Ordering brake parts

[Jdemaris]

I just starting working on a 1973 that sat in the woods for over 20 years. I had to torch two of the brake drums off.

I am trying to order a bunch of brake parts but have one question. There is a choice when it comes to the front brakes. The parts catalogs have parts for "chassis number to F30001" or for "from F30001."

I am not sure what "chassis number" they are referring to. My VIN is U15GL000905. Build date 08/72

I have no "F" in my VIN, so the reference to the "F30001" is screwing me up.

 

[Steve83]

You have an extra digit in that VIN. It's probably U15GL00905. L comes after F, so yours is "from...".

 

[demesauce]

Sorry, not to hijack the thread, but, what are you guys doing about replacing front disc brakes? PO installed front disc brakes, but not sure what they are off of. Is it best just to take the rotor and pads to a lock parts store?

It seems like mist places can only find the correct part if you tell them the year, make and model.

 

[Jdemaris]

You have an extra digit in that VIN. It's probably U15GL00905. L comes after F, so yours is "from...".

Thank you. It is the "Q" that messed me up. On the metal tag, it looks like a zero.

Finally got my brake drums off. Worst I have come across in 60 years of wrench-turning. Amazingly stuck.

I would post photos, but for some reason I can no longer find a way to do it. Did something change here?

 

[SteveL]

Sorry, not to hijack the thread, but, what are you guys doing about replacing front disc brakes? PO installed front disc brakes, but not sure what they are off of. Is it best just to take the rotor and pads to a lock parts store?

It seems like mist places can only find the correct part if you tell them the year, make and model.

Figure out if you have ford or chevy disc brakes up front. If it's on a dana 30 they are chevy. If it's a dana 44 it could be either. If they're ford parts for a 76-79 bronco should work. Also if ford the calipers should be 76-79 bronco but could be late 70s t-bird for a
bigger piston. Hopefully somebody else can chime in with the chevy part numbers.

 

[gr8scott]

I would post photos, but for some reason I can no longer find a way to do it. Did something change here?

You need to become a contributor in order to post photos directly. There are other ways of doing it too.

https://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34373

Sorry, not to hijack the thread, but, what are you guys doing about replacing front disc brakes? PO installed front disc brakes, but not sure what they are off of. Is it best just to take the rotor and pads to a lock parts store?

Yours being a '73 it probably has the Chevy disk brake conversion. They're easy to identify. If they slide on pins, they're Chevy, if they
slide on the knuckle, they're Ford.

It seems like mist places can only find the correct part if you tell them the year, make and model.

For calipers and pads: 1973 Chevy Blazer K5
For rotors: 1976/77 Ford Bronco

https://www.napaonline.com/en/search?text=brake caliper&referer=v2

Here's a pic of my Chevy caliper, which slide on pins.

 

[DirtDonk]

I just starting working on a 1973...

My VIN is U15GL000905. Build date 08/72.

If you have not already, put your vehicle info in Viperwolf1's thread titled "Mind Your P's and Q's" that tracks the changeover to '73.
Looks like yours is a VERY early '73, even while some were still being registered as "P" VIN numbers well after that.

Things like auto-vs-manual trans, J-shift-vs-T-shift transfer cases, lighted dash indicator bars, ambient switches, fuel return lines and a six-port tank selector valve (if you have dual tanks) and stuff like that.

Also, regarding your brakes, be aware that while it's more prevalent in '74 and '75 models, be wary of your rear brake parts. There were multiple wheel cylinder styles used in those three years and often you get one that's only supposed to fit another year. Causes a lot of headaches.
But now that you're aware of it, you can at least avoid the mental meltdown when parts don't fit!

Paul

 

[Jdemaris]

Also, regarding your brakes, be aware that while it's more prevalent in '74 and '75 models, be wary of your rear brake parts. There were multiple wheel cylinder styles used in those three years and often you get one that's only supposed to fit another year. Causes a lot of headaches.
But now that you're aware of it, you can at least avoid the mental meltdown when parts don't fit!

Paul

Thanks. I guess I will find out. I know I have a small-bearing 9" rear with an axle code of 18, and weight rating of 2780 lbs. 10" X 2 1/2" rear brakes.

On a different subject. I was looking at the VIN tag on my 1969 and see no axle code that makes sense to me. The spot on the tag on my 1973 show code 18. Same spot on my 1969 shows a 33. Not sure what to make of it. The 1969 has a VIN U15F1F36973. After that, 092,T U150 98 C maybe a U3? Then bottom line all the way to the right, 33. This one is a 6 cylinder.

 

[wsager]

I just starting working on a 1973 that sat in the woods for over 20 years. I had to torch two of the brake drums off.

I am trying to order a bunch of brake parts but have one question. There is a choice when it comes to the front brakes. The parts catalogs have parts for "chassis number to F30001" or for "from F30001."

I am not sure what "chassis number" they are referring to. My VIN is U15GL000905. Build date 08/72

I have no "F" in my VIN, so the reference to the "F30001" is screwing me up.

Feel your pain. I had to smash 2 of mine apart with a sledge.

 

[Rustytruck]

You need to become a contributor in order to post photos directly. There are other ways of doing it too.

https://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34373



Yours being a '73 it probably has the Chevy disk brake conversion. They're easy to identify. If they slide on pins, they're Chevy, if they
slide on the knuckle, they're Ford.



For calipers and pads: 1973 Chevy Blazer K5
For rotors: 1976/77 Ford Bronco

https://www.napaonline.com/en/search?text=brake caliper&referer=v2

Here's a pic of my Chevy caliper, which slide on pins.

When you tear down the brakes the spindle is held down with its ford if 6 bolt it is tbe chevy conversion. For chevy conversio i use 1974 blazer disc brakes and rubber brake lines. For ford use 1976, 77 bronco. For axle to frame rubber brake lines you use the stock ford brake lines and if lifted use 78 bronco lines.

 

[jmhend]

I just purchased a dana 44 with the chevy disks. I will need to reference this in the future..

Jdemaris- How did you make out?

 

[DirtDonk]

Yeah, curious how that went. Or as in some cases, IF It went!

Paul