The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Tons 'o Fun 1949 3800 Front Disc Brakes

So I have been doing a lot of reading on disc brakes for the front of my truck. I have seen that one guy, that is now deceased, had a set up for them. Sid's has an 8 bolt disc brake set up for $525. I have also seen Auto City Classic and Toms Classic has 5 bolt setups for 1/2 tons. Can you adapt the 1/2 ton brakes to the one ton? I am not sure I want to go back to the 8 lug wheels. I was thinking to do 6 lug. Can you drill out the 7/16" hole to make it 1/2" to mount or are there other things to do or change out? I changed my rear axle to a Ford 8.8 explorer rear axle with 3.73 gears and disc brakes. Also, what booster/dual reservoir set up are people using? Thanks for your help

Erik,

I presume you have a half ton truck, it is always best to state what you are working with up front?

Anyway, it is relatively easy to make your own disc brake setup. Find a disc with the proper wheel bolt pattern and and that registers on the wheel where the old drum brake used to register. Might have to do some light machine work on the disc to match them up. Front discs from wherever your 8.8 came from would be a good place to start, while there, grab the the caliper too. It is OK to grab used parts to start with.

If everything fits up to the front of your truck, whatever your truck is, then arrange to hook up an air line to the caliper, like HRL suggested, place the caliper on the mounted disc in an appropriate position, apply air to the caliper which will then clamp it to the disc. Then you can design your caliper mounting bracket using appropriate bolts, spacers, etc. Cut out a bracket of the appropriate thickness in steel, be a good time to replace antique flexible brake lines with new of the correct length.

Disc brakes usually need power so setting up and installing that is the next part.

If doing this on a half ton Chevy or GMC truck, Blazer discs and calipers would be appropriate to use.

Ed

1949 3800 (title of this thread)?

It is a 1 ton. Looking for 6 lug or 8 lug discs. The only fronts out there I have seen currently are 8 lug from Sids dropped axles. There was a guy making 5 or 6 lug disc brakes but passed away I read and was a one man operation.

TSM mfg.net. they also make a kit. Little pricey though. John

TSM makes the kits Sid's (one of their dealers) sells. You can purchase from either source. Barnes4WD and Lugnutz are both options for the 14 bolt rear discs and calipers and are independently manufactured. They're aren't many 1T options, so the price is what it is.