Dodge dual piston rear disc (e-brake) conversion
 

Hey everybody, I was wondering if anyone on here had done the rear disc conversion using a 2002 Dodge 2500 rear disc setup? I like the setup because it has a drum style e-brake inside the rotor and it's dual piston. The parts are more, about $500 for everything unless I can find some cheaper sources than the auto parts stores. I love my local junkyard, but they don't have anything that new. I got the idea from this website:

Ford Rear Disc Brake Kits for 9", Dana 60, Dana 70 and Sterling

The total parts list looks like this:

Rotors $150
Brackets $055
Calipers $200
Pads $030
E-brake shoes $055
E-brake hardware kit $017

Total $507

If anyone has any better parts sources or has done this swap, help me out!

I haven't looked at this swap much, but you could do a disc swap using new 79ish Cadillac Eldorado calipers and new Chevy K20 rotors for half the price and still have an ebrake. Don't know if it is dual piston but who cares it is on the rear and a single piston would have no problem locking it up. Do a search there is lots of info and how too's.

Haven't heard of using the dodge stuff before but it sounds interesting. The parking brake is similar to the setup used on the newer Exploders (Explorers)

I think this might be a better setup than the eldorado because it is newer and parts would be available. The eldorado calipers are rare and expensive along with strange cable angles and lengths needed and The odd mounting to get the bleeder at the top.
I would like the Dodge, having a separate brake shoe, for the parking brake.

I had looked at the Eldorado setup and while I haven't completely ruled it out, I don't like how the e-brake mechanism is completely exposed to the elements. On top of that, the Caddy stuff isn't a whole lot cheaper. I may not need the dual pistons, but they would be nice and of the e-brake setups I have worked on, I like this style the best.

Also, I believe you can use the Chevy rotors with this setup. The rotors are only 75thousandths difference in thickness.

Edit: The Chevy rotors wouldn't have the "Hat" design necessary for the internal drum e-brake.

LMC has a rear disc kit now to. I believe it's expensive about $ 700.00/ e breake. John

John, what style of e-brake does it have? I found this kit on Currie's website, but not sure what brake offset the D60 has? It's a really nice kit and the it'd cost about the same as the dodge setup if it would work...

Ahem, here's the link:

http://www.currieenterprises.com/ces...E.aspx?id=1229

@ Goliath, sorry I should have mentioned that that kit from LMC is for 9" only. It is in the 2011 summer catalog, last page. Apparently you use your original E- brake cables and it fits 15" wheels, single piston calipers and it costs WOW!!!! i stated the wrong price $ 800.00. Don't think they'll be selling too many of those at that price. John

I don't think thats the case. Maybe after many years its possible but most cars and trucks use dual piston calipers now. You want to see something crazy take a look at a 6 piston caliper.

Not the case.


There are lots of kits out there from the $700-$1200 price range. WAAAY more than I would spend, but they've got to be selling some because the kits haven't disappeared from the market yet...

I know quite a few older, (usually retired) guys who simply don't want to "fool around" with piecing together something themselves, so they'll happily drop 8 or 9 hundred on a kit that has everything included. They've told me that they've done similar things before and it took forever to get the bugs ironed out, so they just want something to make it easy. I guess it makes sense if you have money laying around, but I don't think very many of us do!

I'd like to know how the dodge calipers work out, my rear drums will need work eventually, and they're too far gone to turn, so rear disks might be a good upgrade to do.

Sam

F250 restorer, what makes you think the dual piston calipers are problematic? Is this model specific? I have never had an issue with dual pistons or more (sportbikes) but if there is a known issue it would be good to know.
On another note, I have found e-brake kits using Caddy calipers for just under $600, so I can't see spending $800+! Any thoughts on the Currie kit? I know Exploders came with 8.8 rear ends, but if there was a way to make it work, that would be great!