Howdy,


Alright, so I have been talking to a fellow in town here about converting my 1970 F100 to power brakes. Its currently drums all around and I would like to change it out to discs.

I am about to start my search for spindles. I have ordered DJM Dream Beam kit, so i would like to do it all at once.

What years of F100 can i use spindles from?? I have been told 1965 - 1972 but also been told 1965 - 1976? any one have some answers for me?

Thanks.

 

If you're converting to discs, the '65-'72 F100 spindles won't do you any good --they are all drum brake spindles.

'73-'79 F100 or '75-'79 F150 had disc brake spindles.

 

ugh yes, that is exactly what i wanted to hear. Forgive me, as this is my first EVER project and im learnign as i go. Will the Spindles form a 73-79 fit the dream beams?

I have a 1973 donor truck i can buy from a family member.

 

I don't have drop beams so, I can't say for sure if only select years from '73-'79 will work or, if any from that range of years will work.

I have the entire disc brake/I-beam suspension from a '77 F100 under my '69 F100.

Kingpin diameters slightly increased beginning in 1975. I don't know if the increase is enough to cause problems with the drop beams or, if the beams have to be ordered specific to the change --either before 1975 or from '75 and later (?).

 

Don't order the dream beams until you know what year disc spindles you will be using. Is it too late? Okay, then which year-range beams did you order?

Please visit the Tech Info Compilation sticky (linked in my sig) and read the section on disc brake swaps. Read thoroughly... there is TONS of info there.

All is not lost if you have already ordered beams for a '70...There is an option to reuse your drum spindles and drum hubs by using brackets from Scarebird LLC. Their system requires GM half-ton calipers and pads from a 93-97 Sierra/Silverado, 82 Camaro hoses. 76-96 Ford half-ton 4x4 rotors, 1/2-inch longer wheels studs, some machine work to fit your drum hubs neatly into the 4x4 rotors.

.... 68-79 spindles will work. I used a 78 disc system for my '70 F100. Here's my build thread: The Lo-Buck Bumpside

 

You can get power disc brakes and power steering from the same donor. 73-76 for the FE 352/360/390 engine and 73-79 for the 6 cyl and 302 engine. Your donor needs to have the same trans that you have now or want to upgrade to.


John

 

It's your truck, time and money to do with as you see fit, and there's nothing wrong with that.

This is just from my own personal perspective but, I would not want piecemealed parts from various auto makes, to install disc brakes. I prefer to use all Ford components. It makes it much easier to keep up with, especially when the time comes to replace worn components.

The parts on my truck aren't stock to a Bumpside --they are from a Dentside but, the overall suspension design is the same. The advantage is I have front discs now and they are all Ford components.

....for the other end of my truck, off and on, I've been tinkering with some disc brake components. The rotor is Ford and the two calipers (with built in parking brake) are Ford components. I'm just trying to decide which would be the better caliper.

 

Wilwoods would be awesome... Aw shucks, their not made by or branded Ford.

 

Yep. That counts them out.

I'm not opposed to an aftermarket solution, such as Baer, Wilwood, etc. These are, however, expensive aftermarket - engineered systems.

If I'm working with much less expensive 'wrecking yard solutions', I like to stay with all Ford components.

 

You started coming off like "ultrapurist" based on your previous post. Hence, the needle...

 

If I'm an "ultrapurist", I've committed a LOT of sins with my truck." They are all Ford parts but, most of the parts I've added aren't stock to a Bump and, some of the parts are from Ford cars.

I'm not opposed to (brand name) aftermarket brake systems. It's just, as I said, if it's a wrecking yard adaptation, I like to keep all the parts used from the Blue Oval manufacturer.

 

Well, if anyone did some deductive reasoning on Scarebird's brake caliper brackets, that means aftermarket companies (Wilwood, Baer, etc) who make high performance GM truck calipers would likely be able to mount their calipers on their F100.

Hmmmm.....

 

Not Steve, Hio.......that would be me.

 

I'm working on the same kinda project. From what I understand, 73-76? Spindles will go on the bumpside drum beams. I don't want to swap the whole front end, mine is already fixed up.

 

If you're just taking everything from the spindle outward, from a Dentside to put on a Bumpside's existing I-beams/radius arms, the useable years are '73 and ' 74 F100. From '75-'79, the kingpins are larger in diameter on the F100/F150 than the F100 kingpins of the '67-'72 Bumpsides.

--if at some point you want to add a factory '75-'79 front sway bar, the Bumpside radius arms will not have the locating pin notches in them for the sway bar endlink C-brackets. The Dentside radius arms will have the notch in them.