Switching from 5x5.5 to 5x4.5 lug pattern

[FORDification]

There's a thread going on at the Slick60s.com forum discussing this very thing too. A member there has a '66 with '76 disc-brake spindles and wants to change to a smaller bolt pattern.

Another member there says that the rear axles "...you need will be 2 driver's side axles and drums from a 1977-79 T-bird, 73-79 Cougar or Montego, 72-79 Torino, Ranchero, or LTD II. They are the right length and have 28 splines." He also verified that the '80-'83 F100 rotors with the 4-1/2" bolt pattern use the same seals and bearings, so it seems likely that they'll fit.

Someone definitely needs to try this out to verify this info firsthand...and then fill us in on what they find!

[tybob81]

Awsome! Thank you Keith.

[tybob81]

Bolted on a new set of 83 f100 rotors from Napa today. I had new bearings in the new 76 f100 rotors I had so I just bought new 83 rotors and seals. Looks like a winner to me. When I get time my buddies junk yard has a couple of 77 or 78 t-birds waiting to be crushed I going to get the drivers side axles out of them.

[FORDification]

The question is....do the dentside-era calipers fit the '83 rotors?

[convincor]

tybob81,
How about a part #??
I had gone up to see rotors for the 83 application and what they showed me was completly different than the 77 part.

[convincor]

Have you got calipers yet??

[texrodder]

Has anyone tried using 73-79 calipers with 80-83 F100 rotors on the 73-79 spindles,the bearings and seals were same all the way to 96 F150,I am going to try one on my wife 2wd 93 Bronco this weekend,(gotta work on somthing)dont have my 72 available right now,getting body worked,will let you guys know if it works on the F150's.Still interested in the 73-79 setup up though.

[Thunderfoot]

Bump!
Anybody got any updates on this, as to if the calipers off the 73-79 worked with the 80-83 rotors

[convincor]

I've emailed and PM'd tybob81 a couple times and never got a reply..
Wondering myself

[convincor]

I went and bought the 80-83 rotors calipers and pads today..
First thing the only difference in the calipers is the location of where the hose attaches and the bleeder. Otherwise the same..
As for the rotors, dry fitting them on a set of 77 spindles I have they don't work. Bearings are the same but the 77 spindle is longer and won't allow the outer bearing to seat.
I've got another set of 78 spindles to see if there any different but havn't pulled the old rotors off yet..
So for now, doesn't look like the rotors will work.
Rotor I got for 80-83 is part#YH141196
Say's it replaces-
Raybestos- 6072
AIMCO- 5444
IPI- 532

[convincor]

Now, when I look the same rotor up at NAPA, it's telling me the thickness of the rotor when "new" is 4-19/64"
The ones I have from Advanced are only measuring 4-1/8"
Now if that difference is in the bearing spacing, it would work..
Looks like I'm going to Napa tomorrow....
http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPages/N ... ra+Premium

[Thunderfoot]

Interesting, looking forwards to what you find out.
Thanks for the info.

[convincor]

Back to the drawing board. The Napa rotors are the same.
Another thing is the offset of the rotor itself in relation to the hub.
The caliper would be hanging out to far off the slides.
So I'm going to keep working on this and see what I can come up with.
I found the rims I want but can't get them 5 on 5-1/2.. So somehow this is going to happen...

[convincor]

update.
if tybob81 got the 83 rotors to bolt on and work there for a 83 with 5000lb GVW as there the same rotors for 73-79, and still 5 on 5-1/2". 80-83 there was a 4600 GVW that used the 5 on 4-1/2" bolt pattern but the bearing spacing is different, (shorter) so you can't tighten the bearings. The outer bearing bottoms out on the radius of the spindle. Also, the diameter of the rotor is only11.04" on the 80-83 4600lb rotors vs 11.72 on the 73-79 truck rotor.. The rotor brake surface is also 3/4" away from the spindle..
I've been going thru the Raybestos site and comparing dimensions on some of the other rotors that use the same bearings as the 73-79 trucks and came up with 2 posability's that are 5 on 4-1/2"
One is for a 72 LTD, the other is 72 Torino with police/Taxi package.
Both these rotors have the same height as the truck rotors, same thickness, same diameter, and use the same bearings. Now the difference is in just one of the dimensions. There calling height.
There's 2 heights listed for each rotor.
for the 73-79 truck it's 7.785 and 5.387
the LTD it's 7.785 and 4.525
And the Torino It's 7.785 and 4.807
The 80-83 4600lb rotors are 7.02 and 4.28
So, I'm thinking that the 72 Torino police/taxi would be the best to try next, but the problem now is that there special order and $149 each...
The LTD rotors are only $94 but still, no one stocks them.....
I'll make a move soon, just wanted to give you an update....
Napa # NB 4885540 Raybestos # 6028R

[KF100TK]

Nice homework , lets say those rotors work ,how could a guy get them drilled and slotted?