disc brake kits for a 69 gladiator?

[zbethem]

Finding parts for my baby is hard. Is there anyone that builds disc brake kits for a 69 gladiator? I saw that posting to off-road.com for putting on rear brakes for a dana44.. but what about all four?

I have manual drums now.

[DAHoyle]

I don't know of any kits for that setup. Easiest thing would be to swap the entire axle, but then you are left with 6 lug hubs.

You can mix and match Chevy and Ford parts, to get 5 on 5.5 hubs on a ball joint D44, but by the time you chased down all the parts, you may as well just swap front and rear over to 6 lug.

[brtisch]

I believe Bj's has the kit for front brake conversion to disc on the '63 to '73 Wags and J-Trucks. Hope that's what you're looking for.

http://www.bjsoffroad.com/CartGenie/prod-967.htm

[lkmarsh]

Google is your friend, here is a start:
http://forums.off-road.com/jeepster-...dana-27-a.html

Swapping in 6 lug axles gives you more options for rims, tires and gear ratios.

6 lug Dana with discs can be converted to 5 lug with Ford or Dodge hubs and rotors.

I'm eyeballs deep in this same project for my 69. Bought a second D27 to mock up. I don't need heavier D44s or 4:10 gears so I'm working with what I've got.

[Tonka J200]

Here's another good write up with pics:

http://www.jpmagazine.com/techarticl...ion/index.html

Looks like a pretty straight forward swap.

[KaiserMan]

It's pretty easy to swap disc brakes onto a Jeep clsoed knuckle axle. As suggested above, google it. Lots of good write ups out there. You will be alble to peice together everything you need much cheaper then the kits out there if you hunt around.

[PlumCrazy]

Another option is to swap out the front diff to a later Dodge style if I recall, though you can use the six lug if the below is not available. A good machine shop can re-drill to a 5 x 5.5

I think this was done a couple of years ago by a member here, but I can't recall the name

Here is the price list from that job

Price of parts will be relative to what you buy new or used, etc. Here's a breakdown of the parts I used for the swap:

Axle - '85 Dodge W150 (67" WMS, 5X5.5 bolt pattern)
'78 J-10 proportioning/combination valve
'75 J-10 tie rod/drag link and DPA
ScoutII spring plates
'88 Wagoneer rear u-bolts
'78 CJ manual disc/drum master cylinder
'76 CJ Goodrich braided brake lines for 4" lift
WP Warrior 2" spring pads
generic shock studs
4" of 3" channel (for shock mounts)
4 cans oven cleaner (the generic stuff with lye)
6+ cans rustoleum glass black spray paint (I like my junk to look good)

In short, I stripped the axle of all its parts, brackets and spring pads. Liberally soaked in oven cleaner then power washed. Pulled 4.10's from old axle and had set up in new axle by professional. Measured, located spring pads, measured again, and again, and again, then welded them on. Realized I didn't have room for a u-bolt on the diff side, I removed some cast material for u-bolt clearance with grinder. I then fabricated the shock mounts with shock studs and 3" channel and welded to axle. I hung axle to springs under Jeep to test fit. Everything lined up but the shocks. I had to move the shock towers over a couple inches and grind down the corners of the ScoutII spring plates to clear shocks. I reinstalled axle shafts, spindles, hubs, brakes. etc. after replacing the u-joints, seals, calipers, pads, rubber brake lines, etc. with new parts. I then installed the CJ MC with a tee on the rear reservoir for the factory brake light pressure switch. I added the J-10 proportioning/combo valve after using some adapters and re-flaring of tubing with correct fittings. Added gear oil. Installed steering gear. Did a rough toe-in alignment, bled the brakes, then headed for a dry, sandy wash and preceded to thrash my junk for about thirty minutes to see what I did wrong!

I figure I'm into it about $600 including the price of the axle. Pricey brake job, but when you consider all the strength increase and the fact I won't have to perform maintenance on this axle for many, many years, it was well worth it!
Also, I believe any 1/2 Dodge axle from '80 until the new body style ('93?) should work.

Wayne S