Real Solution For Drum-To-Disc Brakes On Dana 44 Rear Axle (w/E-Brake Capability)

[Military Jeeper]

Fella's,

I've read through all these posts tonight and came to the conclusion that there isn't a solid answer (without a doubt that is....) of a bolt-on/weld-on kit for the Waggy 44 Rear axle (I have an 86 centered Rear D44) to include having the ability of a real EMERGENCY BRAKE.

Can someone shed some light on these items? This is my ultimate goal:

- Capable Rear Brakes (decent piston size/rotors)
- A real emergency brake cable integrated into the rear brakes
- Where in the WORLD can I get these items at?

Here are the post that I searched on tonight: http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/searc...earchid=357923

Thanks for everyone's help, it's greatly appreciated.

[Dmntxn77]

There are several kits that you can find online. In order to have an e-brake, you will have to get a kit that has the Cadillac Eldorado calipers. They will most likely add an extra $150-$200 to the kit.

[Dmntxn77]

Here is one on ebay for about $550 shipped. That a decent price for a kit with e-brakes...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Rear-Disc-Brakes-Jeep-Cherokee-Wagoneer-w-park-brakes_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247QQcategoryZ42605QQihZ013QQitemZ230232254899QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

[Dmntxn77]

$570 here... This one looks like a real nice kit.

http://www.tsmmfg.com/2460.htm

[incommando]

I bought a Steeltech kit for one of my Commandos about 10 years ago. It was a simple & effective swap.

[mathman]

- Where in the WORLD can I get these items at?

http://www.bjsoffroad.com/cartgenie/prodInfo.asp?pid=815&cid=10

[Dmntxn77]

http://www.bjsoffroad.com/cartgenie/...pid=815&cid=10

I didnt even know that they carried a disc conversion kit. Its a VERY good price considering it comes with everything the others have plus the braided stainless hoses...

Member price with coupon code is only $570

[Military Jeeper]

Ya I saw all those sites in my search............but from what I read not many people used them, and I couldn't find out if they actually worked. I've read a lot of negative articles about Caddy El Dorado setups.

Has anyone installed any of these kits listed successfully, and real life experience from Waggy Disc Brake converters?

[Cecil14]

Whichever kit you go with the parts are all the same. The caddy calipers are the same across them all. I've seen lots of people on here run them and the only issue I've ever seen is that you really need to set the parking brake once in a while because the calipers don't automatically adjust like standard front ones do.

What else is there to know? The BJs kit is a bit more but it looks to include the most stuff, hardware, LOADED calipers, ebrake brackets, etc.

I used the Streetrod kit and standard front calipers and it works good. I wouldn't mind having a parking brake sometimes, though.

What more do you want to know?

aa

[pb]

I used Steeltech plates and some of the smaller caddy calipers w/ebrake. I used the existing ebrake cable and made an extender for it so it would work - where the individual ebrake lines connect to the one cable that pulls both together. I've attached a drawing. The dark shaded areas are removed and that is what the cable ends fit into.

They work fine although my brake light comes on due to using the disc/drum prop valve.

You do have to use the ebrake frequently to keep them adjusted.

[Towtruck]

http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=66866&highlight=amc20+disk

http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showt...ght=amc20+disk


Here are two links (with photos) to my AMC20 swap (one for the brakes, one for the e-brake cable mods). It's virtually the same process for a Dana, and there are some threads that speak specifically to the Dana swap. You can purchase all the parts...perfectly rebuilt and loaded El Dorado calipers, weld on brackets, hoses, rotors for less than $350 if you gather them up on e-bay and at local parts stores. But going this route does take a little fabrication...grinding the A&A brackets to fit, redrilling bolt holes in the rotors, and welding on the brackets. I'm not sure if the kits have bolt-on or weld-on brackets, but that's a key point. If you have to weld anyway, I'd buy the parts individually and make my own kit. If you can get a bolt on set up for $500, buy it.

As for negative comments about El Dorado brakes...they mostly come either from folks who don't have them, who attempt to use rusted junk yard calipers, who don't understand how the caliper functions, or are too cheap to buy units with integral e-brake. (I will say that if you want to get away from an e-brake cable on the caliper for off road, then that might be an issue, although if you mount the unit over the spring, even that looks like a non issue).

The El Dorado units come in two sizes...the early units have the larger diameter pistons and use a BIG chevy front rotor....guaranteed you will lock up the rears before the OEM fronts, and you'll want an adjustable porportioning valve. The smaller (later)metric units are sized perfectly for a street driven/light offroad vehicle...no mods to porportioning valve, master cylinder, residual valve...they work right out of the box and they work extremely well...but you can't be stupid about how they're designed.

[Military Jeeper]

Thanks TowTruck for the gouge........as well as the other folks. Time for me to do some shopping now.

[billyrb]

They do work, and it is truly bolt on. I'm running the disc conversion we sell on both of my FSJ's

[Chevelleguy]

I have also seen brakets for Nissan 300zx (80's) rear calipers w/e-brake and Geo Tracker front rotors on e-bay. There have been threads on Pirate about this swap.

[JeepNOFEAR]

I've heard that rear e-brake set up off of a rodeo dana 44 will bolt on to our dana 44s.