How hard is it to convert from rear drums to rear discs? is it possible and what parts and i going to need? Is it a simple bolt on modification or more in depth? Info is in signature. if you need any other info let me know.
Thanks
JP

 

It is possible. I have most the parts to do it but still haven't and it has been a few years since I was looking into it. From what I remember you'll obviously need caliper, rotor and caliper brackets from a newer F150 up to '03. What I can't remember is if you can get away without a proportioning valve since the rear drums would get more pressure than the front disc's on your current truck. I am pretty sure you'd need a new valve though to keep the pressure down to the back. Also, the emergency brake might not be usable after this. I Can't remember if you can hook the cable up to the new setup.

 

i was looking at the rears today just seeing what was there and could it only have front ABS? I looked at the back of the drum and didn'r see any ABS sensor wires or anything? Would this be an issue??
Thanks

 

I believe the only 97-03 trucks that had rear disc also had 4 wheel ABS, which was an option in the early years.
Those with rear drums only had rear abs (RABS).

The sensor for RABS is on the ring gear in the rear. The sensor mounts on the top of the pumpkin...

I think that you'd obviously need all the hardware, but also a proportioning valve to get the front/rear bias set right.

The parking brake setup on the rear disc trucks uses small brake shoes on the inside of the rotor like a drum brake. I don't know if the cables would hook up.

 

well i went to the ford dealer near school and my god were they they useless. I just wanted print off of disc vs drum rear end to see the part difference and told him what i was trying to do. He said that it would prob be $1500 min and that i should just go to the junk yard and buy a complete rear axel. Talk about being a bad sales man. he also suggested looking for a kit online. about what have people paid to get all the parts and where have you gotten them from?

 

I'm actually surprised that anyone at the dealership would give you any info that would help you mod your truck. Liability lawers would probably have a field day....

As for the kits, that would be one way to go, and you would get everything you'd need.
The problem I have with the kits I have looked at is that they usually use a GM caliper, brackets and rotors. Aside from the fact I would not want to pollute my Ford with GM parts, you have to remember to get rear brake pads and parts for a completely different vehicle.
While I usually do my own brake work, I have had a shop do some work when I didn't have time or the weather to do it myself. A ford truck with GM brakes would probably give most repair shops a hissy fit.

The suggestion of getting an entire axle is a pretty decent idea. Just get the parking brake cables from the donor truck and you should be good to go. You may be able to strip the brake parts and mount them to your rear unless the disc brake axle mountings are completely different from the drum brake rear. Swapping the whole axle is more work, but you'd eliminate the possibility of mounting issues if the brake mounting points are different.
It would also be a good way to upgrade your rear axle, to LS, or change the gear ratio. If you have 4X4, you'll have to change the gear in the front diff too though.

Even with a whole axle swap, you may still have front/rear bias issues. That may take more work to the hydraulics.
I'm sure someone here is more knowledgeable that I am about that.....

 

I think that the ford dealer near me will give me the diagrams but i could be wrong.i definately don't want to do GM brakes on my ford. I think that is right up there crime wise with murder. I also want to see what the difference is in the front rear bias. The reason that i want the diagrams is so i know what is different. I don't know how giving me the diagrams is bad from i liability stand point, but in this crazy world it probably is.

 

was disc brakes an option for the 1997?

 

Yes, but you had to also have 4 wheel ABS to get it....

 

ok. so this will be even easier to get info on then i had imagined. I was under the impression that the 4 wheel disc option can later then became standard after that. I got some diagrams today but i still need a few more, should have looked at them when i was at the parts counter.