The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop disc brake conversion - gm 14 bolt question

I have a 1977 gm 14 bolt rear axle under my one ton 48 AD. I'd like to convert it to disc brakes. Are there any factory parts available to make this happen, or?????

I used 3/4 ton chevy front 8 lug rotors off a 4wd pickup from the 1973 - 1987 era and calipers as well. You will need to build a caliper mounting bracket or hang around the 4wd websites as there are companies that offer the brackets.

Ryan

I don't know about the 14 bolt but my 10 bolt matched up with a 2002 Firebird rear disc.

Far as I know the 14-bolt is still in use. Do you have a full float or semi float? Six lug or eight? A little wrecking yard shopping should turn up what you need, just make sure the donor has a 14-bolt and not a Dana.

Take a look under a '00 or newer GM 3/4 or 1 ton truck (HD models). They have rear disks, and the 6.0 powered trucks have the 14 bolt rear end. The Deisels and 8.1 trucks use a Dana 80, but the brake parts should be usable on the 14 bolt as well. Strip the axle for the hubs, brackets, calipers, and parking brake parts. Should be a virtual bolt on, and uses easily available parts. I would advise using the rotors and calipers for mockup only, use the calipers for cores and get new ones. As far as the rotors go, GM has had alot of problems with their rotors, the aftermarket ones are better.

There are kits available to convert a 14 bolt to disc brakes.
Look on E Bay under 14 bolt, there's tons of stuff on there for that conversion.
All it is are front rotors and calipers for a 73-87 K/20, and a custom made bracket to bolt the calipers to the axle tube.
Also if you want a woking E brake you can use calipers for a 76 Eldorado. They have the hookup for E brake cables on them.

try this place.
http://www.diy4x.com/brakes.htm

try autozone
look for a 3/4 T if looking for 8-bolt

I would not advise the use of a caliper with a built in parking brake, especially ot the early design ones. They are notorious for having a high failure rate. I've certainly replaced plenty of them due to failure. The Silverado disk brake uses a built in drum inside the rotor, just like a Corvette. Much better setup and les prone to failure.

Thanks to everyone. Looks like I'll be spending some time down at the wrecking yard looking for some road tested parts.

TSMMFG.COM has everything you need from the rotors to the calipers to the brackets. They have kits for just about any 8 lug truck and rearend combo.