I've been playing around with the idea of how to upgrade my front hubs and brakes on my 55.2 GMC 150 and wanted a few opinions.
1 Looking at either cutting the factory spindles to fit newer rotor bearing combo along with making caliper brackets
OR
2 Looking at just spindle and ect swap from a P30. it will get me everything in one shot, but should I ream the factory I beam out to match the larger kingpin (1/4 inch larger), or bushing the spindles for the smaller factory 55 kingpin???
OR
3 Swap the complete front axle assembly and narrow it to fit????
I seem to think number 2 is the easiest but not sure.
top is 99 c2500 2wd pickup middle is 55 3/4 ton bottom is 8 lug trailer spindle.
99 3/4 ton rotor looks to be easy to adapt with just a simple set of sleeves to the factory spindle. And will use parts from any parts store if break down.
trailer 8 lug is the same with use of just a few sleeves but trailer hub although common is not as easy to find and should accept slip on rotors readily. A little more expensive this way but should work just as good for anyone who wants to keep drum brakes or disk swap you already have done.
both ways will gain modern seals and bearings.
you could probably even use the trailer swap with dual wheel rotors to do the same thing with a 1 ton dually without much difficulty..
Opinions and comments or any ideas or questions????
It looks like the inner bearing of the trailer hub would be a big upgrade in weight bearing capacity, which would be a very good thing. The outer bearings appear to be about the same size, just by looking at the spindle diameter. Moving the wheel outboard an inch will affect the scuff radius a little, which will make the steering a bit twitchy due to changes in the steering geometry that can't be compensated for by wheel alignment. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
I'm thinking that it wont be to noticeable since the newer wheels have more offset anyway. The actual change to scuff will be minimal since the pivot point is the king pin to centerline of tire. I will be going out a little over an inch at hub face but with an inch change in backspacing I would be right back at factory specs
Both bearings are actually about .25in larger on the inner diameter. These hubs are for 7000# trailer axle so they will definitely be plenty strong.
Spacers/shims are settled on and are being made now. Soon as they get here and I can actually mount the hub I'll be able to get a more exact measurement on the track width change.
Guy said he can make these really cheap if anyone else wants to upgrade. Only custom piece will be the bearing spacers, rest is off the shelf parts.
It sounds like you've done your homework well- - - - -good on ya! I'd suggest securing the inner spacer to the spindle with some green Loctite to avoid any possibility of it spinning. Can't do that with the outer, so make sure the spacer is a snug fit, clearance-wise! Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
It sounds like you've done your homework well- - - - -good on ya! I'd suggest securing the inner spacer to the spindle with some green Loctite to avoid any possibility of it spinning. Can't do that with the outer, so make sure the spacer is a snug fit, clearance-wise! Jerry
Actually I can use Loctite on the outer since the inner bearing fits over the outer sleeve easily.
Now for a new can of worms, %$#$%# king pin bushings. What a PITA. So much for videos on half ton trucks. After destroying the first set I now know I need to ream them. Only problem is I would like to get my hands on the correct spiral ream tool. Anyone got the correct part number or a source for one similar to the factory one???
