56 Cj5 - Disc Vs Drum Brakes

Hi ALL,
I just finished restoring my jeep. I have drum brakes but I don't feel like they work that well. I replaced the pads. Will disc brakes have better stopping power? Looking for recommendations, is it worth spending the money for disc brakes? Kaiser price is $800, less expensive options?

 

11" drums all around provides great stopping power for an early Jeep. ( unless they get wet!)
If you search, this has been covered a lot in the past.

 

If you still have the original master cylinder setup, which it sounds like you do, there is no power boost like you would find on a newer vehicle. All of the braking power has to come from the driver. You can equate it to power steering - you can easily spin the steering wheel with one finger on a vehicle with power steering. Probably not going to do that on your Jeep unless you are moving. If you go with disk brakes and no booster (which would require a swinging pedal assembly), I think you will still be disappointed with the feel of the brakes.

That is not to say that a hydraulic braking system doesn't give you an advantage over a purely mechanical braking system. Many years ago I restored a 1 1/2 ton 31 Ford truck with mechanical brakes. It was like trying to stop a train.

 

11" bendix style drums up front will make you stop pretty good.

The disk setup can be had fairly inexpensively if you source your own parts. I did mine for less than 250 bucks both sides with sale items from rock auto and other places.

dry, they work the same as 11 drums.

 

this is not true. i run disc brakes from a '78 dana 30 and still retain the floor mounted pedals, master etc. from my '71.

 

my bad. sorry.

 

I switched to front discs by swapping in a front diff out of a '79 CJ7. I don't have power brakes and am still very happy with the outcome; to the extent that I have no desire to convert to power brakes. There's no doubt that in my particular case, the stopping power has been noticeably increased. This is one of those types of questions though that will likely yield contradictory answers depending upon whom you ask.

 

Supposedly the effectiveness of manual front brakes depends a lot on the pads you choose. Use soft organic pads (not ceramic or metallic) and they are fine for a lightweight vehicle like a CJ.

 

I purchased my 65 with disk fronts the previous owner had installed, single master cylinder and OEM pedals, 10" rear drums and it stops fine. I do want to upgrade to a dual master cylinder though for safety issues.

 

I did the same with an '82 CJ disk front axle - no power, and very pleased with results.

 

I also have disk brakes up front with a swapped in dana 30, they stop great and are better than the 11" drum setups I have driven.
My setup is original 10" rear drums, 1977 thick disk brakes with factory MC (1971) under the floor.

 

You said you had drum brakes, but are they 9" original?
I put 11" drum on the front of my 3B with 9" rear, original single MC with floor pedals. easy to slide the front wheels. Stops great compared to original.

 

I have 10" x 2" off a 66 V 6 on my 64 and it works just fine. Remember in a 134 F head you are going lees than 50mph most of the time, in a car that weighs 2400 lbs.

 

Very important fact about using the organic pads, also a lot cheaper to install new pads then change rotors, the new style pads are OK, but can eat up your rotors in no time!

Rick

 

No problem - I wasn't very clear

 

Its also a PITA to change rotors on theses jeeps

 

Check speedwaymotors.com They have underfloor power brake systems and dual master cylinder setups. It's not bolt in, but under the floor if you want to maintain through the floor setup

 

Reviewing prior threads in trying to make my decision. I read on some of these disc conversions that you cannot use use your factory steel wheels. Is this true? I want to stay with my factory 16" rims. Can you add booster for drum brakes?

 

Mick, what kind of terrain are you traversing? In the Pottsville Escarpment,I go down some steep slopes! You really have to stand on the 9"brakes,keep it in 1st,& low range & never take it out of gear! On a paved road their adequate.The early CJ5 is a 4 wheel drive tractor,not ment for extended pavement use.