The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks If I go to Disk Brakes...

If I change over from drums to front disk brakes, do I need bigger rims to accommodate the rotors and calipers? I'm currently running 15" by 10" wide rims.

Thanks!!!

Glen

The short answer is your 15" wheels will work. But when you make the change make sure you use a kit or donor parts from a 15" wheel vehicle.

Hope that helps

John

OK, I'm sticking my neck out here and disagreeing with HRJ. I've heard that the 60-66 factory wheels will not work with an aftermarket disc brake conversion. I assume this is also true for a salvage yard swap too. I've read that you need to find wheels from a 70's K series 4X4 truck in order to fit the disc caliper.

I will see what other folks say as I have not done this conversion yet. I plan to build my truck and evaluate what stance I like. Then I will buy the proper disc brake kit (drop spindle or factory stance) and do the upgrade.

are 10" wide wheels "factory" for 60-66?
and I thought that the backset was the important part

Bill

I think the 60-66 factory wheels are 6.5" wide. Here's part of the reason I believe that the 60-66 factory steel wheels will not work with a disc brake upgrade - see link. http://www.classicperform.com/Store/1960_1972_Chevy_Truck/6062SWBK5OE.htm

Glen is using wheels 10" wide he's not using 6.5" factory wheels, whole different can of worms, backset clearance might be fine ... or not

Bill

Looks like Glen DID say that he had 10" wide rims after all, but I was in too much of a hurry to go out to dinner, so I didn't catch that part. Sorry, to both Hot Rod John and others for me being a little disagreeable. One thing to consider - even if you are running the 10" wide rims -the CPP articles say that their disc brake kit TUCKS the wheel in about an inch. If your backspacing is at the limit now, then you might run into problems hitting the control arms with a disc brake kit.

Most if not all aftermarket wheels will clear the calipers on normal disc brake conversions. CPP is not the final word on this issue. Many aftermarket brake kit suppliers can provide kits for any wheel you prefer. I installed a conversion on a 62 Impala using the stock 14" wheels. I also did a 55 Cameo using the stock 6 lug 15" wheels. You just have to specify what you want to do. If a supplier can't tell what will fit it's because they just push parts across the counter and have no experience with the mechanical process.
Fred

Wow guys. Thanks for the info. Now I'm really questioning it . Initially, I was just concerned that the calipers may get in the way of a 15"diameter wheel. I have been looking at a few aftermarket disk set ups and drop axles. I hadn't considered that they may also line up differently, in terms of backspacing or offset. (I had assumed they'd be situated the same as the drums).

And yes, I'm running 10" wide wheels. Stock are 6.5".

This is stressful ha ha ha ha

Glen

The factory/stock 15" wheels are 5.5" wide

Oops! Ya. That.