The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 51 3600 disc brakes?

I have a 1951 chevrolet 3600 Im wanting to put disc brakes on. As most of you may know, or at least to my knowledge there is no disc brake conversion for an 8 lug or for that truck. What is my cheapest option as far a a disc brake conversion. What should i do, swap axles? Spindle change? Any help guys much appreciated.

There are a few of us, like myself that are working on a disc brake setup. There isn't any ready made kits out there. You can try to come up with something on your own or one of us bolters would be more than willing to help out with fabrication advise.

Another option is to find a 1/2 ton front axle and swap it out. Of course you would have a 6 lug frontend after that.

Another option is to find a 1/2 ton front axle and swap it out. Of course you would have a 6 lug frontend after that. [/quote]


If you aren't concerned with complete originality, you can then replace your rear axle./diff. with an S-10 or Colorado rear end- you will have 6 lug wheels all around and a rear ratio that will get you highway speeds if you want. I really like my 3.42 rear- and front disc breaks. Best modification I've done (then you better add seat belts, too)

S-10s aren't 6 lug, they're 5 on 4.75

Oops, sorry!!! You're right- It's 5 lugs for an S-10. You can get the front 1/2 ton disc brake kit with either 5 or 6 lugs to match whatever rear you put on. I havn't had my hubcaps off in so long I forgot it was 5 lug.

The 4x4 community uses these same axles a lot and someone has fabricated a conversion bracket to our Ho52s and HO72s

http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/EHO5272.html
I emailed them and asked if it would fit our trucks, they didn't
know but said that you could always return them if they didn't work.

There was a complete thread a long time ago of a guy that machined a spindle adapter to use 70s-80s 8 lug disc brakes on his 3600. If someone has that thread saved I'd appreciate the link. I'd like to do something like that on my front end, maybe even develop it into a kit for sale, but if I recall correctly he had part numbers listed for calipers and rotors.

I also would be interested in this information as my Kingpins are loose, not sure if you can still by bushings and then find someone with the tools to repair.

The information I'm seeking wouldn't help you, he machined an adapter that fit over the spindles to adapt the later model disc/hub.

I wouldn't imagine having bushings machined and pressed in would be to terribly expensive.

In my experience the main weakness in the brake systems is the master cylinder and lack of a booster. You likely don't need disc brakes and the associated cost. 3/4 ton trucks have large brakes and work well when properly set up. Rebuild the brakes with new cylinders, lines, shoes, & drums. Replace the master with a dual diaphragm booster and a dual master cylinder and you will be amazed how good they are.
Fred