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HELPPPPPPP!!! What other 133" axle will fit under my '72 C-30 'Bolt? Can't find 13 x 2-1/2 brake drums and the old ones are worn thin as tin foil. The shoes are adjusted out as far as they'll go, and not even making contact with the drums. The wife is after me that we need hay for the livestock. Any help greatly appreciated!

John E. in SE Ohio

Hy YzOldOwl, can you tell us if the truck has single or dual rear wheels?

Yz-

I'll assume you have the Eaton style axle (big round cover on back), banjo style axle.

Look for a GM corporate 14 bolt full float axle at the local junk yard. They are common and you should be able to get the whole axle for around $100 or so. This is one tough axle... so it won't break, but you don't get a lot of ground clearance with it.

Alternatively if your in love with your axle and want to keep it, why not switch to disc brakes? You might be able to get some from Blackbirds Custom Trucks ( http://www.blackbirdscustomtrucks.com/ ). This will be more costly and you'll likely have to change your master cylinder as well.

If you get rid of your old axle, put it on the "For Sale" section of this site... someone might buy it from you and help offset the cost of the new axle.

Much thanks I gave the wrong measurement for that axle! What I've been able to find out, they only made that axle for that truck _in_ 1972 and that makes it dang near impossible to find a replacement. Wife was up 'til midnite last nite hunting, and came up goose-egg. But the wife took me to a yard I didn't even know exist and we bought a -- I think it's a '78 -- axle. With minor mods it will fit under the C-30, and parts ets for it are find-able.

Well, the new axle is from a '87 C-30. I don't anticipate much a problem swapping them out, except I might break the nuts off the shackles or even the shackles themselfs and have to get new ones. Also need new longer studs so I can put the duals back on. Not a problem as far as I can see, I used to work for the truck repair and supply outfit where I know I can get 'em. I'll keep y-all posted on the progress. Wife is a lot happyer camper now!

John E. in SE Ohio

Why do you have to mess with the shackles?

Found a broken spot in the driver's side springs so yeah, I had to remove that shackle and replace the spring too. Stripped the threads and broke one of the U-bolts trying to get the dratted things off but was able to get a pair made special, there's a shop in Columbus that does that sort of thing. So now I'm just waiting on the rain to quit so I can finish up. Glad glad glad! that Chevy didn't have any "better ideas" like -- well, you know! :rolleyes:

John E. in southeast Ohio

YzOldOwl,

It sounds like your wife should get the "Bolter of the Year" award for all her help! Maybe dinner out and a bouquet of flowers.


Stuart

Thanx Stu; I get to take her to an auction tomorrow! That's her speed, she don't do fancy dinner and flowers! Not furs and furbeloos either. Real down-to-earth woman. She was raised by her paternal grampa and grew up handing him tools and learning things that girls don't genrlly learn.

John E. in southeast Ohio

Dang John, better put a vise grip on that woman, don't let her get away!