The Evolution of Trucks

Until the early ’70s, trucks were raw workhorses, and they rode high and hard. They were fundamentally designed to work hard. Overly simplistic suspensions were stiff but built to last. These trucks hauled loads around the farm and into town, carried work materials to jobs and even home goods and foodstuffs, much like the wagons of old. They performed their jobs well and for a long time.

Modern Comfort Meets Classic Design

Over the years, trucks have evolved and gradually become more and more luxurious, much like automobiles. They were eventually equipped with anti-skid and anti-lock braking, four-wheel disc brakes, anti-roll systems, power steering, and auto-track, with interiors that call for full leather appointments as standard interiors, complete with heated and power seats. Since the introduction of these car-like luxury ergonomics in new pickups, truck owners have been looking for ways to retrofit these components onto their classic trucks.

A Solid Starting Point: The ’68 Chevy Truck

The ’68 Chevy truck pictured here came from the factory with power steering and independent front suspension, which for a project truck is not a bad start. The truck didn’t, however, come with disc brakes but rather large drum brakes. Not only do drum brakes require an excessive amount of pedal force to apply, but they are also dangerous when running through deep water in any serious rainstorm.

Lowering and Upgrading Braking Performance

For this project, the plan was to not only improve the braking but also lower the front of the truck using a set of 2-1/2-inch-dropped spindles. The dropped spindles will lower this classic truck while maintaining proper suspension geometry. After the decision was made to lower the pickup and to improve braking, the search ended at No Limit Engineering, as it offered a dropped spindle/disc brake conversion kit.

The No Limit Engineering Kit: What’s Included?

The drop spindle/disc brake kit includes all of the components needed to complete the swap, including new steel 2-1/2-inch-dropped spindles, wheel bearings, seals, calipers, rotors, pads, hoses, and all the attachment hardware. These kits come in both five- and six-lug, so you have a choice if you already have nice wheels and tires in a certain lug size.

Installation Process

The kit is straightforward, the components are high quality, and thanks to the included instructions, the kit is a breeze to install. The spindles and brakes can either be assembled and installed or installed as one component step by step. The complete installation took about four hours, thanks to a few nasty, rusty bolts that took time to dislodge. During the installation, a set of 2-inch drop springs was also installed and will help drop the truck closer to the ground.

The Final Result

Once the truck was completely back together, it was tested for braking, which had greatly improved. The look of the truck is wonderful!