Why do ¾ ton and 1-ton trucks have 8 lugs?

The simple answer is that 8 lugs are better than 4, 5, or 6…  You have a truck that’s engineered to haul heavier loads so you have a beefier or heavier axle, your suspension is designed to hold up under more weight, linkages are stronger, and in most cases, your engine will output more torque…

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SRW Axle vs DRW Axle: Which One Do I need?

Read and Learn the Benefits of Both Single and Dual Rear Wheel Axles In pickup trucks, SRW and DRW are two types of axles used in used by Ford, Dodge, or RAM, and GM, which covers Chevy and GMC. Understanding the differences between these two types of axles is important for anyone looking to purchase…

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How to Install Universal Emergency Brake Cables

This universal emergency brake cable kit is intended to be installed ONLY after the emergency brake adjustment has been performed on the calipers. Before proceeding, verify that the pads cinch down onto the rotor and hold it still when you engage the brake cable lever(s) on the caliper(s). If further caliper adjustment is still needed,…

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Why Should I Upgrade to Heavy-Duty Emergency Brake Calipers?

The Benefits of Heavy-Duty Brake Calipers and How to Get the Most Out of Them Why should I upgrade to heavy-duty emergency brake calipers? That is an excellent question with a short answer of “for better stopping power and braking control” and a much longer answer that we will address in this blog. This heavy-duty…

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Drum to Disc Brake Conversion Kit

Should I Convert from Drum Brakes to Disc Brakes? Disc brake conversions are becoming more and more popular these days, and for a good reason: A disc brake conversion is a great upgrade. If you’re wondering if you should convert your drum brakes over to disc brakes, the answer is a resounding yes. A drum-to-disc…

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Lugnut4x4 Will Deliver With No Delays If UPS Strikes

You may have heard the news of an upcoming UPS general strike. National news and business insiders predict UPS workers will go on strike starting Tuesday, August 1st. If you’re concerned about whether the strike will impact deliveries from Lugnut4x4, you can rest easy. The UPS strike will have no impact on deliveries from our…

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How to Install an Emergency Brake Kit

Steps to Add the Best Emergency Brake Kit for 3/4 Ton and 1 Ton Trucks Installing an emergency brake kit is easier than it sounds. The process goes like this: Got a Lugnut4x4 emergency brake kit you’re looking to install on your 4×4 vehicle? Whether you’re swapping to a 14 bolt axle, converting to disc…

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Rubber Brake Hoses vs Braided Stainless Steel Brake Hoses

Durability and Longevity: What are the Pros and Cons of Rubber and Stainless Steel Brake Hoses? Your car’s brake system is one of the most important safety features, so it’s important to keep it in good working order. One of the key components of your brake system is the brake hoses. Brake hoses are responsible…

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Ceramic Brake Pads vs Semi-Metallic Brake Pads

Which Brake Pads Are Better for Half-Ton and Three-Quarter Ton Trucks? You or your clients depend on your cars to securely transport you from point A to point B, and you also depend on your brake rotors and pads to consistently deliver reliable stops. So how does your heavy-duty truck braking system operate and what…

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Lugnuts4x4’s Different Disc Brake Conversion Kits for Heavy Duty Trucks

Read About the Differences in Our 3 Levels of Disc Brake Conversion Kits Lugnut4x4 specializes in disc brake conversion kits for heavy-duty pickup trucks from ¾ ton to 1 ton. Because the vehicles we focus on are designed for heavy-duty work, on-road and off, it is important to us that our parts are heavy-duty, too.…

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Which Heavy Duty Rear Axle Does My Ford Truck Have?

Discover Ways to Identify Which Rear Ford Differential You Have Up until 2000 most heavy-duty trucks came with either a 3/4-ton or 1-ton axle. But this doesn’t mean that your Ford truck produced during this period has one of those stock axles. Over the years, for whatever reason, people change out the axles on their…

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Which 14-Bolt Rear Axle Does My Three-Quarter Ton Suburban Have?

First Find Out If It’s a Light-Duty, New Style, or Old Style 14-Bolt Axle Off-roaders like the full-floating 10.5 GM “Corporate” rear end. That’s because they’re inexpensive, super tough and easy to source from a junkyard. Enthusiasts and builders buy these to swap into their Jeeps or trucks. They’re also commonly found on Suburbans from…

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Which Brake Booster Is Right For A Classic Toyota Truck?

Do you have a classic Toyota truck? Are you installing a new axle on it? Are you looking for the right brake booster for your truck? If your answer to all three questions is yes, we may be able to help. When you convert to another axle, you may be worried that the stock Toyota…

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Axle Shaft Seal vs Wheel Seal

You may have heard of axle shaft seals and wheel seals. If you’re here, you may be wondering what the difference is between both parts. Some people use these terms interchangeably. These are actually different parts. It’s true that both parts are similar. Yet, they belong in different locations. If you’re shopping for a new…

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How To Clean And Reseal A Full Float Axle Shaft

Are you re-installing a full float axle into your truck? Make sure you clean and reseal it properly. In this guide, we’ll show you the best way to do it. The Benefits Of Cleaning An Axle Shaft The axle shaft flanges on a truck with full float axles are constantly exposed to harsh elements, including:…

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How To Correctly Torque Your Wheel Bearings

When installing new wheel bearings and hub assemblies, it’s very important to torque them the right way. Improperly torqued hub and bearing assemblies will cause the following issues: Too loose – Wheel bearing play This leads to excessive wear of the tires, bearings, and related parts. Too tight – Wheel bearings overheat This leads to…

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Finding The Right Brake Drum For Your Axle

It can be hard to find a new brake drum for your axle. This is especially the case if you have an older truck, such as a 1970 Chevy K20. If you’re having trouble finding the right brake drum for your axle, we can help. The Importance Of Using The Right Brake Drums For Your…

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Choosing The Right Wheel Studs For Your Disc Brake Conversion

A common problem with disc brake conversions are getting the right wheel studs. If you’re having trouble choosing the right wheel studs for your disc brake conversion, we can help. Why It’s Important To Use The Right Wheel Studs Wheel studs may be simple parts, but they’re quite important parts. The wheel studs keep the…

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How To Replace Your Rear Axle Wheel Bearings

Do you have worn wheel bearings in your rear axle? Here’s some guidance on how to replace them. If You Can, Replace Both Bearings At Once Mechanics always recommend replacing both wheel bearings at once. They still make that recommendation even if only one of your bearings is bad. It keeps the friction equal on…

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How To Inspect The Brakes On A Full Float Axle

Do you have a full float axle with drum brakes? If so, you may be aware that it is time consuming to inspect your brakes. If you’re wondering how the process goes, you came to the right place. A Full Float Axle Drum Brake Inspection Tutorial Read on to find out how to inspect the drum…

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How To Replace Your Rear Axle Seals

Are you the proud owner of an axle that’s leaking diff fluid out the axle tube? Or are you converting your rear drum brakes to disc brakes? Either way, chances are you need to change the rear axle seal. We’ll show you how. What Is A Rear Axle Seal? Axles have three seals: One pinion…

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Why Does Your Truck Have Drum Brakes?

The disc brake system is known as a modern solution. So why do some trucks still have drum brakes? The reason manufacturers still build their trucks with drum brakes is simple: cost. Drum brakes are cheaper than disc brakes. It doesn’t mean that you have to keep drum brakes on your truck. Drum brakes have…

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Cost Of Changing Drum Brakes To Disc Brakes

Are you thinking about switching to disc brakes? Are you wondering how much it’ll cost? We wish we could give you a simple answer, but the cost of switching to disc brakes varies a lot. It depends on several factors: Brake hardware (i.e. any special brackets or conversion hardware you’ll need) Whether or not the…

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Can You Save Money Building Your Own DIY Disc Brake Conversion Kit?

When you want to convert to disc brakes, you have three options: Buy the brackets and source the rest of the components Make your own brackets and source all the components yourself Buy a complete disc brake conversion kit A lot of people believe that building your own DIY disc brake conversion kit is cheaper…

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JB6 vs JB7 Calipers – What You Need To Know

If you’re looking at one of our disc brake conversion kits, you may be wondering about the difference between our JB6 and JB7 brake calipers. Both are popular with truck and large SUV owners, but there are pros and cons to each caliper. Here’s some information to help you decide which one is better for you,…

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Ask Lugnut4x4: Can I Use A Drum Brake Master Cylinder with Disc Brakes?

Before converting to disc brakes, many people have asked us if they can keep their factory drum brake master cylinder. In fact, it’s a great question, and one of the most common questions we get from our customers. If you’re buying a disc brake conversion kit from LugNut4x4, the answer is usually “YES.” There are a…

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E-Brake Calipers vs. Driveline Brakes – Pros and Cons

Are you converting the rear drum brakes on your truck over to disc brakes? If so, you might be wondering how you’ll configure your emergency brake after the conversion. You have a few options, but today we’re going to talk about the two most common solutions to this problem: Adding “E-brake calipers” (aka parking brake…

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Differential Cover Buyer’s Guide – What You Need To Know

Looking for a new differential cover for your 4×4? This buyer’s guide has all the information you need. When you’re in the market for a new differential cover, the first decision you have to make is whether to get an OEM or aftermarket diff cover. This buyer’s guide will help you reach an educated decision.…

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Rear 10 Bolt Or 12 Bolt To 14 Bolt Swap – Tips and Advice

Do you own a 1981 or newer Chevy or GMC truck? Or maybe a Blazer, Tahoe, or Suburban? Does it have a 14 bolt rear axle? If not, do you want one? If your answer is yes, then a 14 bolt rear axle swap may be in your future. In this article we’ll share some…

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14 Bolt vs Dana 60 & Dana 70

If you want to run big wheels and tires, it’s probably smart to swap out the stock axle(s) on your truck or SUV for “beefed up” axle from an HD truck. Most HD trucks have axles that are designed for substantial abuse, making them a great upgrade for a Jeep or a half-ton truck. Among…

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Which Dana 60 Do I Have? A Quick and Easy Way to Figure It Out

Do you have a Dana 60 axle, but you’re not sure whether it’s built for a GMC/Chevy/Jeep, Dodge, or Ford vehicle? Let this guide shed some light! There are three major variations of the Dana 60 axle used in the 1960s to 1980s. GMC, Chevy, and Jeep are all basically the same. Dodge and Ford…

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Rear Brake Line Upgrade – What Length Do I Need?

Have you spent some time recently studying how your rear brake lines are routed? Often it’s not something people consider. Fortunately for you, we’ve taken a look. This post will help you determine what length your new brake hoses should be. OEM Solid Axle Brake Line Routing Almost all solid rear axle vehicles have similar…

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All About Studs For A GM 14 Bolt Axle Disc Brake Conversion

If you’re going to do a disc brake conversion on your 14 bolt axle, you will need to remove the studs from the hub to install the rotor. Depending on the weather where the truck lives, this might be easy or challenging. Here are a few tips for this job. Preparing Studs to be Removed…

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Emergency Brake Kit Buyer’s Guide

Have some questions about emergency brakes on 4×4 vehicles? You might find the answer(s) you need in this buyer’s guide. We answered two of the most common questions 4×4 owners have about e-brakes. 1. Can I Still Keep My E-Brake if I Switch to a 14 Bolt Axle? There are many great reasons to switch…

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How to Install an Emergency Brake Kit

Got a Lugnut4x4 emergency brake kit you’re looking to install on your 4×4 vehicle? Whether you’re swapping to a 14 bolt axle, converting to disc brakes, or simply looking to add an e-brake to your vehicle, this guide is for you. Here’s a general overview of how to install a Lugnut4x4 emergency brake kit: 1.…

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How to Diagnose a Failing Emergency Brake

When it comes to off-road driving, your truck’s braking performance is extremely important. Not only when controlling your truck on steep or rocky sections, but also when you are parked. When your emergency brake (also called e-brake) fails, it can make some off-road situations pretty dangerous. For instance, if you winching somebody, or are an…

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Not All Eldorado E-Brake Calipers Are The Same

As many people know, the 1976-1978 Cadillac Eldorado came with a rear disc brake caliper very similar to the JB6 or JB7 caliper found in many heavy duty trucks. However, unlike the standard JB6 or JB7, the Eldorado caliper also included a clever parking brake mechanism.  These Eldorado calipers are almost exactly the same size as the…

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The Difference Between D52 and D122 Brake Pads: Why it Matters

D52 and D122 brake pads look pretty similar. In fact, many auto parts retailers say D52 and D122 pads are interchangeable. But they’re not exactly the same. This article explains the difference between these pads, and why that difference is important. D52 vs D122 Brake Pads While D52 and D122 brake pads are roughly the same, there’s…

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What’s The Best Gear Oil For The 14 Bolt Axle?

Wondering which gear oil is best for your 14 bolt axle? You’re not alone – it’s a common question, and the answers you’ll find online are all over the map. Many people recommend 80W-90 or 75W-90, but we have found that the best gear oil for the 14 bolt axle is 75W-140. We say this because we…

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A Brief Interview With Shawn Miller, CEO and Founder of Lugnut4x4

Shawn, can you tell us why you started Lugnut4x4? SM: In 2003, I was rebuilding a ’78 Ford Bronco. I upgraded the axles to an 8 lug Dana 44 front and a Dana 70 rear to handle bigger tires. After doing this I found that I had very poor brakes. I upgraded the master cylinder…

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Should I Convert Drum Brakes To Disc Brakes?

Disc brake conversions are becoming more and more popular these days, and for a good reason: A disc brake conversion is a great upgrade. If you’re wondering if you should convert your drum brakes over to disc brakes, the answer is a resounding yes. A drum to disc conversion is one of the best “bang…

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What 14-Bolt Do I Have? GMC or Chevy 14-Bolt Rear Axle Identification

This is why GMC or Chevy 14-bolt rear axle identification is a challenge. For decades, Chevy and GMC trucks, vans and SUVs came equipped with a 14-bolt axle. Between 1973 and 2000, a few 14-bolt axle variations were produced. If you’re wondering what kind of 14-bolt axle you have – and you’re working with a…

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What Is A “Corporate” 14 Bolt Axle?

Starting in 1973, millions of 14 bolt rear axles were produced for use in Chevrolet and GMC trucks and vans, as well as quite a few commercial vehicles. The 14 bolt is revered for its toughness and reliability, and the 14 bolt is particular popular with off-road enthusiasts. Many people refer to the 14 bolt…

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Our New and Improved Kit For 6 Lug 14 Bolt Axles

When we first got started, we sold a 14 bolt 6 lug disc brake conversion kit that we didn’t love. The kit was designed in such a way that the rotor was mounted behind the axle flange. So, to replace the rotors, you had to pull the axle. While the kit worked just fine, we…

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The 3 Most Common Disc Brake Conversion Issues and What To Do About Them

Upgrading to disc brakes comes with some great benefits: They include greater stopping power (even in bad weather), easier and more infrequent maintenance, and longer life. However, you can only reap those benefits if you have a high-quality disc brake conversion kit that’s installed correctly. Do you believe that your new disc brakes aren’t performing…

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How To Do A 14 Bolt Swap and KEEP Your Emergency Brake

Swapping in a 14 bolt axle is a popular modification among off-roaders. One of the downsides to the mod is losing the vehicle’s emergency brake (aka e-brake or parking brake). This is because either: The 14 bolt axle isn’t compatible with the e-brake on the vehicle it’s going on. The swapper is upgrading to disc…

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DIY 14-Bolt Axle Disc Brake Conversion Kit

Are you ready to begin your disc brake conversion? We put together this handy guide to help you out. While this guide focuses on the 14 bolt full float, it can also be used with most other full float axles. The only major difference is that Jeep and Chevy Dana 60 rear axles have 7…

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How To Identify Your 14 Bolt Axle In 2 Minutes

Wondering which GM 14 bolt axle you’ve got under your rig? Over the years, there have been millions of 14 bolt axles produced. And, of course, they weren’t all the same. GM 14 bolt axles were available in semi-float and full-float versions, and there are two types of hubs found on 14 bolt axles. Also,…

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14 Bolt Axle Identification Chart

If you’re wondering which 14 bolt axle you have – full-float or semi-float, dual rear wheel or single rear wheel, slide-on drum or stud mounted drum – the chart below will help you figure it out. NEW: You can download a printable version of the chart below here. A couple of notes: You can’t really…

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The Main Causes of Drum Brake Failure

Drum brakes are supposed to last the life of your car (or about 100,000 miles), but sometimes they fail sooner than expected. Why, though? Self adjuster failure is the most likely cause.

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5 Great Reasons To Do A 14 Bolt Disc Brake Conversion

The drum brakes on GM 14 bolt axles are disappearing, and no one is going to miss them. Drum brakes have a lot of limitations, and 14 bolt disc brake conversion kits are more affordable than ever (click here to see for yourself). If you’re wondering what a 14 bolt axle is, you may not…

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Why Should You Convert to Disc Brakes

The benefits of disc brakes over drum brakes may shock you. They’re easier to repair, provide greater stopping power, and last longer than drum brakes. Drum brakes are cheaper, which is why your car may have them from the manufacturer.

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Advantages of Disc Brakes Versus Drum Brakes

If there’s one important component to your vehicle that you need to be on top of, it’s your brakes. When it comes to selecting disc brakes or drum brakes, some of us are left scratching our heads. Here’s a breakdown of why disc brakes should be your go-to.

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The Best Price, Quality, Fast Shipping

The best price, quality, fast shipping I have always heard you can have 2 of the three important things: best price, quality, fast shipping. Many times in the past when shopping for something I have also found this to be true. I have never understood why people are like that, but it seems if they…

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Good Quality, Quick Service, Cheap Price

Never expect to something to be good quality, quick service, cheap price. I have always heard pick any two. To me when people say you can’t do something that is a challenge and I will do everything I can to prove them wrong. At Lugnut4x4 we do all three.

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