1972 hilux disc brake conversion

Discussion in 'Suspension/Chassis' started by ttant, Sep 9, 2013.

  1. ttant

    ttant Newbie

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2013
    Messages:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    lincoln ,al
    Truck:
    1972 hilux
    I have a 1972 Toyota hilux with the original front drum brakes...I want to do a disc brake conversion on it....what years are interchangeable?? and does anyone have the parts for sale to do it with??
     
  2. burnzya

    burnzya Grand Toyotaholic

    Joined:
    May 23, 2008
    Messages:
    4,457
    Likes Received:
    14
    Location:
    arizona city, arizona
    Truck:
    bodied 73 hilux
    75-78 are a direct swap.
     
  3. standardbyker88

    standardbyker88 Grand Toyotaholic

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2009
    Messages:
    4,886
    Likes Received:
    10
    Location:
    lynnwood, wa
    Truck:
    78 lolux and an 89 ramcharger
    79-83 spindles will work too, flip them left and right so the steering rod is at the back. You need to swap the brake master and rear proportioning valve from the same era trucks. Your master is setup to feed 4 drums. It'll work, but not very well. I've driven half swaps. Do it all the way the right way buddy.
     
  4. Scitsoswitch

    Scitsoswitch Newbie

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2013
    Messages:
    18
    Likes Received:
    5
    Location:
    Medford or
    Truck:
    1973 toyota hilux
    Good to no ill be doing this soon i want to do a drop spindal so i dont have to z the frame i was looking at the front main cross armfor the susp and i could cut down and modify it 2 or 3 intches into the cross bar to drop the front without a z i got it messured to tuck 18s or 20s just not sure how far i want to go with it fully custom or just a easy classic
     
  5. Cade01

    Cade01 Veteran

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2011
    Messages:
    413
    Likes Received:
    32
    Location:
    Eugene, OR
    Truck:
    1973 Toyota Hilux
    So are the 79-83 spindles the best way to do it? Does anyone have a list of thing I would need to do this swap? I have a 1973 that needs better stoppers.
     
  6. standardbyker88

    standardbyker88 Grand Toyotaholic

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2009
    Messages:
    4,886
    Likes Received:
    10
    Location:
    lynnwood, wa
    Truck:
    78 lolux and an 89 ramcharger
    79-83 is the same spindle as 75-78 just flipped side to side to have the steering in the front not the back. Grab the brake booster and master too, and the prop valve under the booster.

    There is no drop spindle for this generation. An 85-95 will need the lower balljoints flipped upside down to fit, but should otherwise work. I haven't done it yet so I can't totally confirm.

    And raising the crossmember into the frame is a great idea, but don't forget to raise the center link the same. That means the idler and pitmen arms. Either by raising the bracket and steering box, or by heating and flattening the arms. Again, I haven't done it so that's just my plan/theory. But the tie rods need to stay in line with the lower arm or you will cause bumpsteer and other bad issues.
     
    Craig Campbell likes this.
  7. CodyX36

    CodyX36 Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2012
    Messages:
    162
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Seattle, WA
    Truck:
    '72 RN14
    This thread helps, thanks for the info guys.
     
  8. Cade01

    Cade01 Veteran

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2011
    Messages:
    413
    Likes Received:
    32
    Location:
    Eugene, OR
    Truck:
    1973 Toyota Hilux
    I just wish I could find all the parts to do the swap on mine...
     
  9. standardbyker88

    standardbyker88 Grand Toyotaholic

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2009
    Messages:
    4,886
    Likes Received:
    10
    Location:
    lynnwood, wa
    Truck:
    78 lolux and an 89 ramcharger
    If you get the spindle and caliper bracket, the rest can be bought new. The hub, disc, bearings, races, seals, dust caps, calipers, ect. Might be worth swapping some or most of the old parts anyways.

    And if you flip your lower balljoints upside down, you can run 85-95 spindles flipped side to side. Camber adjustment may be needed, I haven't done the swap yet.
     
  10. Cade01

    Cade01 Veteran

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2011
    Messages:
    413
    Likes Received:
    32
    Location:
    Eugene, OR
    Truck:
    1973 Toyota Hilux
    I'm going to bring this back to the top. I pulled a set of spindles from a 1980 and went to mount them on my '73 and found that the hard lines on the spindles point the wrong direction. Am I going to have to bend up a custom set to make this work or can I find them already made somewhere? Was pretty disappointed that I didn't look before I pulled the line off of my drum, now I have to bleed them for no reason....
     
    Craig Campbell likes this.
  11. Squigy

    Squigy Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2014
    Messages:
    88
    Likes Received:
    5
    Location:
    west palm biatch, flo-rida
    Truck:
    1973 Toy Hilux
    I found a complete swap bolt on from a 78 i got everything for $250 shipped, near you!! ;-0
    I mean complete from brake master-disc brakes to spindles hoses,etc.
    i will be doing a build thread hopefully..
     
    Craig Campbell and infmr2 like this.
  12. Squigy

    Squigy Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2014
    Messages:
    88
    Likes Received:
    5
    Location:
    west palm biatch, flo-rida
    Truck:
    1973 Toy Hilux
    I scored a complete front disc set up from a 1978 Hi. Everything spindles,disc,pads,rotors,hoses etc.
    my question is my 73 Hi has a brake booster on it already, would i need to change any thing there?
    or i can do what i did on my Courier removed the valve on the master cylinder for the front brakes.Worked perfectly, and spent $0. I will do the conversion first and try the discs like that first.I will post pics as i go along.
     
    Craig Campbell likes this.
  13. jwtlake

    jwtlake Newbie

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2013
    Messages:
    22
    Likes Received:
    0
    So is this the proportion valve? (Off a 1978)

    How does it work? I thought it would have two lines that would go through it which would some how regulate between the two of them.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  14. jetas

    jetas Grand Toyotaholic

    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2009
    Messages:
    6,655
    Likes Received:
    1,091
    Location:
    Oxnard, CA
    Truck:
    72.5 Hilux
    I think its only one that goes to the back and splits into 2 at the axle
     
  15. Cade01

    Cade01 Veteran

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2011
    Messages:
    413
    Likes Received:
    32
    Location:
    Eugene, OR
    Truck:
    1973 Toyota Hilux
    I don't know if this is true or not, but I was told the spindles I pulled from the '80 won't work as they have caster built into them and when you flip them it puts the caster out of spec. Is this the case or are they really just the same?
     
  16. qdot

    qdot Newbie

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2009
    Messages:
    19
    Likes Received:
    1
    I would like to know this too, anyone have any info?
     
  17. DoodleBugg

    DoodleBugg Member

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2014
    Messages:
    70
    Likes Received:
    0
    i have every thing in tact on a 81 right now i can remove an ship just text me 4042593700
     
  18. Johnsy86

    Johnsy86 Newbie

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2014
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    I too am curiouse to know about the camber, I'm thinking if going a 83-89 dropped spindle for the conversion.
     
  19. Hilush

    Hilush Newbie

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2015
    Messages:
    24
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Queensland Australia
    Truck:
    1979 RN41 2wd
    I'm bumping this as I'm about to buy a 73 model to replace my crashed 79 model I have the disc brakes in my 79 and really need to know about the camber difference.
     
  20. Cade01

    Cade01 Veteran

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2011
    Messages:
    413
    Likes Received:
    32
    Location:
    Eugene, OR
    Truck:
    1973 Toyota Hilux
    It's not the camber that I was told could be the issue, it's the caster. Camber would be way easier to fix.
     

Share This Page