I saw somewhere on the net a guy was selling conversions to put disk brakes on each wheel of 2.5 ton rockwells. I dont like the idea of the pinion disk brakes, from what I have found they work decent on the trail, but I would be daily driving my rig.

Before you flame me, I did use the search engine!





Depdog:usa:

you're quite ambitious to use it as a DD, if you trail rig is any good Off Road it most likely is very unenjoyable on road

exactly BigOrange, if you want a decent daily driver, don't get rockwells, get 60's. I can say that the pinion brakes are okay for short drives on the road, but a lot of city driving would prolly take its toll on them. Also, the 6.72 gears really suck on the road, so you NEED an overdrive to get any kind of decent gas mileage. I am getting about 3 MPG driving to work and back the past few weeks...

good thing i am getting a new truck, ehh?

Does he have a web site and 2Grand OOOUUUCH, that may just kill the plan all together.

On the daily driver part, I have a take home car, so my daily driver duty is not what most folks have to due. I would also be running at least 42" tires to make up for the 6.72 gears.

The reason for looking at the Rockwells is I can get both front and rear for less than I can find a used Dana 60 front, IF I can find one. Have not yet!

Right now the ole K5 can pull 1000 on a 25 degree ramp, it wheels VERY well at Tellico and can outflex quite a few TJ's and other well set up rigs that are in our club. Never fails to make jaws drop when people first get a look on some nasty flexy spots.

Thanks

Depdog:usa:

Originally posted by Depdog
The reason for looking at the Rockwells is I can get both front and rear for less than I can find a used Dana 60 front, IF I can find one. Have not yet!


Just remember - innitial cost difference is not the same as TOTAL cost difference...

Even if you can get Rockwells for $200 for the pair - if it costs you another $3k in parts to get them to fit under your truck, then you have to look at what it would cost to just put a 60 up front...

Yes, I have thought of this, the total cost before the hub disk brakes would not be much more, if not less than the conversion to 1 ton for me. I would have to get drive shafts for either, new wheels and tires for either, so there would not be that much difference.

Can you think of any issues that maybe I have not, steering, special brackets.

Depdog:usa:

Originally posted by Depdog
Can you think of any issues that maybe I have not, steering, special brackets.
Depdog:usa:

As with any axle swap:

Brake lines, steering, suspension links, leaf springs, U bolts, U bolt plates, shocks, steering, wheels or adapters, parking brake... That is all I can think of off hand...

I build most my own stuff and am a pretty darn good fabricator if I have to say it myself:D

Of what you mentioned, I have thought of all of it except the steering, dont know much about it so I need to get a good look at a steering rockwell to know if regular steering would work or you have to go hydro. The leaf springs and mounts and ubolts and the like I already know what to do and it would not be any more expensive, matter of fact for what I have planeed probably cheaper than on 1 ton axles.

Least as far as the mounting the axles to the leaf spring part.

Thanks guys

Depdog:usa:

The steering shouldn't be anymore of an issue than on a 60, most would go full hydro, but if it is going to be a driver as well I would go with regular power steering with a box, and then probably hydro assist at a later time. A bolt on type steering arm can be made for them much like the kingpin style 60's. The bolt holes in the top of the rockwell knuckle are not square like the 60, but there are 4 bolt holes that could be drilled out into the arm. I can't remember if the rockwell using greese cap like the 60, but either way it shouldn't be a problem. I'm not much of a fabricator (yet) but I made my 60 steering, arm set up for 3/4 hiems, myself for about $20 bucks in material, so I'm sure you could make one for about the same for a rockwell.
Also converting to either full hydro or hydro assist at a later date would be no more expensive and possibly easier than on a 60.
If you need more info, I have acess to rockwell steering axles and can get measurements etc. for you. Also they already have a steering arm on them used for the stock duece's front to back steering which may be adapted to stock chevrolet front to back steering, but not sure....in my opinion I would go crossover and put an arm on the passanger side and change steering boxes.

hope it helps,
Justin Ray

Thanks, the measurments I dont think would be an issue, I was just concerned with attaching a steering arm, you answerd that question for me. I already have crossover on my current axle and would not dream of doing anything less. I think a hydro assist would be in the works if I do this.


Depdog:usa:

Depdog-I'm going with Rockwells on my current rebuild. I looked into hub brakes but you can't flip the hubs and do it. Every truck you see in the mags have the hub unflipped which means you'd have an axle about 10" wided than stock chevy axles Heck, even with my hubs flipped-I'm going to be 3" wider than "Titanic" was. I've worked hard to solve some other problems with the rockwells so if you decide to go that route-let me know. Rockwell's are good deal for the money but the ratio will kill the deal if daily driver. Don't really need a Doubler-that's a positive!Steve

Thanks Daniel, do you have an email address where I can send you some questions. Is the one listed on this message current.

I ask because I have seen you post to email you off of another site, but cant find that post now.

I have a few questions to ask on the rockwells.

Thanks
Depdog:usa: