Does it exist?

[the reverend muddy grimes]

Ok, I remember that some 1/2 ton conversion vans had straight axels into the 70s. Disk brakes became standard for most things about 73. So is there a stock straight axel with disk brakes? If so is it as rare as the 70s Lincoln contental disk brake rear ends? And if so, is anyone running both so they have 4 wheel disk brakes?

 

[zzrodder]

I think the only solid front axles you'll find are going to be heavy duty ones, like 2 ton or bigger.
There's plenty of kits out there to swap discs onto older axles so you can have Ford or Chevy bolt patterns.
If you're up for some fab work, you could graft a couple of 70's Ford F150 Twin I beam axles together to make a solid axle - they can be found cheap and the same pickup can give you a 9" rear end. They have the 5 on 5 1/2" bolt pattern and 11 1/2" front discs. Bummer about it is they are only about a 2" drop..

 

[phillip-r-s]

Has that been done I think the spindles are off set from the I-beams.

 

[Bamamav]

Ford quit using a straight axle on vans in 69, Chevy and Dodge in 70. None had disc brakes from the factory. Ford did use disc brakes on the twin I beam sometime in the mid 70's, Chevy and Dodge went to a IFS with discs about the same time. There might have been some 3/4 tons in the late 70's with discs on a straight axle, but I couldn't find any evidence of them. My 87 E350 based motorhome has discs, but it's a twin I beam. I think all Chevy and Dodges from 70 on had the IFS reguardless of the weight rating.

So, if you want a straight axle and discs, you will probably need a conversion kit from Speedway or somebody like that.....

As to a rear with discs, lots of late model Crown Vics with a 8.8 have discs. Losts easier to find than a 70's model rear with discs, and you can adapt the discs from them to Ford 8" and 9 " pretty easily.

 

[the reverend muddy grimes]

Thanks bama. I wasnt really wanting to run it, I was just having a discussion with a mechanic friend of mine about them and he swore he saw one on a ford econoline. I didnt think it was. As for the Lincoln rear end, it has one great selling point to me. The bolt patern is the same as a chevy truck.

 

[Stroker McGurk]

Only thing close that I can remember would be the Twin "I" beam.......

 

[Shea Laking]

Has that been done I think the spindles are off set from the I-beams.

No, the offset is built into the I-beams themselves.

Regards,
Shea

 

[Sniper]

Take a look at www.carnut.com and look under the tech list. There is a homebrew version of a disc brake set up using over the counter parts and a homemade caliper holder. It was installed on a Econoline straight axle and didn't look like a bad set up.