The Stovebolt Forums Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Disc brakes for 1.5, and 2 ton trucks

Hey All!, After reading about axles, wheels, and tires until my eyes fell out and to be honest I became a bit discouraged I came across an idea that I wanted to bounce off the forum. It may be borderline heresy to say in a place like this but I will brace myself and apologize ahead of time. Keep in mind that my truck means the world to me and is one of my last real connections to my grandfather. However, other than the cab (the exterior), the Cresci dump, and the front axle (which has to go), there is absolutely nothing stock or original about it. My grandfather was all about modifying it to suit his needs and or what he had available at the time. Its a 1954 6100, and it is my understanding that the front axle is just a small hair under 70" wide. So has anyone given any real thought about swapping in a pair of 2.5 ton rockwells with the hubs "flipped"? The width is 69.25 inches with them flipped. The truck would be much more valuable and useful to me as a 4 wheel drive and thus I would have a bit more justification to invest my time and money into it. If 69.25 inches is too narrow I don't think it should be too bad $ to get one side custom shortened and then just cut the tube on that size to the size I need. It looks like I might have a line on some reasonable rockwells, and wheels and parts should be a whole lot easier to come across. My grandfather always wanted a NAPCO truck so this is kind of interesting way of getting my truck close. Thanks.

Rockewlls would make for a very tall truck and just as low gears although I think aftermarket faster gears are now available. Still leaves you figuring out brakes? Mounting the front axle to the springs might be difficult and taller springs are probably required.

Certainly you should look into it, but in my opinion I bet you find it's not a great idea.

Grigg

Grigg I'm looking to put some front and rear discs on my '54 1-1/2 ton truck. What is a good formula on determining the right diameter and thickness of the rotors for safety reasons? I will be using the stock 2 speed rear end and will keep the 235 with the sm-420 4-speed.

Check out this thread again,
This is what I know about swapping disc brakes on an AD 2 ton truck front axle.

I haven't looked at the rears because I think swapping to a whole newer rear with more gear options is a better plan.

Grigg

There are photos on this build link that show the caliper mounts I made and the set up front and rear. Uses F550 calipers. The rotors are from a company that sells disc brake conversions for the 2 1/2 ton Rockweel axles for mud trucks.
http://rides.webshots.com/album/550039908qGswfS

Thanks,
There are countless ways of doing a disc brake conversion.

My intent is to use easy to get parts new and or used and keep the machine work to the bare minimum. So far with the P30 parts that comes down to just a couple bushings.

Grigg

That's what I am using(10 on 7.25") under my '37 GMC. Let me know if you need any measurements.

hi im new here i have a 1947 3/4 ton with the 8 lug bolt pattern i have looked for a disc brake setup for a few years i finally found someone to build a kit for me it was a little bit more than a kit for the 1/2 ton pickups i was the first one to get the kit built the company is called RPM Eng the owner is ron his phone 3 is 760-329-1886 give him a call he should be able to help with a disc brake conversion if you have any ? you can contact me at faynel@prodigy.net for more info

Have you installed the kit yet? How did it work?

yes i installed the kit and it is working fine i had a few things i had to do to make it work but that normal