converting back wheels to Holden stud pattern

[able]

other then changing the diff is their other ways to change the back stud pattern to Holden so you don't have to carry two spare wheels?

the cousin sez's to just get the beddy drums welded and redrilled.... is this legal in vic? or advisable?

[Worzel]

don't know if it's legal, but i've seen a few done.
I think it is as simple as getting the axels and drums redrilled to hq pattern.
I have one tonne rims and commercial tyres to feel safer

[Marishka]

ive heard of a few done 2.
sounds like a handy conversion but id rather have holden hq- commadore rear drum brakes, i dont like bedford drum brakes at all.

1 thing with bedford drums is u need 2 keep the adjustments up. and with them having a 4 sided cam adjuster sometimes its 2 loose or 2 tight, hard 2 get it perfect.

if it gets 2 loose and u have to brake hard the pistons can pop out of the cylinders and lock up, fluid everywhere n stuck on side of road.
its happened 2 me.   
 

[able]

how expensive is it to change diffs or can holden parts be grafted to the beddy axle?

[mezzmo]

Jeff Macnamara's in moorabbin can redo your axles to take a holden pattern - i had my diff fully rebuilt with extra crown wheels, axles and drums redrilled to suit pre AU ford- worked out to around $800 bux from memory.

Hope this helps

[ben]

my suggestion would be to forget drum brakes! after having discs ill never go back. get your axels redrilled to holden stud pattern, get your disc redrilled to holden stud unless you can get your hands on some wb discs which are expensive but may work out cheaper if you consider re drilling cost.  then get the axels machined down to whatever disc you want to use, then all you need to do is make a calliper mount off the callipers and weld it straight onto the axel housing. quite straight forward. much easieer than stuffing round with drums for ever in a day.

ill take some pics of my conversion i have done on the this 12 bolt. bit rough but works great..

cheers
ben

[mezzmo]

Unless you're willing to have the job done professionally, i wouldn't go near it with a barge pole. Its o'k to change panels and do basic cosmetics and mechanicals, but to play around with brakes!!! that's just crazy. Especially if you are taking the kids in the van with you Able, dont question the price of the brake or axle job, question the value of your family or someone else's if they fail.

my two cents worth.

Mezz

[ben]

i agree mezzmo its best to get a professional to do your brake work, althou the only time ive had brake failures is with rear bedford drums brakes, possibly other brands of drum brakes may work better but ive never had issues with discs front or rear appart from one rear seizing up, but id much prefer that than to pop a wheel cylinder out of a drum brake and loose the lot!!

ben

[aka5000]

yep forget the rear drums if your going for pattern change, just as easy to set up discs on the back. go yourself to wrecker and find a non irs commodore, take the rear brake set up - calipers, mounts backing plates handbrake cable etc. dont use old discs when new ones cost $35 each, also caliper rebuild kits are worth about $12

i had my diff rebuilt at Jeff Macnamara's, got him to re drill axles to hq pattern and machine hub to suit commodore disc, i gave him calliper mounts and a disc because a spacer was needed to be made. not sure on cost tho coz i had a full rebuild@ $1200
once you get it back its all pretty simple, put it all together with your new discs pads rebuilt calipers and new handbrake shoes, com brake parts are cheap and always available, the handbrake also cable needs to be shortened. i would also recommend you have new brake hoses made and not use old ones from wreckers, i had all new brake lines made, hoses and fixed lines cost me around $100
4 wheel discs pull the beddy up on a dime, its brilliant

if anyones interested i suppose i could take some pics
anyways good luck

alex

[Warren]

Pics would be good Alex

Warren