Modern full floating swap

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

nanook2k

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2014
Posts
1
Reaction score
0
Location
El Paso
First Name
Stephen
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
C25
Engine Size
350
Ive got a 1976 C25 with drum brakes. I've been looking and doing allot of research to do a rear end swap to something more modern and with disk brakes. I know there's a few people out there with kits. I don't want a kit. I want a parking brake, and disk brakes and mounts that aren't retrofitted. Any body have experience with this.
 

77 K20

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2012
Posts
3,101
Reaction score
3,119
Location
Montana
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
K20 5" lift
Engine Size
HT383 fuel injected
All I can tell you is my 03 Silverado has a AAM 11.5" rear axle (full floater) and the parking brake on that thing is worthless. The axle seals always seem to seep a bit and then it soaks into the brake pads and then they don't work. I had them redone once and in 6 months the parking brake didn't work anymore.

A disc brake kit with Cadillac brakes with built in parking brakes would be the best option in my opinion.
 

GreaseDog

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2010
Posts
1,189
Reaction score
35
Location
Elkhart, IN
First Name
Jeremy
Truck Year
1977 K20
Truck Model
1980 K2500
Engine Size
350
Another thing you might consider is the driveline parking brake found on the rear of a TH475. If you're running a TH400, that would enable you to put standard calipers on the back.

I'm going to be running standard K20 calipers with a High Angle Driveline parking brake on the back of my NP241
 

usar17

Full Access Member
Joined
May 3, 2012
Posts
596
Reaction score
17
Location
PA
First Name
Shawn
Truck Year
1985/87
Truck Model
K20 Silverado
Engine Size
TBI350/700r4/NP208
What prohibits the new model 10.5" full floaters from being used on squares? I know the spring pirchs wouldn't match. What about wheel width? Or why can't the brake mounts be retro fitted to a early model 14 bolts
 

HotRodPC

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Aug 29, 2010
Posts
47,114
Reaction score
9,266
Location
OKC, OK
First Name
HotRod
Truck Year
85 K20 LWB
Truck Model
Silverado
Engine Size
454 - Turbo 400 - 3.73
Or you can go with a Mico Lever actuated Park Brake,
http://www.mico.com/products/brake-actuation/brake-locks/lever-lock

Or Mico Electric actuated Park Brake,
http://www.mico.com/products/brake-actuation/brake-locks/electric-activated-lock

You can find these type kits on eBay too and get them cheaper than the suggested retail. You can have them set up to lock your front wheels, your rear wheels, or all 4 of your wheels.
What these systems do is apply the pressure at the master cylinder so it acts as if your foot is on the brake pedal, so this does mean, your brake system has to be in good shape to work. If you apply this brake and your caliper seal is leaking, well eventually you'd lose your brake after the caliper leaked down. So if you had the lock all 4 wheels system, and your rear caliper leaked, then your fronts will still hold or vice versa. If your master cylinder went bad, well then your fuct.

Driveline brake is a good option too.
 

usar17

Full Access Member
Joined
May 3, 2012
Posts
596
Reaction score
17
Location
PA
First Name
Shawn
Truck Year
1985/87
Truck Model
K20 Silverado
Engine Size
TBI350/700r4/NP208
You must be registered for see images attach
Look what I found!!! Adapter plate is made by RightGear. I emailed them inquiring what else needs changed to fully work. Id assume there is something with the hubs matching up with the rotors.
 

usar17

Full Access Member
Joined
May 3, 2012
Posts
596
Reaction score
17
Location
PA
First Name
Shawn
Truck Year
1985/87
Truck Model
K20 Silverado
Engine Size
TBI350/700r4/NP208
Idk if they still make them. But I found a thread on Pirate 4x4 explaining having replica mounting plates made and welding them to the existing ones to accept newer brake system. Waiting to hear back what else needs altered
 

89Suburban

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2010
Posts
24,744
Reaction score
6,531
Location
Southeast PA
First Name
Paw Paw
Truck Year
2007
Truck Model
Chevrolet Tahoe LT
Engine Size
5.3, 4WD
Or you can go with a Mico Lever actuated Park Brake,
http://www.mico.com/products/brake-actuation/brake-locks/lever-lock

Or Mico Electric actuated Park Brake,
http://www.mico.com/products/brake-actuation/brake-locks/electric-activated-lock

You can find these type kits on eBay too and get them cheaper than the suggested retail. You can have them set up to lock your front wheels, your rear wheels, or all 4 of your wheels.
What these systems do is apply the pressure at the master cylinder so it acts as if your foot is on the brake pedal, so this does mean, your brake system has to be in good shape to work. If you apply this brake and your caliper seal is leaking, well eventually you'd lose your brake after the caliper leaked down. So if you had the lock all 4 wheels system, and your rear caliper leaked, then your fronts will still hold or vice versa. If your master cylinder went bad, well then your fuct.

Driveline brake is a good option too.

Hydraulic brake locks like that will not pass state inspection here. It has to be mechanical.
 

usar17

Full Access Member
Joined
May 3, 2012
Posts
596
Reaction score
17
Location
PA
First Name
Shawn
Truck Year
1985/87
Truck Model
K20 Silverado
Engine Size
TBI350/700r4/NP208
Ya pa requires mechanical separate from the main system. I'm gonna try and get my hands on the parts from a 01+ and see if I can't weld the plates together
 

77 K20

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2012
Posts
3,101
Reaction score
3,119
Location
Montana
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
K20 5" lift
Engine Size
HT383 fuel injected
You must be registered for see images attach
Look what I found!!! Adapter plate is made by RightGear. I emailed them inquiring what else needs changed to fully work. Id assume there is something with the hubs matching up with the rotors.

Those look pretty nice- as they have inner shields (dust covers?) the aftermarket kits I have seen just have the bare disc visible.
 

usar17

Full Access Member
Joined
May 3, 2012
Posts
596
Reaction score
17
Location
PA
First Name
Shawn
Truck Year
1985/87
Truck Model
K20 Silverado
Engine Size
TBI350/700r4/NP208
Ya. But they no longer sell them. My thoughts are to take the axle shafts, rotors, calipers, hubs, and caliper mounts from a 2001+ 10.5" axle. Then cut the mount bracket off the axle. That should let me figure out a way to make an adaptor to go from the late model to the early model.
 

HotRodPC

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Aug 29, 2010
Posts
47,114
Reaction score
9,266
Location
OKC, OK
First Name
HotRod
Truck Year
85 K20 LWB
Truck Model
Silverado
Engine Size
454 - Turbo 400 - 3.73
Hydraulic brake locks like that will not pass state inspection here. It has to be mechanical.

And there is good reason for that. As stated, if your master cylinder is bad, or your calipers or wheel cylinders leak, then you lose the function.

For a parking brake, all you really need is for one wheel to have the ability to hold the vehicle. but I'd imagine if they inspect for that, you'll have to have 2 wheels. I had a truck one that broke the cable on 1 side. I just tied that side off, and it kept good park brake pedal and all. Just that it only had 1 wheel with the brake on instead of 2.
 

Konas new ride

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2013
Posts
791
Reaction score
47
Location
Alberta
First Name
Gerald
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
Or you can go with a Mico Lever actuated Park Brake,
http://www.mico.com/products/brake-actuation/brake-locks/lever-lock

Or Mico Electric actuated Park Brake,
http://www.mico.com/products/brake-actuation/brake-locks/electric-activated-lock

You can find these type kits on eBay too and get them cheaper than the suggested retail. You can have them set up to lock your front wheels, your rear wheels, or all 4 of your wheels.
What these systems do is apply the pressure at the master cylinder so it acts as if your foot is on the brake pedal, so this does mean, your brake system has to be in good shape to work. If you apply this brake and your caliper seal is leaking, well eventually you'd lose your brake after the caliper leaked down. So if you had the lock all 4 wheels system, and your rear caliper leaked, then your fronts will still hold or vice versa. If your master cylinder went bad, well then your fuct.

Driveline brake is a good option too.


Lots of states and provences wont pass that as a park brake due to brake fluid.. not a cable or hard line to operate it. It's just a piggy back on the normal brake system.



EDIT.. I didnt read the whole post sorry for the same post as others.
 

HotRodPC

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Aug 29, 2010
Posts
47,114
Reaction score
9,266
Location
OKC, OK
First Name
HotRod
Truck Year
85 K20 LWB
Truck Model
Silverado
Engine Size
454 - Turbo 400 - 3.73
Lots of states and provences wont pass that as a park brake due to brake fluid.. not a cable or hard line to operate it. It's just a piggy back on the normal brake system.



EDIT.. I didnt read the whole post sorry for the same post as others.

Ain't no thang. Prolly worth a double mention. It does make perfect sense why they woudln't consider it a safe parking brake. Just do like the old 2x4 go cart method and pull the 2x4 into the wheel for a brake. That'll work. Better yet, you can put a block on the end of the 2x4 and it will hold it. :happy175:
 

Forum statistics

Threads
43,935
Posts
946,042
Members
35,982
Latest member
jake26104
Top