Rear Disc Conversion
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Evanston, WY
Rear Disc Conversion
Has anyone tried to convert the rear drums to disc brakes? if so is it hard, what all do you need and how long did it take? and did you notice an improvement in stopping power?
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
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I've done it a couple times on F-250 & 350 trucks, I used 78-79 F-250 calipers, caliper mounts, & rotors, you may have to turn the rear hub down to make th rotor fit, then use the studs to hold it to the hub just like on the front end, for the caliper mounts I built a donut out of 1/4" plate, the center hole was just big enough to go over the spinde & sit against the stock drum mount, the out side diameter is big enough to drill the five bolt pattern that holds the caliper mount, I welded the donut in place & drilled the holes for the calipers, some holes will go through the origonal drum backing plate mount,
The 1/4" plate donut also works as a spacer to get the caliper at the right depth, everything assembles real easy,
I'm not sure if you are talking about 8 lug stuff or not, but thats how I did it, on the five lug (half ton) just get rotors, calipers, & mounts from a lincoln & have the rotors drilled to the correct lug pattern.
I may have some pics I can send you if you need them.
The 1/4" plate donut also works as a spacer to get the caliper at the right depth, everything assembles real easy,
I'm not sure if you are talking about 8 lug stuff or not, but thats how I did it, on the five lug (half ton) just get rotors, calipers, & mounts from a lincoln & have the rotors drilled to the correct lug pattern.
I may have some pics I can send you if you need them.
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Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Coal Country, ND
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
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Currently I have the truck in the shop doing an engine swap, it may be a week or so before I can get good detailed pics of the conversion but I do have this one on hand right now,
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...128249&width=0
unrulee, that conversion works good, I have it on my race truck, the only think I do not like is it uses GM parts,
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...=76405&width=0
I will get more detailed pics if needed, but the conversion is real simple & my description above would pretty much walk you through it,
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...128249&width=0
unrulee, that conversion works good, I have it on my race truck, the only think I do not like is it uses GM parts,
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...=76405&width=0
I will get more detailed pics if needed, but the conversion is real simple & my description above would pretty much walk you through it,
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,473
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From: Coal Country, ND
GM Parts? 
How many people will honestly know that you used GM calipers? If you're that insecure you could just lie to them about what they're off of to make yourself feel better! 
I plan on swapping over the next time the rear needs brakes, doesn't bother me a bit.
How many people will honestly know that you used GM calipers? If you're that insecure you could just lie to them about what they're off of to make yourself feel better! I plan on swapping over the next time the rear needs brakes, doesn't bother me a bit.
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Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Perth Western Australia
I had the rear of my previous 78 SWB 4wd F100 converted to discs by a guy I new here in West Aus and it made it stop in half the distance
The 9" rear had already been braced up and had a nodular iron cetre with all the good bits in it and the discs made it brilliant, the guy used front calipers from a 74 XB Falcon and the discs ( unfortunately ) are of a 73 Holden (GM ) sedan but fortunately I am the only one who knows that they are GM ( they are actually made by PBR an Aussie brake manufacturer ). The guy made up a 3 cornered curved plate 8mm thick that bolts to the back of the diff flange and the axle flange bolts through it to hold the axle in and there is a machined block made up for the caliper to bolt to, so I could go back to stock drums if necessary. The only drawback is no hand brake because of front calipers, but when I swap it over to my current 79 F100 I will see if there are any calipers that have a hand brake on them that will work.
The 9" rear had already been braced up and had a nodular iron cetre with all the good bits in it and the discs made it brilliant, the guy used front calipers from a 74 XB Falcon and the discs ( unfortunately ) are of a 73 Holden (GM ) sedan but fortunately I am the only one who knows that they are GM ( they are actually made by PBR an Aussie brake manufacturer ). The guy made up a 3 cornered curved plate 8mm thick that bolts to the back of the diff flange and the axle flange bolts through it to hold the axle in and there is a machined block made up for the caliper to bolt to, so I could go back to stock drums if necessary. The only drawback is no hand brake because of front calipers, but when I swap it over to my current 79 F100 I will see if there are any calipers that have a hand brake on them that will work.
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