i have an 89 k5 blazer and i am currently looking to do a rear disc conversion. the kits are more money than i want to spend, considering i bought the whole truck for $800. does any one know how i can do this conversion very cheaply? thank you

 

I have a 70 Chevelle and have done quite a bit of reading on converting the rear end in that (12 bolt) to disc brakes. What a lot of people do is find a donor 88-97 Camaro or Firebird and pull all of the brake parts off as the older 10 bolt & 12 bolt mounting dimensions match up (on the passenger cars anyway). I have even heard people mention that the newer rear disc brake s-series parts will fit, but I have never seen someone detail out this conversion on an older car or truck.

The biggest difference with using anything from the light trucks and passenger cars is the fact that they both are 5-lug and your K5 is 6-lug.

Also, going to a rear drum setup would require you to customize your parking brake if you needed to have that operational for inspections in your state.

Really though, the majority of your braking is handled by the front end anyway. The only benefit I can see is in ease of maintenance, but a rear drum setup can go for a VERY long time without needing to be serviced if properly installed with quality parts so the complexity involved with replacing the shoes is offset.

 

on the 14bolt rear ends its pretty cheap and easy, discard all your old drum stuff, buy a bracket online, buy 3/4 ton front rotors and front half ton calipers and pads and you are done

drums kinda suck on a offroad truck especially with deep water/mud diving. i had to clean out my drums every other time i went off road