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Pure Chevy Sex

cyclic

cyclic

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Alright, I'm half way done with my "secret" upgrade. It's time to share.

Before:

aPC4p4Q.jpg



Mostly done:
B7LANe4.jpg


After almost of year of searching, I have found a brake upgrade for the chevy six lug front axle. The punch line- it adapts Hummer H3 four piston calipers and rotors in a disk over hub arrangement.

The brackets and idea came from Thorparts.com, he's using a GM 10 bolt front and machining the brackets and hubs to integrate the ABS brake system to a solid axle conversion.

Take your hub assemblies apart, cut the outer hub down to 7 inches, drill the lug holes to fit 02 chevy 4x4 lug studs, and basically bolt it up. Also gives me the larger 14x1.5 lug studs.

The H3 uses a larger center hub so it slips right over, only the flange outer diameter needs cut down to fit the disks on. My local parts store did it on a brake lathe, easy and quick.

My eventual goal is to swap in a complete rear axle from a 99-06 Silverado, giving me matching rear disks and a parking brake, with matching 14x1.5 lugs.
 
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Subscribed. I always wanted to use d60 brakes on a d44. Tons of people put d44 brakes on their d60.

Good work!
 
Yep, way cool

I read something where a guy was doing his D60 like this, using IIRC Dodge calipers. Was even going to start producing the brackets and instructions. Then it died like so many awesome projects do. The swap seemed to work great, but it remains one-of-a-kind.
 
I'm still awake, so a couple more details.

Without the ABS of the H3 being needed, lots of machine work and effort was eliminated. He sold me the bare brackets without the sensor mount for $50 for the set. I had them powder coated just because. The calipers cost me $120 for the set, and $50 for the pair of rotors, both from ebay. I also found some old/new lock outs for another $50. I bought new lugs for a 99-02 Silverado front. My stock hubs were turned down on a regular brake lathe by a local for $35 for the pair. My drill bits should arrive tomorrow so I can fit the studs. I may or may not have to open the lug holes on the rotors. If I do I'll use the drill bits same as the hubs. The caliper bolt size is oddly enough 14x1.5, and thor actually included 4 bolts for my install.
I'll positively know brake line fitment tomorrow, I know with mine being a 88 that the banjo bolt is the same pitch, and location is close enough. Only concerns are clearance on the caliper for the stock line end, and master cylinder size.

Does anyone know the rear spring center spacing for a 99-06 Silverado? I'd be over the top if they are the same, but I am prepared for spring pad install for the rear swap.
 
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I can tell you the spring pad spacing for the 99-06 is different that 73-87(91) if thats what your asking. The spring pads are further apart on the 00-06.
 
Very cool swap! What size wheel diameter can you run with this set up? I'm guessing 15's are out of the question?
 
I'm actually running a 17 rim, but I do know the stock size for H3's are 16 inchers.
 
If you have a stock 15 inch rim lying around could you test fit it just in case it might clear with minor clearencing?
 
Everything I read says 15's are a no go, 16's depending on rim can be tight. I definitely prefer 16 for the rims, but I got an incredible deal on rims and some take off tires. So I run 17x8 rims and 265/70R17 tires. Great combo for my truck, and fit exquisitely with my big brake plans.

If you want bigger brakes you need to go at least 16's on the rims. Between the front H3's and then the upcoming Silverado rear disks, 16 or 17's work nicely.

SS4l4qy.jpg
 
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Are there nuts or something welded onto the back of the backing plates? It's hard to tell what the caliper bolts onto. This must be what sets the proper spacing of the caliper to sit on the rotor. What makes the stock backing plate a poor candidate to modify for this?

So now you have a slip-on rotor like a car?

3


From now on you just order pads and rotors for H3? No more frozen caliper slides for you! You could say there is 4x the chance of frozen piston, but those lock up much more seldom than the slide pins.
 
Yep, slip over rotor and calipers from an H3 Hummer 2006 and up. I did end up using lug studs from a 2002 Silverado front, they fit better in the 39/64 holes I opened up the rotors to.
The brackets make it a basic bolt on affair. Other than what your truck came with you need:
thorparts brackets
39/64 drill bit (though a couple thousands less would be perfect, the hub holes really need to be a couple thousands smaller but do work using red lock-tite)
twelve lug studs from the front of a 2002 Silverado
rotors and calipers from a 2006 or up H3 (normal one not the special edition)
and possibly brake lines (uses the same 10mmx1.5 banjo bolt as my stock burb)

work to be done:
remove hubs and have them cut down to fit rotor inside
drill lug holes and rotor holes to 39/64
swap/adapt brake lines
install

ETA:
Hubs cut down
rotors and hubs drilled to 39/64
studs installed with red Loctite just incase
everything mounted up
just having to install new brake lines

And some further pics......................
B7LANe4.jpg


VJfYbfE.jpg


NVeIzn4.jpg
 
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Absolutely NOTHING!!! :thumb:

Fixed caliper, four piston and floating pads. Don't pull anything other than two pins to swap pads.


As I have a 2.5 lift, I'm ordering some brake lines to finish this up. Going to advance auto parts, getting Dorman H38620 and H38621 @ $15 each. Correct for both ends and right at 4 inches longer.
 
that's some purty work...:waytogo:
 
JOB is COMPLETE!!

First up is final pics..........

d8xZYeR.jpg


riDLCSs.jpg



B3WoqXa.jpg


Definitely looks like a 16 inch rim will fit over the caliper. The final issue I ran into was rim to caliper clearance, I had to use a 1/4 spacer to get the rim face from contacting the caliper. Rim choice will be important with this install. I'm sure a set of factory H3 rims or Silverado rims with the center opened up would fit just fine, then the choice of offset enters the picture.

It's getting zero vibrations, clean smooth running, stops very well even though I still need to finish bleeding and bedding the brakes. On a last note, once I get to swapping in a 99-02 Silverado rear axle, I'll also change the master cylinder to the 02 Silverado style. Should bolt in with a single thread adaptor like the OBS to NBS upgrade.


ETA: somehow misplaced the brake line info...........................................................

Here you go...................... brake lines (uses the same 10mmx1.5 banjo bolt as my stock burb), as I have a 2.5 lift, at Advance Auto parts, getting Dorman H38620 and H38621 @ $15 each. Correct for both ends and right at 4 inches longer. From a 99 Tahoe I believe.
 
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