'97 GMC Safari AWD BackCountryVans maiden voyage

[RocKrawler]

So a couple general questions:

Does the Safari grill just bolt right up to an Astro without changing the radiator support or anything else?
Is there any benefit or reason to change the earlier 5 lug pattern to the 6 lug 03+ setup?
Are the brakes and steering the same or were they upgraded when the 6 lug change was made? (Mine's a 96 with 5 lug)

 

[ihatemybike]

Does the Safari grill just bolt right up to an Astro without changing the radiator support or anything else?

Direct swap 85-94 and 95-2005.

Is there any benefit or reason to change the earlier 5 lug pattern to the 6 lug 03+ setup?

Not really. GM switched them to 6 lugs cause they switched all half tons trucks to 6 lug. Making the swap would really be an unnecessary expense.

Are the brakes and steering the same or were they upgraded when the 6 lug change was made? (Mine's a 96 with 5 lug)

Steering is the same, rear brakes changed to disk.

 

[RocKrawler]

Not really. GM switched them to 6 lugs cause they switched all half tons trucks to 6 lug. Making the swap would really be an unnecessary expense.
Steering is the same, rear brakes changed to disk.

Seems like it may be worth changing to get the rear disc upgrade alone!

 

[ihatemybike]

Not really, the fronts do most of the work anyway. Nobody has yet to perform the swap on the two main Astro/Safari forums. It's a lot of work and expense for not much gain.

The main brake mods done on the 1985-2002 vans are 4x4 pickup calipers and pads in the front and Police package Caprice drums in the rear.

 

[RocKrawler]

Not really, the fronts do most of the work anyway. Nobody has yet to perform the swap on the two main Astro/Safari forums. It's a lot of work and expense for not much gain.

The main brake mods done on the 1985-2002 vans are 4x4 pickup calipers and pads in the front and Police package Caprice drums in the rear.

The 4x4 pickup uses 6 lug though, and Caprice is 5 lug - so do they run different rims front & back?

 

[ihatemybike]

The older pickups are 5 lug, but we only use the caliper (bigger piston) and pads (more surface area). The stock Astro rotor is still used (same diameter). I've done this caliper upgrade on Green and it's quite a noticeable difference in stopping power.

I've got an idea for a lo-buck rear disk swap, but I'm not going to post much about it till I get it to work.

 

[RocKrawler]

I'm going to start collecting the front parts - thats 95 Chevy 3/4 ton 2wd front calipers and pads right?

The older pickups are 5 lug, but we only use the caliper (bigger piston) and pads (more surface area). The stock Astro rotor is still used (same diameter). I've done this caliper upgrade on Green and it's quite a noticeable difference in stopping power.

I've got an idea for a lo-buck rear disk swap, but I'm not going to post much about it till I get it to work.

 

[Loopie]

The original poster purchased 98 1ton, single rear axle 4x4 truck calipers I believe...and I think the same is a 3/4ton heavy duty...other years probably apply.

Waitin' on a couple bolts for the bumper support bracket here RK...tomorrow hopefully!

 

[RocKrawler]

The original poster purchased 98 1ton, single rear axle 4x4 truck calipers I believe...and I think the same is a 3/4ton heavy duty...other years probably apply.

Waitin' on a couple bolts for the bumper support bracket here RK...tomorrow hopefully!

Paypal ready when you are!

 

[ihatemybike]

Found my parts order when I did Green's front.
A1-Cardone Brake Caliper-Front Part No 18-4122
A1-Cardone Brake Caliper-Front Part No 18-4123
Wagner Brake Pad Set Part No SX153

After returning the cores, I did the job for less than $100.