"Cheap big brakes" question

[jaybee]

Looking through old posts I've been very impressed with the information on putting C4 or C5 Corvette rotors with late GM pickup/Tahoe calipers on Chevelles, Novas and other cars. I want to do something similar on my 57 Chevy. Can anyone point me toward dimensions of the C4 and C5 rotors, late calipers, as well as early A body or 60s B body hubs? Yes, the hubs also have to be changed as Tri5s have ball bearings. My goal is to find a combination of parts that will allow the simplest (read "flattest") caliper bracket possible while centering the calipers properly over the rotors. I could just buy a bunch of rotors, hubs, and calipers and mix & match until I find a combo that works, but that isn't a very efficient use of funds. :)

[andrewb70]

The DBA catalog can get you started:

http://www.dba.com.au/2006/PDF_CATALOGUE/Catalogue_AUST/2007_AUSTCatalogue_180607.pdf

They list a lot of the important dimensions for rotors for more vehicles than you care to know about.

Andrew

[Apogee]

The OE Tri-5 spindles are more similar to the 58+ B-body spindles in design than it is to the early A/F/X bodies. While there are tapered roller coversion bearings for the early hubs, most of the hubs are showing their age at this point and not worth reusing. The Tri-5 hub flanges are a good 5/8" inset from the standard A/F/X hubs.

The spindle has 1.25" and .75" diameter bearing journals and accepts standard SET6 and SET 2 inner and outer wheel bearings, respectively.

Good luck.

[jaybee]

Thanks! The DBA catalog dimensions are extremely helpful. The C4 rotors are only 20.5mm thickness vs 32 for the C5 and 29 for the 1500 pickups so it looks as if the C4 rotors are out. I also appreciate the feedback on A hubs as well. I think the 62-68 B hubs might be a better choice for me because they set the wheels farther inboard but I'm not sure how far. I'm unfamiliar with the SET6 and SET2 terminology?

[Apogee]

Thanks! The DBA catalog dimensions are extremely helpful. The C4 rotors are only 20.5mm thickness vs 32 for the C5 and 29 for the 1500 pickups so it looks as if the C4 rotors are out. I also appreciate the feedback on A hubs as well. I think the 62-68 B hubs might be a better choice for me because they set the wheels farther inboard but I'm not sure how far. I'm unfamiliar with the SET6 and SET2 terminology?

Actually, the 62+ B-body hubs are about the same flange offset as the earlier Tri-5 hubs, however allow me qualify that by saying that they're the same (within .013" by my measurements) with the conversion tapered roller bearings. I've never measured one with the original style ball bearings, but I've always gone on the assumption that the conversion bearings didn't move anything with respect to track width...otherwise it wouldn't really be a true conversion bearing.

Automotive tapered roller bearings can be called out as sets, such as a SET6 or A6 bearing. This is a shorthand method of calling out a cup and a cone without specifying the exact part numbers. For instance, a SET6 tapered roller bearing consists of a LM67010 cup and LH67048 cone. Dimensionally, the SET6 has a 1.25" ID and the SET2 has a .75" ID.

[jaybee]

Thanks for all your help. Once I find the dimensions of the C/K 1500 caliper and carrier I'll have what I need to at least give it a preliminary look to see what I'm up against.

[gort69]

Thanks! The DBA catalog dimensions are extremely helpful. The C4 rotors are only 20.5mm thickness vs 32 for the C5 and 29 for the 1500 pickups so it looks as if the C4 rotors are out.

The C4 rear rotors are 20.5. The 13" C4 fronts are 28.

[jaybee]

Thanks, I'll certainly have better chance of an elegant solution if I can choose from the two rotors instead of being limited to just one. I've determined that the 60s B hubs give exactly a stock track width. Yet another pair of dimensions to juggle for best results. With 2 different rotor heights and 2 different hub mounting flange dimensions I'm pretty hopeful of finding a combination that will work.

[dbajohn]

Its nice to see that our DBA Catalog is useful.

If you guys need any technical assistance, feel free to ask...

DBAjohn

[shep]

The truck rotors and the vette rotors have a different bolt pattern verify which one fits your hubs.