The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline disc brake / spindle question

hi guys ,

i have finally gotten started on my 64 c10. I just started tearing her down this morning. I have been trying to write down my plan for everything i want to do , but my list keeps growing.

anyway,,, My question is this . What year trucks can I get spindles from that will convert my truck to disc brakes ? I know they sell the kits , but I have an awesome salvage yard not too far from me that i can get spindles , rotors and calipers for both sides of the front for about $60 total.

check out thier price list ,
http://www.pullapart.com/Pricing/Main.aspx

I am making me a list of stuff i need and will be headed there next week for my all day salvage spree.

thanks for the help
charles

Hey Charles, what you need to look for is the '73-'87 2wd Chevy or GMC truck. When you get into the early 80s, there are light duty & heavy duty brakes to contend with. Just remember what year of truck you pulled them off of if you ever have to replace wheel bearings or rotors. They will only fit on the corresponding spindle. While you are there, you may want to grab the swaybar & brackets, too.

Charles, I would not suggest purchasing just spindles for your swap. The lower control arms for your original drum brakes are mounted closer together than the later models; end result will be you will have to take every shim out of the upper crossmember, and you will still have some camber to contend with. What happens is, since the lowers on the later models are farther apart, the spindle has to be tilted downward. When you bolt it to your control arms which are closer together, the wheels are tilted down even more, making it necessary to remove all the shims to get the wheels to stand up straight, which it won't ever truly do. I would suggest changing out the entire crossmember; more work, yes, but safer IMO, not to mention you'll actually be able to take it to a front end shop to get it aligned.

I did this on my '64; check my website. Hope this helps!

Not to mention, the '85 on up (if I remember correctly) use metric nuts and bolts.

Charles,

I have changed out spindles on a 63 and 68 both with 71/72 parts. The control arm geometry is the same. Although this swap uses most of the original parts, you are stuck with the steel bushings in the control which was improved with the rubber bushings in the 73 and up. The only thing about the steel bushings I did not like is they squeak sometimes. When I made this swap, I would typically buy a cheap 71 or 72 parts truck to make sure I got all the parts needed. I would even use all the formed steel brake lines off the donor truck if they were in good shape. However, if you are just buying parts, all you need is the parts from the spindles out including rotors, calipers, backing plates, etc. I would also pull off the master cylinder and all the brake lines/proportioning valve at least for reference when putting it back together. Maybe that gives you another option.

Jeff

Thank you for the info guys.

I will keep researching this and hopefully get it all figured out.

does anyone have photos of a 64 and a 72 crossmember / control arm set up? since the motor and stuff have been swapped by a PO i was wondering if possibly the c/member has been also.the 230 mounts ( what the truck came with)wont work with the 250 that is in the truck now right?

230 & 250 mounts are the same, & theres no real obvious difference in the X-members except the 72 has 5 lug discs & 64 has 6 lug drums. I used 71-2 spindles on mine, it aligned just fine & drives fine.

ok, maybe it was 235 mounts that were different.I am new to this model truck.I just remember on my last truck '59 appache, the mounts on the ole 6 banger were offset.