what ring diameter is the Chevy 30 van 14 bolt?? Is it the 10.5 ring dia?? And it has huge drum brakes on it...is this easy to convert over to disk?? like the truck 14 bolts. also is there any wierd crap to a van 14 bolt compared to a truck 14 bolt. The 14 bolt that i am looking at is a VAN FF 14 bolt 8 lug with huge drums, and it's only 80 bucks...worth it??

And the knuckle question...do the knuckles need to be pressed off, or can i just loosen the nut that holds it on and take it off...i am asking this b/c i know ball joints have to be pressed ON, well i am going to the junkyard tomorrow after looking at the yard today and want to go get the flat tops...after taking the hubs and rotors off, do all i need to do is unbolt that nut and pull the knuckle off, or do they need to be pressed off??

BFH

Originally posted by 392ssII
what ring diameter is the Chevy 30 van 14 bolt?? Is it the 10.5 ring dia?? And it has huge drum brakes on it...is this easy to convert over to disk?? like the truck 14 bolts. also is there any wierd crap to a van 14 bolt compared to a truck 14 bolt. The 14 bolt that i am looking at is a VAN FF 14 bolt 8 lug with huge drums, and it's only 80 bucks...worth it??



Yes, it is worth it. It is the 10.5" Ring Gear. Just remove the hubs and press out the wheel studs to get the drums off. Then you put front rotors on, and press the studs back. There are several places that have the brackets. Shaker on the board sells them. He also has a good write up on the conversion on his site.Shakerbuilt (http://www.shakerbuilt.com/)

Originally posted by 392ssII
And the knuckle question...do the knuckles need to be pressed off, or can i just loosen the nut that holds it on and take it off...i am asking this b/c i know ball joints have to be pressed ON, well i am going to the junkyard tomorrow after looking at the yard today and want to go get the flat tops...after taking the hubs and rotors off, do all i need to do is unbolt that nut and pull the knuckle off, or do they need to be pressed off??
Once unbolted they will not just 'fall' off. You'll prob. need a 'pickle fork' a.k.a. ball joint splitter/sepatator. The ball joints are tapered into the housing ends similar to the way tie-rod end are tapered into the steering knuckles. If your gumma HAMMER it leave the nut flush with the top of the stud. More contact area, and less chance of buggering threads, and if ya do bugger theads spinning the nut off will clean up the threads. Prob is you cannt hammer on the lower balljoint. no room for it.
I've used tie rod splitter for doin ball joints, works good but it usualy tears the dust boot.

on the 14bolt, the van axles are wider than truck series, mine is exactly the same width as my front axle, where in the trucks the rears are a couple inches narrower, but other than that, all parts should be the same other than the wider housing and longer shafts.

Justin

thanks yall...looks like i might pick it up!!! Anyway for setting the pinion depth is it a lot of torque/lbs if i decide to regear. And for the knuckle, if i am going to use new ball joints can i just beat the livin' piss out of it with a BFH, i have a tie rod seperater i can use also