Any reason why...

[Hardesty454]

I can't use a newer rear end on my truck that has disc brakes from the factory? 00-05 Tahoe for instance? Doing discs in the rear and just curious...

[Clyde65]

Width is one issue, spring mounts is another. do you have leafs now?

Captn fab here has mounts to add D52 calipers and 95(?) Impala brakes to the 10/12 bolt rears. that will be far less fab work and hassle imo.

[Hardesty454]

Originally Posted by Clyde65

Width is one issue, spring mounts is another. do you have leafs now?

Captn fab here has mounts to add D52 calipers and 95(?) Impala brakes to the 10/12 bolt rears. that will be far less fab work and hassle imo.

I have nothing right now. Was coils. Doing a air bag suspension and discs front and rear. Converting from 6 to 5 lug. Just looking for an easier rout than changing axle shafts, adding brackets and all that.

I've just been seeing a few of the newer style rear axles and wondered if there was a huge difference in them.

[95 S_Trucker]

You would half to change the axle shafts even if you went with the Tahoe rear axle. There wasn't any 5 lug after 2000.

[Hardesty454]

Originally Posted by 95 S_Trucker

You would half to change the axle shafts even if you went with the Tahoe rear axle. There wasn't any 5 lug after 2000.

Ahh. Well something that came with 5 lug.

[Captainfab]

Assuming that the truck inquestion is the '71 in your sig, a '88-'98 differential (8.5" 10 bolt) is going to be aprox 1.25-1.50" wider than the original 12 bolt that came in your truck. A '99+ differential is going to be aprox 4" wider.

I currently have 3 different rear disc conversion brackets for the '64-'87 truck differentials with the 5x5 wheel stud pattern. Links in my sig \/ \/ \/

[Hardesty454]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Assuming that the truck inquestion is the '71 in your sig, a '88-'98 differential (8.5" 10 bolt) is going to be aprox 1.25-1.50" wider than the original 12 bolt that came in your truck. A '99+ differential is going to be aprox 4" wider.

I currently have 3 different rear disc conversion brackets for the '64-'87 truck differentials with the 5x5 wheel stud pattern. Links in my sig \/ \/ \/

Awesome,
I'll take a look. Thank you!

[burnin oil]

Unless you are going for the cool factor there is no problem with rear drums. Most HD larger trucks still run rear drums. Discs do stop quicker for occasional use but drums do not fade as fast when abused. It is amasing what happens with larger wheel cylinders and metalic brake shoes. 94-95 Dodge 2500 trucks had terrible brakes from the factory. A direct bolt in wheel cylinder from GM upped the rear braking by 44%! In 96 Dodge upped the wheel cylinders but was still about 20% weaker than the GM cylinders. Nothing wrong with rear discs either but the front still has to do more work to stop in a straight line.

[storm9c1]

Originally Posted by burnin oil

Unless you are going for the cool factor there is no problem with rear drums. Most HD larger trucks still run rear drums. Discs do stop quicker for occasional use but drums do not fade as fast when abused. It is amasing what happens with larger wheel cylinders and metalic brake shoes. 94-95 Dodge 2500 trucks had terrible brakes from the factory. A direct bolt in wheel cylinder from GM upped the rear braking by 44%! In 96 Dodge upped the wheel cylinders but was still about 20% weaker than the GM cylinders. Nothing wrong with rear discs either but the front still has to do more work to stop in a straight line.

+1

The perception is that drums are antiquated. But for rear axle brake applications, they work quite well.

Many master cylinders are split something ridiculous like 80/20 or 70/30. On drum vehicles, this further increases the perception that drums are terrible. But really it's by design that the fronts do more of the braking (perhaps liability, the auto makers don't want the back end coming around). Changing the bias (using an adjustable proportioning valve for example or doing a stealth bolt mod on the master cylinders that support it) can wake up the rear brakes. Also using different shoe material as mentioned above makes a big difference.

There are negatives about drums -- they are harder to service and don't look as cool. Luckily they tend to last longer, so maintenance is more infrequent.

[crazy longhorn]

I run a manual disc front /drum rear....no issues stopping? The power brake lever is in my right hand You have gotta love that 3rd peddle.... Longhorn

[burnin oil]

I agree. My old daily was the 2500 ram listed above with a 5 spd and 3.55s. It would pull down a 16k lb trailer pretty well. Newer trucks with bigger brakes do shine under that abuse though. My 5500 has discs all around and definatley stops better but I wish it had rear drums. That truck has 19.5" rims to clear the front rotors.

[Hardesty454]

I think more than anything I'm going for ease of maintenance and selling point. More people seem to want disc all around which obviously would increase the price. I personally think they look better as well.