D44 rear disc conversion?

[jeeping1974]

Anyone out there convert their rear drum brakes to disc on a D44 that is cheap? BJ's kits are nice and a great upgrade to those who drive their rigs on the road as well as off the road, but what about those that are just off-road?

I've seen the weld on brackets but what calipers and rotors do you use?

[Casey]

Anyone out there convert their rear drum brakes to disc on a D44 that is cheap? BJ's kits are nice and a great upgrade to those who drive their rigs on the road as well as off the road, but what about those that are just off-road?

I've seen the weld on brackets but what calipers and rotors do you use?
Umm..yeah. Scotty had the best thread ever about this swap.

Get some weld on brackets from AA manufacturing, some 88-98 GM truck 1/2 ton rotors and the rest you probably have lying around.

http://www.aa-mfg.com/

The GM rotor slides right over the wheel studs...you may have to trim the center hole to clear the axle flange depending on the rotor. I used FSJ calipers and front hoses 'cause I had them lying around...
You can use GM/FSJ or even Caddy calipers or Camaro etc... with parking brake capability.
I also bought AA's weld on hose tabs and mounted them on the tube near the caliper.
Pick your caliper poison and then the correct bracket. There is a difference...
The next time I do this swap I'll likely use a smaller caliper with parking brake capability.

The important things to remember are that you have to trim the drum backing plate to the outline of the flange and make sure to leave that piece in there 'cause it pre-loads the axle bearing. And assemble it all and bleed the brakes before you weld it up. That ensures you have it all in the right spot when the brakes are applied.

Take the brakes apart and trim the backing plate to the outline of the axle flange. Put the piece left over and the shaft back in and bolt it back together, leaving the piece you trimmed in between the flange and bearing retainer.

Assemble all of the parts..put calipers-pads-lines on and mounted to the brackets on top of the axle where they will get welded. Bleed the brakes, tack the brackets, take it apart again and weld the brackets in place.

Sorry, but I didn't really take any pics and if I did they're on my old PC.

[L98Waggy]

Here you go. You can use GM non e-brake calipers also. 70's GMC/Chevy etc.
http://jeep.off-road.com/jeep/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=578560






Anyone out there convert their rear drum brakes to disc on a D44 that is cheap? BJ's kits are nice and a great upgrade to those who drive their rigs on the road as well as off the road, but what about those that are just off-road?

I've seen the weld on brackets but what calipers and rotors do you use?

[jeeping1974]

Thanks for the info guys!

[Casey]

Here you go. You can use GM non e-brake calipers also. 70's GMC/Chevy etc.
http://jeep.off-road.com/jeep/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=578560
In that link, Joel outlined the TSM disc brake conversion kit. It is an excellent kit if you want a bolt on kit ready to go...

Scotty's way can be done for less than $200 if you can weld on the brackets.

[jeeping1974]

Welding is not a problem.