The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 65 p/u disc brake upgrade

I have chance to get 5 lug disc brakes off of 70-72 1/2 ton, Someone told me I can put these on my 65 1/2 ton, is this true? Do I need the A-frames too. or just the spindles, calipers,rotors, porportioning valve??

Ive heard that you can use a 70-72 or 73-87 1/2 ton too and that on the 73-87 you ll have to drill some hose and it will bolt right onto your frame, I think your frame is the same width of the 70-87 but for the 73-87 you'll need the whole IFS. (Cross member)

Check out mobileortho's 1950 3600 if you want to see a SWEET install and there's a few other Bolters that has done this to

I don't think Chevy made a 5 bolt truck pattern in that era of truck. Be sure it's not a car set-up before buying it,
Scott

I did this conversion on my 67 1/2 ton. I believe that the 65 is the same front suspension as the 67. There may be others that are can verify this. The suspension that you are looking at is from a 71-72. 70 still used drums. You need to change the spindles, ball joints, etc. and lower A-arm. It may be that you don't need to change both ball joints but don't recall. Any way, it is a great time to replace with new. The bottom A arm at first glance looks the same but the steering stop is shaped a bit differently. You can use the early A-arm but your turning radius will be reduced. If available, don't forget the master cylinder and proportioning valve. You will also need to change front brake lines. Different routing and different fittings.

I you want to keep the 5 lugs, get the 5 lug wheels. I used 6 lug rotors and needed to find 6 lug 4x4 wheels from the late 70s. The original 6 lug wheels may not clear rotors (I believe there may be different designs).

If you are looking at 73 and up front ends, you need to change everything (cross member)

Hope this helps. This is a great upgrade and everything is stock bolt together.

From 1963-1987, chevrolet trucks used the basically the same suspension. In 1971, chevrolet switched to five lugs and disc brakes. To do the swap, you only need the rotors, calipers, spindles and new ball joints and everything will simply bolt in place. adding power steering is just as easy, and don't go buying on of those seventy dollar adapter plates either, just use some spacers to set the power box away from the frame. I don't think any other swap could be easier.

Thanks for the advice, I have done some checking and changing the whole IFS is one option, thanks again.

Thanks for advice, Iam sure it is a early 70s 1/2 ton pickup

Thanks for the advice, I am going to get as much as I can off of the early 70s pickup, and I will most likely get the 6 lug rotors so I only need one spair tire.

Thanks for advise, I found out several different ways to do this swap on another site. Seems I can change the whole IFS unit, bolt it in. or a few different combinations by changing balljoints I just need the spindle on out and a different tie rod end, or change the draglink with idler and box, Or I can swap out the a-frames too, Gee desisions, desitions. some one even mentioned going to the later 6lug spindles and using a 3/4 ton lower a-frame. Changing out the IFS sounds easier. check it out on 67-72 chevy trucks.com

Sounds like you are on track. Bottom line, there are lots of ways to do it. Been a while since I did mine and I forgot to mention tie rods, drag links, etc. It would be interesting to see how later 6lug spindles are used. Like I said, I used 6 lug hub/rotors. Glad I did but they are after market and pricey. It is always nice to figure out how to use stock pieces available at your FLAPS.

I think '69 was the last year for 6 lugs on the '67-'72 run.

I'm not positive tho'.

-W

1969 was the last year for 6 lug on chevy 1/2 ton trucks. 1970 Chevy trucks starting using 5 lug.

As for the IFS swap, I am doing one of these right now. Just took out the entire crossmember with spindles, discs, etc that was attached to the crossmember on a 1973-80 Chevy Suburban.

It is Sooooooooooo Easy! Yeah drill out a few holes a litttle bigger and two new hole will need to be drilled and your set. I also got the power steering box and pump too.

Why buy all that after market junk at those high prices when it is sooooo easy to do it yourself and save!

The power steering box will set the same distance from the frame as the original box, so the steering rod will line right up. You will need to take off the steering joint and use the newer style which bolts in. So, all you need are spacers and then drill some new holes in the frame.

Once you get the system it is pretty obvious what needs to be done. And since you are going to put disc on the front and drum on the back you will need the proportioning valve too.

Might as well grab the power booster and do that too.

My 1966 Suburban will drive like a new truck when I am done.

i was just told you could have 73'+ rear axles shortened 1.5"? and they will go into the 65' housing and you end up with 5 lug on the rear. the front swap with the k-member is the way to go as they made thousands of those trucks and they are laying around everywhere.

FYI, I have a 70 with 6 lug hubs,
Scott

I was on a site www67-72Chev trucks.com went to a dicussion on the dic brake up grade for the early 60s trucks, they were talking about using parts from the early 70 up to mid 80s and this side discussion or thread I guess they call it starts on how to use late 80s early 90s spindle/rotor/caliper with a 68 3/4 ton lower A frame because it has the same size dia. hole for the lower ball joint it was interesting but not quite complete, so someone has done it, maybe we will hear more soon.

thanks for info

seems to me like there were some 6 lug with disc brakes, I think the problem is they weren`t many, if you can find parts they ain`t cheap, I agree the whole front suspension swap is the way to go, thanks for your input

I thought they made some, must have been a upgrade option.