The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Disc Brake 52 chevy 1/2 ton

I'm in the market for a full kit to convert my drums to disc brakes in the front.
Any advice . Kits better than others. Installation informations. Prize info. specific manufacturer / Specific dealer.
How long did it take you ? Tricks and Tips

Let me know
Thanks for your Advice

Peioa

hello.
i did that conversion on my 57. got the kit from performanceonline.com. ran into a few probelms, nothing major.
search my posts, around may-july of 2008, and there is plenty of info there when i was installing it.
i also have pics on my photobucket account on my signature.

good luck.

leonard

Here is a tread from about a year ago. As for CPP, if I were to have to buy another kit, well I don't know if I would buy a CPP. It is well made, just not good on the quality control end. I know that is a contradiction, but with some tweeking it works. I have not driven the truck yet, so I do not know the quality of the parts. If I do another one I will go with a caliper bracket only and by my parts locally.

My set fromm CPP went on well but when I got it installed, the calpers set so that the disc pads extended 1/8 in out past the rotors. I've done brakes for 20 years and invariably the pads are 1/8in inside the rotor. After two weeks of wrangling with CPP they finally said that they were right??? And when I sent in the customer satifaction survey, again detailing the problem, they just said they were sorry I wasn't satified with their product but made no attempt to correct it.

So , beside CPP, What others alternatives do I have ?
Let me know.
Peioa

here are my old posts on my power front disc install.

https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthread...;Main=58321&Number=423229#Post423229

https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthread...;Main=58411&Number=423870#Post423870

https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthread...;Main=59204&Number=429659#Post429659

https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthread...;Main=59390&Number=431181#Post431181

and here is where i bouhgt the kit from
http://www.performanceonline.com/store/customer/home.php?cat=251

leonard

I believe that after the conversion is complete, the original wheels no longer fit because of the disc setup. I think there is a post on this.

The current Nov 2009/Vol.18/No.11/p.64 issue of Classic Trucks has a pictorial article on the installation of CPP's Mustang II
Six Lug Brake Kit if you're interested. Also, check with Inliner Buffalo Steve at Buffalo Enterprises,25625 Dahl Road, Arlington, WA 98223 360-652-7684. He offers a 6 lug disc kit for stock axles that fits and is not overly expensive. He advertises on the Inliner site, but has no web site of his own. Phone only. He'll talk right away or get back to you.

Does anybody tried to build the kit on their own. Friend of mine told me I would end up saving money by doin' so.

Let me know.
Peioa

yes, you could build it on your own and save money.

here is a tapered bearing conversion for your truck,
http://www.performanceonline.com/store/customer/product.php?productid=16632&cat=1060&page=1

and caliper brackets,
http://www.performanceonline.com/store/customer/product.php?productid=18536&cat=1053&page=1

than all you need is to go to your local auto supply store and get calipers, rotors,a nd a master and booster.

leonard

Leonard,

Sorry about all those questions, but by any chance, Do you have the parts numbers on all the material I need (calipers, rotors, master cylinder, booster...)

Thanks a lot,
Peioa

Are you wanting to convert to 5-lug or stay 6-lug?

I'm not sure you'll save money doing it on your own, though you might. The advantage to doing it yourself is you know what parts you used.

I bought a bracket kit when I did mine and converted to 5-lug as I did it. It included caliper brackets, a spacer for the inside bearing, the inner bearing and seal and little else. This was 7 years ago so my memory for details could be fuzzy.

My kit called for mid-70's GM mid-size car disks and calipers. I was parting out a '73 Chevelle wagon at the time so I choose that car as my parts source, then bought all the pieces new to fit it.

You really need to swap to a dual master at the same time, and replumb the brakes to support that.

I bought parts from Chevy Duty (since changed names) and was not impressed by them, CPP which I was pleased with, Eastwood (brake line tools) and two of my local auto parts stores.

I spent $700 or so back in 2002.

You can make your own bracket and spacer, though for the $100 or so I'd suggest you just buy the kit.

The six lug kits usually retain the stock hub and mount a disk on it, so bearing changes are not required though many suggest it.

I did my own conversion to discs on a '54 Chev. straight axle. The only thing I had to fabricate was a mount for the caliper, I used an old bearing race for a spacer, everything else was a bolt on. I got the discs from a Chevelle. It was an easy one day job to complete, cost me $ 0.00, (the Chevelle disc setup was free from a wrecked car). Sorry I don't have pics. It included a change to 5 lug bolts though.

As far as I know the only caliper only kit, for 6 lug, is supplied by Buffalo engineering. As for the other parts needed, 71 chevy k10 parts are what are used. This is the first year for disk brakes so the later years in that design will also work. You need the rotors, calipers and lug studs. I do not know what is included in the Buffalo kit, but you will also need a spacer plate and 6 - 3/8 dia. grade 8 flat head screws. I am not sure of the length, but they will be the same length as the thickness of the hub, rotor and the 3/16" spacer plate. I would think that the screws and spacer are supplied by Buffalo.

The only "machine work" this kit will need is to drill the hub rivet holes out to 3/8 dia. and drill and tape the rotors to 3/8-NC to match the 3-rivet holes in the hub and spacer plate.

i dont have the part numbers, but on my setup form performanceonline, they utilize 1970-78 camaro rotors and calipers and brake pads, if i am not mistaken.
you could always pick the tech guys brains from wherever you want to buy the brackets and bearings from, playing along like your interested in the entire kit, and ask them what the rotors and calipers and master are from.

hope this helps.

leonard