disc brakes
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disc brakes
Can anyone suggest a disc brake conversion kit to replace my rear drums? I am looking for something with a fair price tag. This is for a 1989 f150.
Last edited by disk; Nov 5, 2007 at 10:04 PM. Reason: needed to add the year of truck
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2006
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Could find a later model vehicle with the same axle and swap the entire axle, or try these guys.
http://www.tsmmfg.com/2530.htm
http://www.tsmmfg.com/2530.htm
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: sunny fla sometimes windy
It isn't really worth the time unless you just like the look of discs!! Most of your braking
power comes from the front end. Upgrading to braided stainless lines will give better
feel at the pedal and more power at the wheel. Keeping the fluid fresh at least every year swap it out, more if you live in a humid place. I use a mity vac vacuum pump to
take the fluid out of the resovoir and refill it with fresh fluid then use the mity vac to
bleed the brakes, It ensures you have fresh fluid, not a mix of old and new!! Keeping
the shocks on the front end fresh or even upgrading to stiffer dampers will keep the
weight transfer to the front end more consistent which will shorten your stopping time.
If your front springs are sagged out and the spring rate has weakened over time will
also kill your braking. All of these should be done first and then go for the rear discs
if your brakes are not at the level you want, Putting discs on is more like a band aid if
your rubber lines are swelling when you put pressure on it and your front end is diving
due to bad springs/dampers!!
power comes from the front end. Upgrading to braided stainless lines will give better
feel at the pedal and more power at the wheel. Keeping the fluid fresh at least every year swap it out, more if you live in a humid place. I use a mity vac vacuum pump to
take the fluid out of the resovoir and refill it with fresh fluid then use the mity vac to
bleed the brakes, It ensures you have fresh fluid, not a mix of old and new!! Keeping
the shocks on the front end fresh or even upgrading to stiffer dampers will keep the
weight transfer to the front end more consistent which will shorten your stopping time.
If your front springs are sagged out and the spring rate has weakened over time will
also kill your braking. All of these should be done first and then go for the rear discs
if your brakes are not at the level you want, Putting discs on is more like a band aid if
your rubber lines are swelling when you put pressure on it and your front end is diving
due to bad springs/dampers!!
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
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also keeping the shoes adjusted out properly will help alot. id say 90% of the socalled "self adjusters" dont work.
properly adjusted drum brakes will stop very good.
altho, that could be a good reason to change to disc...always adjusted....
properly adjusted drum brakes will stop very good.
altho, that could be a good reason to change to disc...always adjusted....
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2006
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Is not wort the time???????
Thats cazy talk. A disc conversion is much much better. Better stopping, zero adjustments, gets rid of weight, better heat dissapation, easier to replace, less maintanence, yada, yada, yada.
Maybe that s why new vehicles have evolved to 4 wheel discs.
Thats cazy talk. A disc conversion is much much better. Better stopping, zero adjustments, gets rid of weight, better heat dissapation, easier to replace, less maintanence, yada, yada, yada.
Maybe that s why new vehicles have evolved to 4 wheel discs.
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Originally Posted by 75F350
Is not wort the time???????
Thats cazy talk. A disc conversion is much much better. Better stopping, zero adjustments, gets rid of weight, better heat dissapation, easier to replace, less maintanence, yada, yada, yada.
Maybe that s why new vehicles have evolved to 4 wheel discs.
Thats cazy talk. A disc conversion is much much better. Better stopping, zero adjustments, gets rid of weight, better heat dissapation, easier to replace, less maintanence, yada, yada, yada.
Maybe that s why new vehicles have evolved to 4 wheel discs.
on a daily driver theres no way id mess with converting to rear discs. its not worth it. but i also keep my shoes adjusted good.
on my offroad rig..yeh, im wanting to switch. drum brakes dont work to well when packed with mud, and gunk.
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Post Fiend
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The chebbies are still available with discs if the purchaser opts for the towing package. They used to be standard items and now they have opted for a standard drum in the rear. Pretty sure it is due to finances and not because the drum works better.
I wonder if guys had contemplated this when "juice" brakes were introduced?
Probably the idea was considered a bad one since the thing could leak, and never work.
Darn those new futuristic inventions. Lol.
I wonder if guys had contemplated this when "juice" brakes were introduced?
Probably the idea was considered a bad one since the thing could leak, and never work.
Darn those new futuristic inventions. Lol.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
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From: Bonita Springs FL
No one's saying drums work better than discs, but for most the effort of installing discs just isn't worth it. 80% of the braking in a pickup is done by the front anyway, so you're not gaining that much unless how the pedal feels is really that important to you. If you need discs for better stopping towing while towing, then you are probably towing way over your capacity anyway.
Keep them adjusted and they work great. My buddy had an old landcruiser with drum brakes all around, and he could lock them up at will. Maintenance is important.
Keep them adjusted and they work great. My buddy had an old landcruiser with drum brakes all around, and he could lock them up at will. Maintenance is important.
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