of course, after you swap the front axle, you're going to have to swap the rear end too, if you want the same bolt pattern on all 4 wheels.... had I found the kit referenced above prior to my swap, I would have gone with it instead, and kept everything else stock.

I've been searching, this is what i'm going to do, Front The Hollister Road Company Disc Brake Conversion was designed to be used on 3600 and 3800 Chevrolet Truck from 1947 to 1959 with single rear wheels. There is a difference between front wheel hubs on single rear wheel and dual rear wheel trucks and both can be 8 lug. Rear I'm getting a 73-87 14 bolt FF And putting the Great lakes Offroad LLC GM 14 Bolt Full Disk Brake Kit w/ E-Brake Calipers. and a late model GM master and Booster. I've decided to do all this because can't get rear parts for 48 3600.

You might not find drums for your original rear, but what else can't you find?
I've found everything I need, and many others have rebuilt and still run the original Eaton. Even the 4.10 gears aren't that hard to find used.

I do like the 14 bolt, but it's not a necessary swap.
Have you looked for disc brake brackets for the old Eaton? Pretty sure they exist in the 4x4 aftermarket.

There are rear disc conversion kits a available for your truck. I've seen them for the rear of a 1 ton. You would be able to keep your stock axle if your so inclined. Everything other than drums should also be obtainable for a 3600

The reason I want to change is the fact that the Eaton rearend can't be geared were I want it, 3:55'3:73,

Just so you know we do have a kit for the Dually front hub. and the single wheel front hub. The late model rear axle is a good choice. You get disc an da better choice of gearing

DRW Kit

Discs eliminate a lot of adjusting on Huck brakes.

I found what seems to be a disc break conversion kit at TSM mfg. They are for 8 lug 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. Has anyone used these? Seems like it comes with everything you need for the front end but not the rear. Which is what I was looking for. https://www.tsmmfg.net/chevy-gmc-8-lug-truck-complete-front-disc-brake-kit-1847.html

The one thing they did not mention is the proportioning valve or master cylinder with one.

You can buy a master cylinder and proportioning valve from some of the vendors. Just look for one for the 1/2 ton. Same cylinder piston as the 3/4 and 1 ton.