Disc brake rear end and better gears?

[PotOGoldKustoms]

I have a cummins in my truck. Getrag 5 speed. It tops out at 85-90. looking into disk brakes for the rear as well. About to be hauling a BIG enclosed trailer.Was hoping there was an axle I could get that has both? Or what parts do I need? What options do I have here? Or do I have any?

[clinebarger]

What rear end do you have now? What rear gears? Tire height? More top speed & more pulling power are two different things.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Originally Posted by PotOGoldKustoms

I have a cummins in my truck. Getrag 5 speed. It tops out at 85-90. looking into disk brakes for the rear as well. About to be hauling a BIG enclosed trailer.Was hoping there was an axle I could get that has both? Or what parts do I need? What options do I have here? Or do I have any?

Why do you think you need disk brakes? Are you hauling at 90? Haha.

A drum can actually stop better than a disk setup untill they get real hot which they fade like most brakes normally do. They don't drag as much and the force they apply is multiplied exponentially since they self energize. This can be both good and bad. Bad when you race and your rears lock up and good for towing with alot of weight over the rear axle. They also always employ an e brake.
Some disk setups do not employ an e brake but the disks are able to cool faster and depending on how they are equipped can outstop drums easily and hold stooping force longer. The stopping power is mor linear which means you can bias more rear stopping power and modulate your brakes better without fear of locking up the rear.

Just some thoughts to look at.

A place to look for kits would be blackbirdscustoms.com based out of Spokane wa.
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[v30crewcab]

I put an 03 disk brake 14b in my crewcab, doesn't stop any better than the drums I took out. it is easier to work on the brakes though. my truck will go in excess of 105 with 3.73 and 35's.

[PotOGoldKustoms]

good to know ahead of time! Better than wasting money for sure. Not sure of the gears it has now. Tires are 235 85 16's.

[andrewmp6]

And rear disc get pricey when its time to replace them.I would leave it drums and regear your rear end you have now.

[wraprail]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

Why do you think you need disk brakes? Are you hauling at 90? Haha.

A drum can actually stop better than a disk setup untill they get real hot which they fade like most brakes normally do. They don't drag as much and the force they apply is multiplied exponentially since they self energize. This can be both good and bad. Bad when you race and your rears lock up and good for towing with alot of weight over the rear axle. They also always employ an e brake.
Some disk setups do not employ an e brake but the disks are able to cool faster and depending on how they are equipped can outstop drums easily and hold stooping force longer. The stopping power is mor linear which means you can bias more rear stopping power and modulate your brakes better without fear of locking up the rear.

I don't mean to be argumentative but maybe you could clear this up a little.
Thanks




c

Originally Posted by andrewmp6

And rear disc get pricey when its time to replace them.I would leave it drums and regear your rear end you have now.

Thats funny cuz a rear brake drum for my 85 C10 is $45 Shoes are $22
That is with the old stock rear.

My current Ford 9 inch/rear disc combo rear brake rotor is $47. Pads are $18

So.......drums are more "pricey"
And when you add the hardware kits for drums it's even more pricey.

Oh, I also have a working emergency/parking brake.

As for the precentage of braking front vs rear, I think it depends alot on how you drive your truck. If you have a car type stick shift (like a T56 for example) and set your truck up to handle in corners then you may run more (even alot more) rear brake than you would with an automatic. Non power is another case where you may be able to use more rear brake bias. How could you even tell how much rear bias you have with the factory power brakes? No road feel at all
My rear wheels get an awful lot of brake dust build up in a very short time. My rear caliper pistions are the same size as my fronts. Rotors a little smaller (11.5" rear vs 12"? front)

All prices are current from autozone web site as of air time...

[KQQL IT]

Chevrolet was disc and now back to drums.
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[83GMCK2500]

Originally Posted by KQQL IT

Chevrolet was disc and now back to drums.
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Only for a few years while they hammered out some revisions, they're disc again.

[KQQL IT]

Originally Posted by 83GMCK2500

Only for a few years while they hammered out some revisions, they're disc again.

You sure?



2500's have disc. 1500's are drums.

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[83GMCK2500]

Originally Posted by KQQL IT

You sure?



2500's have disc. 1500's are drums.

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I am sorry, I should have been more specific, the K2XX chassis is bringing back discs on 1500s.

[PotOGoldKustoms]

thanks for the help guys. At least I know before I just go ahead and do it. I had heard mixed comments about it. Thought I would ask and get a few more opinions.

[andrewmp6]

Which rear end do you have in it now?

[wilkin250r]

Because disc brakes are less susceptible to brake fade, heat-related problems and the like, I imagine they are overall more responsive than drums. That's likely why new vehicles are coming out with 4-wheel disc brakes. I don't think it's necessarily to improve braking, because the vast majority of the braking force occurs at the front brakes. I figure it's due to the disc brakes being more responsive, they are going to be much more effective with computerized traction-control.

[KQQL IT]

Lol no problem. Hope the parking brake works better.
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[wyattglock]

I have disc brakes on my R3500. I pull heavy loads, up to 10k pounds, and the truck stops better and is more predictable than having the heat build up my drums had. I have $365 into the total conversion. If I went with an ebrake, it would have been about $100 more. I still might do that. I am happy with the discs. Now I don't have to pull the hubs to change brake pads either. But to each there own. Do whats best for your taste.
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[83GMCK2500]

To answer the OP's original question (I'm sorry I didn't cover it before.), you have several options... You could look for an axle out of a newer truck and move the spring perches, swap it in. You would then have a more modern axle with a well engineered braking system. You can also use any number of kits available online to convert your rear axle to disc brakes. There are a lot of companies that make the brackets and sell kits.
First here is a good DIY, how & why write-up:
http://www.fourwheeler.com/techartic...ke_conversion/

One of my favorite, because they offer caliper options and rotor options is: http://www.tsmmfg.com/reardiscbrakes.html

Also: http://www.blackbirdscustomtrucks.com/index7.html

Brackets available everywhere it seems like now:
http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/14FFdisckit.htm
http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/BoltOn.html
http://www.greatlakeoffroad.com/GLO-...rake-Brackets/
http://www.tmrcustoms.com/store/inde...fbc21e2abf6df5

[andrewmp6]

The factory rear disc on my brothers 01 f150 was 66 a rear rotor and pads was 20 something.Which 9 inch rear brakes do you have tho?

[wraprail]

Originally Posted by andrewmp6

The factory rear disc on my brothers 01 f150 was 66 a rear rotor and pads was 20 something.Which 9 inch rear brakes do you have tho?

If this is directed at me?
Mine is from a 1979 Lincoln Mark V
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