I was wondering what it would take to change my rear drum brakes on my 1979 ford f-150 ranger to disc brakes. would doing this increase my brake performance and would i have to change the front disc brakes out when i changed the rear drum brakes.

:| looking for a better way to slow down my hunk of metal

 

Check the tech Articles.

I know Lincoln Verailles & Mercury Monarch discs work on
Mustangs BUT< Where are you going to find a car with a TRUCK Wheel Bolt Pattern?

I'm thinking there are Kit's available, have you tried a google search yet?




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I just completed that swap on my 74 Custom using the kit from Stainless Steel Brakes (kit #A118)

I have to add it was a major PAIN to install. From having to turn down the axle flanges (the rotors will not fit otherwise), shimming the calipers (why?), gutting out the master cylinder (makes no sense)to basically re-engineering the parking brake connections.

Do I notice a difference? Not as of yet.

Was it worth it? Cannot really say, I would have had to replace most of the stock stuff as it was (cracked drums, distorted backing plates etc.) So, I have yet to see.

For a kit sold as "complete" it SSBC sucks. The instructions are not very good with only two blurry B/W photos to go by. They strongly encourage the installer to call their tech support line, but why should have to? Just take the time to write it down and take quality photos.

Oh well.

Josh

 

 

I was going to switch to disk all around and evaluated the cost. With some good advice from a brake guy who said well adjusted drums will stop as good or better than disks, it's just not worth the $$$. I'm going to stick with overhauling my stock drums...

 

Holy thread resurrection, Batman! I know there was just a thread on this very topic a couple weeks ago, you didn't have to go 6 years back! :P

 

Sorry, I didn't realize how old it was...just did a search for brakes. I'm trying to find out where my $$$ is best spent and getting feedback which is good! I'll have to look next time.

 

I have been working on this project for quite some time with my 74 f100. I can tell you there is no easy way to do it. I refused to pay the big bucks for a kit, so I bought cadillac calipers with parking brakes. I have been to every parts store around measuring rotors off the front of late 70's and early 80's 1/2 ton 4x4's. It seems that trying to find one with enough clearance for axle flange is darn near impossible. Jeff's Bronco Graveyard sells custom drilled models to fit, but they seem a little pricey. there are a bunch of companies that sell the brackets to adapt the cadillac calipers to the axle of a 9 inch housing. After seraching and spending alot of time on this, I have to ask myself if its really a great idea simply because I want rear discs.

 

yeah - gotta love the joys of the search function...

Whitty73 - I'm sure you've tried the broncos, and F-150 rotors, but also check out 1982 Jeep CJ-5 4wd front rotors as well as the 95 F-150 4wd fronts and the 94-99 Dodge 1500 4wd fronts.

The rotor thickness on the F-150s and broncos for the 70's and 80's is 1.200" so they won't fit in a lot of calipers, but the Jeep, dodge and newer F-150 stuff is thinner. Plus they are all 5x5.5" lug patter and slide on rotors.

 

Chase, I believe I got a list of rotors from you, but the thing I am finding is there doesnt seem to be any standard sizes when you go from store to store. The biggest problem i have is finding a rotor with enough clearance to go over the axle flange. Granted I am going to get aftermarket axles anyways.

 

I was going to ask if I sent you the list, but I guess I did.

I guess I didn't pay enough attention to what I read before. You are sticking the rotors all the way back over the axle flanges???? If so I don't think you'll find anything that will work. The "hat" area of the rotor would have to be HUGE for that and I doubt there is any stock rotor out there that will do it. Why are you stuffing the rotor that far back?

When I threw the 82 CJ-5 Rotors on the 70 Bronco 9" they worked fine. Just did those wil weld on caliper brackets and the chevy calipers - done...

 

I ended up just paying Midas to put new bearings drums shoes and all new hydraulics. As you can guess, it was expensive to have done, but I don't have time. I'm a Marine Recruiter...