I am going to up grade my front disk brakes, and swap out my rear drums for disk.
How hard is it to do the swap? Do I have to change the master cylinder,and what is a good brand to go with?

Thanks ahead of time.

 

Let's start in the beginning, 2WD or 4WD??

 

I'm swapping cabs, but all the running gear is from a 75 F100 390 auto 4x4.

 

Maybe for the front swap in a HP44 then convert your rear.

 

You need to put more info such as year and model... I would assume its a 4x4 since most 2x4s I have seen have front discs. If this is the case, in terms of the front, you probably want to either do an entire axle swap or at least replace everything from the knuckles out. Either way you will also need the steering linkage as well as the holes in the disc knuckles are bigger than in the drum knuckles.

You will also want the master cylinder from the same donor vehicle.

All the parts on my swap were used except the master cylinder; I purchased it new but made sure it was for the donor.

 

I was thinking of my 76 2 wheel drive. my bad. My 75 and 73 4x4s are drum all the way around.

 

I'm taking the cab from my 73 swb, and will swap it with the 75. Because I am doing this I will take the time and money to do the up grades. ie, go through the differentials, new breaks,go through tranny, add ac, that sort of stuff. Also I am going to cut the frame of the 75 down to a shorty. The 73 frame is just to bad to mess with. I have been reading the different threads here, and I have to say you guys have alot of great ideas and advice.

 

My advise is the same... find a donor.

 

I've looked for upgrading a set of front 2WD 78 discs before I swap 'em into my 70 Bump but all I've found are vented & slotted rotors and pads with improved friction materials from EBC, Raybestos, and others.

There doesn't seem to be anything offered off the shelf by Wilwood including any four or six piston calipers. The caliper mounts, as you kow, are cast integral to the spindle so there is no making custom brackets and bolting on Corvette or Cobra-spec calipers.

Rears? TSM Manufacturing (Ford - Truck) offers a relatively low-buck 5x5.5 swap kit... with optional Wilwood calipers.

4WD? Find a disc-equipped D44. MC? Get one spec'd for a 76-79 half-ton 4WD. I'd ditch the factory prop valve and go with an aftermarket disc/disc unit. About $80 (Wilwood) from Speedway Motors. Oh, go with power brakes.

 

Thats some good info.thanks. I will keep looking to find a good after market front swap. I like what you're telling me about the rear.

 

'might wanna check into what the early Bronco (66-77) guys are up to with regards to options for their drum-equipped D44s.

 

Yeah I may do that. I called summit and jeggs. no good there. Heres a question, What is the difference between the bump style and dent style front axles? The guy I spoke with from Jeggs said that they had a convertion kit for those.

 

Dunno the differences exactly..... but I do know the disc knuckles have more meat on the steering arms due to the thicker tie rods cuz I retroffited the T-style linkages (and integral PS) from a 79 Bronco but kept the drums on my 73. Plus the disc knuckles are cast/contoured differently to allow room for the calipers and such.

Say, here is a front kit from James Duff: Early Ford Bronco front and rear disc brake conversion kits, wheel bearing and seal kit, adjustable proportioning valves, Dana 44 axles

Take a look at the pic of the rear disc kit.. looks like TSM hardware to me.

 

ok, let me ask you this. on the F100s 73 and 75. do you know what axles they came with. There are no metal tags on mine. how would I tell what I have?

 

Sure...you'll have to find the Bill of Material (BOM) number stamped on the axle and then decode the number at Dana's website.

Here's the page: Dana Holding Corporation The Expert Librarian - Information for driveshafts, u-joints, axles, heavy axles, light axles, Drivelines

The application catalogs are the 3rd, 4th, and 5th items from the bottom.