front disk brake conversion opinion

I am still weighing front brake conversion to disks. I need opinions from those who have done this on:

1) Easier stopping (IE less pressure needed on pedal) (Non-power assist)
2) Shorter stopping distance? Longer stopping distance?
3) Less pulling , tugging, wandering ( from side to side) while braking?
4) Cost effectiveness (IE was it worth the $300-$600 to convert?

 

I am not driving the 3b with discs yet but I have converted a 54 F100 and 65 Mustang for all drums to discs. Stopping pressure to me stayed about the same as far as pedal feel but stopping contol got a big boost. I could better control and feel when the brakes were going to lock. I did experience shorter stopping distance on the highway and in town. Since I did the Mustang in 1996 I have always belived that discs are the way to go for anything. I have had the 11" brakes and that was a huge improvement over the 9" on the Jeep but I am partial to discs.

 

I've been wondering about this too, I have 11 inch brakes at all 4 corners and I'm wondering how easy it would be to convert over to front disks, maybe even a power conversion. It would probably have to wait till the summer and it would be my first really big mechanical job. I almost wish one of you guys was out in Phoenix to watch over my shoulder and lend a hand...

 

Good reasoning

 

I swapped in a dana 30 with disk brakes cause it was cheaper for me than swapping the system out. The disk do stop straighter, they stop much smoother with more control and no pull side to side and with roughly the same pedal pressure. Disks don't fade in traffic from heat build up like drums do. I would do it again in a heartbeat. In the 60's the big reason for keeping drums was it was simply cheaper and safety was not near as big of concern as it is today.

 

About the same pedal pressure. They stop straight and true. I've had 9" cams and 10" self adjusting and the disc outshine them both. I never ran 11" drums so I can't compare. I have disc on all four corners.

 

Stopping distance wasn't really an issue with my drums, but the side to side definitely was. No matter how much I adjusted them, it just seemed like under really hard braking the 10" would want to dart one way or the other. Had to counter-steer a lot. My discs have never done that. I am very happy with them. Definitely worth every penny.

There are a many threads covering various aspects of this install, plus the tech write-up.

 

I know you asked for opinions only from people who have done the swap ... however, I just wanted to point out a couple of things to remember. One of the reasons disks are used almost universally today is that they last a lot longer between services. Also, rear drums are still around because it's easier (and cheaper?) to make a drum brake emergency brake.

However, for a hobby vehicle that may see 2000 miles a year, 11" drums are probably fine.

Both of my vehicles have front disks, and the VW has rear disks too.

 

I have disks on all 4. the best thing I have done, I love them it stop straight and good. If you are off road most of the time drums be okay with all the car on the road today a person need all the help he can get.

 

Where I wheel its pretty much all dry but moving from my XJ to the CJ the pedal feel is much different, probably because I'm used to power brakes. If I don't switch the front to disc would I see much difference if I just convert the drums to power brakes? I understand you can do that with a hanging pedal from a YJ. Correct me if I'm wrong of course!

 

http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33035&highlight=brake+upgrade

 

I think Nickmil mentioned this in another post. If you don't have power assist on the discs you should probably be using organic, not metallic disc pads as they apparently are designed for non-assist brakes and the metallic pads are designed for power assist. I went out and bought a set of the organic pads but they're still in the box. I'll probably put them in after the holidays. I was surprised that with 4 wheel discs my stopping wasn't totally incredible. Apparently the organic pads are supposed to really make a difference. The organics were only $15 a set.

 

Hmmm... food for thought... so if I don't want to go all the way and add discs I'm better off just leaving the non-power brakes alone and getting used to using more pedal pressure.

 

I'm thinking on this also.
My '60 still has the D25 in it (or maybe the 27, not sure how to tell the difference. Maybe if some one has some pictures of each?).


I ran across this during my wanderings through the archives :
http://completeoffroad.com/wsm/i-1309_cj_jeep_disc_brake_kit_dana_25_27_30.html
hope it helps.

 

yep. i've seen that nice package. i'm just hoping i can do it for less than $499.