Rear brake upgrade
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2024
Posts: 124
Likes: 32
From: Fraser Valley
Rear brake upgrade
Looking to upgrade my brakes this winter season. It was one of my biggest issues with the truck. Ultimate goal would be a full hydro boost system but that seems to be a bunch of work and money im not prepared to do yet.
Last season I put all new brake parts on and it wasnt as much of an upgrade as id hoped.
Want to do a rear disk brake upgrade. Looking for recommendations on full kits.
Had my eyes on this one which is a price range im comfortable with. Has anyone had any experience?
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speed...it,296887.html
Thanks
Last season I put all new brake parts on and it wasnt as much of an upgrade as id hoped.
Want to do a rear disk brake upgrade. Looking for recommendations on full kits.
Had my eyes on this one which is a price range im comfortable with. Has anyone had any experience?
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speed...it,296887.html
Thanks
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,628
Likes: 345
From: Albuquerque
I've heard you can convert to LTD/Tbird rear drums and shoes and they are a bit wider. Not sure about the particulars but I think that is all you need. Of course the fronts do 75% of the work and rear must be properly adjusted, i.e. not loose.
Last edited by beartracks; Nov 15, 2025 at 11:51 AM.
More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 648
Likes: 394
From: Montana
Are you having problems with brake fade after multiple stops or with braking after driving through water? My understanding is that drums have as much or better braking than disks, but disks are easier to work on, cool down faster and dry off faster.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2024
Posts: 124
Likes: 32
From: Fraser Valley
i also feel like I don’t stop quick enough and had assumed discs would be a good upgrade.
maybe what I should be looking at it bigger calipers from the thunderbird on the front
Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,189
Likes: 5,792
From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
X3 sounds like a brake bleed is in order and is the 1st trouble shooting step. Start at the passenger side rear, then dvr rear, then passenger front and dvr front. Alwasy start futherest from the MC. Once that is done and all is 100% adjusted, still mushy pedal.....
Battleborn Brakes kit? To get Hydraboost? Fair priced and looks to be bolt and go...well bolt on and STOP better. https://www.battlebornbrakes.com/fordbrakes
Battleborn Brakes kit? To get Hydraboost? Fair priced and looks to be bolt and go...well bolt on and STOP better. https://www.battlebornbrakes.com/fordbrakes
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 1,370
Likes: 706
Unless you are racing the truck I think that money would be better spent elsewhere. There is nothing wrong with rear drum brakes other than the weight. As mentioned, they do very little work compared to the fronts.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 9,600
Likes: 1,174
From: San Jose, CA
Maybe you happen to have one of the light duty rear ends with small brakes on your truck? Maybe they’re just not up to the task, but should certainly be able to lock up the rear tires when the bed is empty.
Do you carry weight in your truck normally?
What was mentioned before, about disc brakes not necessarily being more powerful, is absolutely true. But if your existing brakes are undersized, as some FORD trucks were, maybe you’re suffering that malady.
However, whenever I happen to be able to convert to rear discs, I still do!
For the reasons you mentioned, easier maintenance above all.
As long as they are sized properly and can still deliver the same stopping power as a good set of drums.
Do you carry weight in your truck normally?
What was mentioned before, about disc brakes not necessarily being more powerful, is absolutely true. But if your existing brakes are undersized, as some FORD trucks were, maybe you’re suffering that malady.
However, whenever I happen to be able to convert to rear discs, I still do!
For the reasons you mentioned, easier maintenance above all.
As long as they are sized properly and can still deliver the same stopping power as a good set of drums.
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Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2024
Posts: 124
Likes: 32
From: Fraser Valley
X3 sounds like a brake bleed is in order and is the 1st trouble shooting step. Start at the passenger side rear, then dvr rear, then passenger front and dvr front. Alwasy start futherest from the MC. Once that is done and all is 100% adjusted, still mushy pedal.....
Battleborn Brakes kit? To get Hydraboost? Fair priced and looks to be bolt and go...well bolt on and STOP better. https://www.battlebornbrakes.com/fordbrakes
Battleborn Brakes kit? To get Hydraboost? Fair priced and looks to be bolt and go...well bolt on and STOP better. https://www.battlebornbrakes.com/fordbrakes
Originally Posted by 1TonBasecamp;[url=tel:21700884
21700884[/url]]Maybe you happen to have one of the light duty rear ends with small brakes on your truck? Maybe they’re just not up to the task, but should certainly be able to lock up the rear tires when the bed is empty.
Do you carry weight in your truck normally?
What was mentioned before, about disc brakes not necessarily being more powerful, is absolutely true. But if your existing brakes are undersized, as some FORD trucks were, maybe you’re suffering that malady.
However, whenever I happen to be able to convert to rear discs, I still do!
For the reasons you mentioned, easier maintenance above all.
As long as they are sized properly and can still deliver the same stopping power as a good set of drums.
Do you carry weight in your truck normally?
What was mentioned before, about disc brakes not necessarily being more powerful, is absolutely true. But if your existing brakes are undersized, as some FORD trucks were, maybe you’re suffering that malady.
However, whenever I happen to be able to convert to rear discs, I still do!
For the reasons you mentioned, easier maintenance above all.
As long as they are sized properly and can still deliver the same stopping power as a good set of drums.
without weight in the bed I definitely can lock up the tires. I think I’m just used to a much sturdier feeling pedal than what I’ve got.
going to look at a hydro boost upgrade instead as they aren’t much different in cost
4wd High
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 9
Likes: 4
Recently went with Battle Born’s Hydroboost kit and couldn’t be happier. The kit was very complete and instructions were clear. The difference in stopping power was AMAZING. I’ll be ordering another for my other Highboy.
FWIW,
Mike
FWIW,
Mike
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2024
Posts: 124
Likes: 32
From: Fraser Valley
Originally Posted by Nivrat;[url=tel:21702498
21702498[/url]]Recently went with Battle Born’s Hydroboost kit and couldn’t be happier. The kit was very complete and instructions were clear. The difference in stopping power was AMAZING. I’ll be ordering another for my other Highboy.
FWIW,
Mike
FWIW,
Mike
happy to hear this, I was going to send him an email to confirm all the details and place the order.
I have the upgraded power steering box from wild horses. Any chance you’ve done the same upgrade or are you still using the original box?
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 381
Likes: 194
From: Port Charlotte, Florida
While we were discussing the virtues and pitfalls of installing rear disc brakes on a classic car, an old hot-rodder once told me that if you can lock up the car's stock brakes by applying reasonable pedal pressure, they're fine for a street-driven car. Wide tires might provide some additional braking due to increased road contact.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 1,370
Likes: 706
Yeah, there is some truth to that. Reminds me that I need to come up with the scratch to convert our 76 to power brakes. You can see why certain following distances were recommended back in the day. I can put all of the force I have with both feet into that pedal and the wheels don’t even think about locking. It’s like stopping an ocean liner.
4wd High
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 9
Likes: 4
Having real power steering and real brakes totally changed the trucks personality.
Good luck with your project, and keep us posted
on your progress. 😊
FWIW,
Mike
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2024
Posts: 124
Likes: 32
From: Fraser Valley
Originally Posted by 73explorer;[url=tel:21702806
21702806[/url]]While we were discussing the virtues and pitfalls of installing rear disc brakes on a classic car, an old hot-rodder once told me that if you can lock up the car's stock brakes by applying reasonable pedal pressure, they're fine for a street-driven car. Wide tires might provide some additional braking due to increased road contact.
Originally Posted by Nivrat;[url=tel:21703511
21703511[/url]]I did do a power steering conversion at the same time but I used an integral box from a 78-79 F250 4wd. I had done that to my first Highboy 30 years ago and it worked out great. I also did the Wild Horses Saginaw conversion and I used the Saginaw box with 2 return lines so I didn’t have to put a tee in the return line I had one for the steering box and one for the hydroboost.
Having real power steering and real brakes totally changed the trucks personality.
Good luck with your project, and keep us posted
on your progress. 😊
FWIW,
Mike
Having real power steering and real brakes totally changed the trucks personality.
Good luck with your project, and keep us posted
on your progress. 😊
FWIW,
Mike
if I’m not mistaken it’s not pressurized so I could drill a new hole into it and add a second return port. Would probably look nicer