The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Front disc brakes

Hi guys, new to the forum and need some brake info. I have a 36 low cab 1/2 ton with the original front axle and want to install front disc brakes. I was told that I could use 75 to 77 camaro bearings and rotors on the stock 36 spindles, is this true and if not what parts would work ??? I'm trying to stay away from spending a fortune on a disc brake kit if I can. Any info will be helpful, I'll have a lot more questions for you guys.
Thanks

Welcome to the Stovebolt.

The disk brake kits usually give you a caliper bracket, and bushings and/or bearings to adapt a rotor like that from the Camaro. These kits start at a little over $100.

To go with that you need calipers and rotors, and hoses, plus you will need to replumb the brakes and convert to a dual master with the correct porporting and residual valves.

I'd expect to spend several hundred beyond the basic kit unless you pay the bucks for a complete kit. And you're going to spend most that money if you try to do the conversion without a kit because you'll still need those parts.

I'm concerned that you feel the kits cost a fortune. If you aren't comfortable spending $100 or so on the kit I'm worried that you will skimp on parts crucial to safety.

Buying the kit is the easy way out and is the route you should take if you don't have the time or resources to gather the parts you need.

I stumbled onto a 77 Lincoln Mark V that had 4 wheel disk brakes. The car didn't cost me anything except for the gas and the Sunday afternoon spent to drive 90 miles round trip to bring it home. The Lincoln provided the master cylinder, the proportioning valve, a 9" differential with disk brakes that was the correct width. I seriously considered making by own brakets and using the front Lincoln calipers until I priced a front disk brake kit from CCP--I couldn't build anything that would work for the price they offered. I buy 99% of all my parts at a local independent parts store and they give me a good deal, so the Camaro calipers and rotors were not nearly as pricy as the parts in the 'complete' kit. I used the Lincoln master cylinder only as a pattern to build a bracket to install this master cylinder in the stock location on my 51. I could buy a rebuilt master cylinder from my parts place cheaper than I could rebuild the one I had so that is the route I chose. The rear Lincoln calipers were a different story--I could rebuild them cheaper myself so that is what I did. I bought a bunch of bulk line and a double flaring tool and redid all the brake lines. I bought new hoses which were again cheaper locally rather than from the kit.

I guess my point is to use your resources. Keep your eyes open and don't get in a big hurry. I was still driving my stock 51 around listening to #4 rod pound while I was looking for a 261 to replace it. I found a 261 and while I was overhauling it I started looking for a GM 89mm (RPO MYA6) transmission, which I found in a local junk yard. I did the research and figured out what Lincoln cars would have the most parts I needed and eventually one popped up. Get to know the local independent parts store guys. Get to know the salvage yard guys. My fellow 'Bolters will give you lots of advice. Good luck!

Thanks for the response guys, this truck is just a winter project (or how ever long it takes) I'm just trying to save some cash but I don't want to take any chances on the safety end. I've built a few street rods and always bought the complete brake kit and as you know they are not cheap, so I thought that maybe I could buy some new parts from Napa or the salvage yard down the road and put together my own brake setup. It maybe that I'll end up just buying the kit to make it easy.
I was looking at Speedway Motors and saw the flat plate steering arms for 49 thru 54, do any of you know if these would work on the stock 36 spindles ?