The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Front disc brakes for 58 GMC truck??

Am wondering if it would be cheaper for me to "piece together"a disc brake setup?I have a set of Hollander interchange manuals.Instead of going with a "kit"?

It would probably be cheaper. It will be time consuming to go and scrounge all the parts you need and build the brackets. If you have more time than money, go for it.

You can buy the bracket kits & sqrounge the rest. If you want to use 6 lug wheels you will need to buy specialty rotors.

What is the best kit to get if you want to keep your 6 lug wheels? Also, what is the best way to do a power brake booster?

Sorry for hijacking your thread, but I'm doing the same thing as you to the same truck!

I have used both the CPP kit and the Performance Online kit on '54 GMCs. Both required modification. Both master cylinder brackets had to be cut and re-welded. Some grinding had to be done on the brake brackets on both and on the caliper castings on the Perfomance Online kit. It would be hard to say which kit was best.

Here's the story on the CPP kit. It starts at about the middle of the page.

The only experience I've had with a kit for a '58 was installing a manual dual cylinder on my '56. I used the CPP bracket. I had to make a nutplate and buy a longer bolt for it. Here's the story on it.

CCP kits for undercab power brakes only require drilling some holes, moving the ebrake pulley and modifying the ebrake cable attach. All simple. The front disc brake conversion requires very little mod depending on the wheel you have. Don't forget the bearing conversion from ball to roller that they and others sell. Tried to buy these from Classic Truck but no 10% discount on "drop ship". Silly!!!

CPP? hmmm have a link to them?

Thanks for the info!

Google: CPP

Is there a website that I can look up information about "doing"the disc brake upgrademyself?Still not sure if I wouldnt be better off buying a "kit".But I bet the kit wont have instructions.

The 58 I'm working on now already has them on it but I am redoing them. The calipers are mid 70's full size & intermidiate cars. I got new ceramic pads & caliper kits. The rotor,s are 11 in. from mid 70's intermidiate. It has a 4 3/4 5 bolt pattern. If you are going to use 5 hole wheels I would get a kit with the brackets, spacers, bolts, & brgs. with spacers & scroung the rest. If you want 6 hole wheels you would probably just buy the whole kit. If you want me to send some photo's I can but it will be Tues.

I have six lugs on my truck.Thanks for the advice.Not in a hurry -so I thought it might be cheaper to just piece it together BUT I dont have enough knowledge.I know Classsic Parts has a 6 lug kit.

I'm changing out my kingpins at the moment and am taking the front disc route with my '51. I considered just ordering the bracket kit from cpp or classic parts.com, but taking the piecemeal route with my local auto store seems to only save me about $30 including shipping and I'm not sure I included everything that comes with the kit. No doubt I could save more by hitting salvage yards, but brakes are the last thing I would even dare to think about skimping on; let alone getting stuff from mid '70s vehicles. I just bit the bullet and 5 minutes ago purchased a kit on sale with performance online through their ebay store for $279, reg. $349. It seems to be the exact one from cpp, so except for minor mods, it should be a basic bolt on.

As I stated about 5 posts up, the CPP and Performance Online kits are not the same. And yes, expect mods to either one.

The mods are reworking the brake lines?I think I will opt for a complete kit with master cylinder/power booster that fits in the original location.I I am on a budget-heck who isnt now a days.So I want to get the best for my sweat earned $$.

*Is also trying to decide the best kit*

the complete/convenience route is nice, but i'm going the parts route

They all have complete instructions on paper and some have it online. They all sell on EBAY. Be sure to add the shipping to the price, sometimes they come out very close, they play with the shipping costs. Also don't for get when you get the combo, for I think about $650, you need to get the bearings for another $120. And then there is power steering. As far as mods for the undercab brake unit, I described that in my previous post here. Bracket holes, relocate pulley, reline with store bought brake line pieces/fittings at Checker, Ebrake rear lever mods, cut hole in floor (if you want)The best way for filling reservoir, which I did not do, is get the reservoir cap that has hose fittings to a remote reservoir on firewall.

And then there is power steering - how/why are you relating that?