Disc Brake Conversion Kit

I am going to start making the Cj a bit safer, new brakes/MC is at the top of the list. I have searched this forum extensively, as well as others, and have begun to look into the Sammie/Geo swap. I just ran across this site, and was wondering if anyone else used it or knows anything about it?

www.naors.net/brake_kit.htm

Seems like it would be a fair trade off, new parts instead of junkyard diving. Any thoughts?

 

I have not done much research on the disc conversion kits but I know I have seen them for less than $540.

If you build your own kit from salvage yard parts and some new parts it would be far less than that.

Check out this in the tech section.

Disc Brakes

Dual Master

 

I got my stuff from an old postal and have less than a 100 bucks in my conversion. basically a bolt on upgrade. either way you go it's well worth the cost.

 

Although the reference to 9" drum brakes is accurate, I take exception to the reference to 11" drums.
My '71 model had factory 10" drums all around when I got it. I replaced the front brakes with 11" CJ brakes and noticed a marginal improvement. I have since swapped my front axle and now have factory CJ disk brakes in front. Again, this was a marginal improvement over 11" drums. I do not have power assist yet. Once I install the power brake booster, I expect a noticeable change in performance.
My point is that the NAORS kit may not create the dramatic improvement that it indicates. Without a power assist, I have not realized a significant increase in braking performance with disk brakes over 11" drum brakes.
Also consider the drilled drums for an option.
http://www.earlycj5.com/technical/brakes/early-cj-drilled-11-drums/

I also want to emphasize that factory brakes in good working order aren't as bad as some may think. Remember, too, that disk brakes do NOT self-energize like drum brakes do. This is why a power booster is usually associated with disk brakes.

 

I think I may have found something interesting.. I was having trouble finding the correct rotors mentioned in the conversion, '76 or '77 Jeep rotors 1-1/8", but I just read on another forum that you can use International Scout II rotors from the same year. Those I can actually find at the local part store... So I may be in business! Very excited to get this on the road with a few safety upgrades..

 

If you didn't get a good bit of difference from going 10" drums to disk, you either don't drive much or are not hard on the brakes or something is not quite right. My disk's were a huuuge increase in performance over my drums, so much so, I will probably never see the day I swap out for a power unit, just can't be worth it. Oh and my 10" units were rebuilt all the way around with new lines, 2 new cylinders and 2 rebuilt cylinders and a new MC. The 1 1/8" jeep rotors should not be hard to find, just more expensive than the later 1" units.

 

One of the biggest mistakes I see people make when converting to disc brakes is buying loaded calipers and using the brake pads that come with the calipers. Those are typically semi-metallic pads that are designed to be used with a power booster as the compound of the friction material on the pads is very hard.
Typically switching to organic pads which are designed to be used with manual brakes makes a huge difference.
I went from 9" brakes to 11" drums and it made a huge difference. Then I went to front disc and there was a marked improvement. Then went 4 wheel discs and will NEVER go back to drum brakes. We've got nasty clay on a lot of our trails and with the amount of rain we receive the discs shed the mud and water much better than drums. Less maintenance, better parts availability, etc, etc.
Lynn has had good luck with drilled drums but haven't tried them myself so can't comment.

Having done lots of disc conversions on Jeeps over the years I've found if they aren't working well typically there is a set up issue somewhere in the system.
By the way, I'm still using the under-floor master cylinder with the 4 wheel discs and can darn near stand it on it's bumper and can lock up all 4 at will. GM calipers and mounts, 1 1/8" rotors with organic pads.

 

That is correct, '77 and '78 CJ thick rotors are identical to Scout 2 rotors, as are the bearing hubs and locking hubs. '76 was not a disc brake year for CJ's as far as I've been able to tell and I think Timgr or Jpflat2a's parts books bear this out iirc from another post.

 

Nobody is talking about the Master Cylinder. An upgrade here can make a huge difference power assisted or not. I am planning on getting Herm's Dual MC (for disc) setup when I have all the parts together to convert my stock axles to disc.

 

I am ordering the dual master cylinder from herm today. Is Complete Off Road still the best place to get the caliper mounting brackets, or has anyone else found a better supplier?

 

What years of postals have the upgrade brakes? Will the front backing plates work even if the postal is 2wd?

 

I got the front disc conversion, dual reservoir MC kit, and 11 inch rear drum brake kit from Herm. Install wasn't bad. Only 200 miles on the rebuild so far and brakes work great. I had to install a proportioning valve and rear brake light switch in the line but that was no problem ( I mean my mechanic did that part). I believe the discs are 12 inch and GM. The rear backing plates were from a 70s model wagoneer.

 

thinking i have several part #'s from my conversion thread

 

http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71896&highlight=caliper+mount&page=2

there are several part numbers in post#17 &18 IIRC this was not a kit though, and the only used parts i had to find were caliper mounts (they can be sourced new as well) if you decide to go this route. and as said i can stand it on its front bumper with the organic pads

 

I'm going to have to find some organic pads, and maybe I'll have a more noticable difference from my old 11" drums.

 

You might want to check out PartsMike.com for brake conversion if you aren't into hitting the junkyard for brackets.

 

So the Wagner MC56193 ($65), is that the one you are using? I don't plan on taking the body off to mount this, and was wondering if the one from Herm (With brackets, for disc) would be worth the extra 100 bucks? From the pictures, it doesn't look like the ones above have much in the way of mounting brackets/options. What benefit would I get from buying the one with Screw in ports?

 

Steve,
Is Wagner MC59802 actually available anywhere? If so I would like a new one!

Don