I've seen this posted on here before with good info, but the search isnt bringing up any of that:

dana 44, I hate drums, and want to discs tomorrow. I'm heading to the junkyard for some gm calipers and plan on building my own brackets.

whats the best rotor to use for 5 on 5.5? are there any that go in front of the axle, or do they all go behind it? and is machining the axle necessary? machining the rotor?

Thanks for the info

Just curious (as I'm no use to the exactness of you question) but why go through all that hassle with an (what I think is) an older 44? Why not P&P a Grand 44 or an 8.8 out of an exploder with em already good to go? And what are GM callipers going to buy you? I know they're easy to adapt and all, but hell, P&P's have lot's of newer suv's with rear disc's ready to rock in the 44'ish catagory. Have you already ARB'd this rear or somp'n?

Here is what I used,
Front rotors from a '77 ford F-150 4x4 (1 1/8" thick).
Backing plates from a 77 Chevy 4x4 (sheet metal type).
You can use caddy calipers with the e-brake built in or use the calipers from the same year chevy listed above with no e-brake and use a line lock.

ZJ Dana 44s have an aluminum center section so I would stay away from them but you could grab the disc brakes and adapt them to fit. They are almost identical to the ford 8.8 calipers. I think the Isuzu Rodeo 44s have disc brakes.
Nathan

Originally posted by Loppy:
<STRONG>but why go through all that hassle with an (what I think is) an older 44? Why not P&P a Grand 44 or an 8.8 out of an exploder with em already good to go? </STRONG>

Well the axle is already geared and most importantly already under the jeep. SJ's are wider so I would need a front wider, and 8.8's are 5 on 4.5. I need a real man's lug pattern, so thats out of the question.
basically I'm happy with narrow track (for now) and just want some brakes worth a damn that will stop 36"s.

forgive me if this doesnt make sense. its 2:40 am and someone drank all my <IMG SRC="smilies/beer.gif" border="0">

If you are going to use GM calipers (either Caddy Elderado or Chevy 1/2 ton) you can use 76-78 Jeep and 74-79 Scout rotors. They are 1-1/8" thick like the GM rotors except they are 5x5 1/2 bolt pattern. They are usually pricier at the parts house $110 each. 4WD hardware has them for $49.95. I have not used the Ford rotors, but if you can buy them at the parts house cheaper than the others and the spacing is the same you should be able to use them. If your D44 rear has 6 bolts holding it on a caliper plate from a Chevy or Jeep Waggy or Truck will bolt on and work using GM calipers. You can also use the Jeep calipers if they look like the GM's. <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

Don't spend the time on a backing plate because the chey 1/2 frontend packing plates bolt on to the 44 as long as it is the 44 with the 6 bolt mount not the 4 bolt Ford style. I used 79-up Jeep Dana 30 rotors and they were nice because then all 4 were the same. If you are going to hook up the e-brake then get the eldorado calipers but if not then just grab the chevy ones you pulled the backing plates from. I also switched master cylinders and used the one from a seville that I snagged the real calipers from.

I converted to 4 wheel disk, used 77-78 backing plates and callipers with Jeep rotors for correct offset--BOLT ON no problems, just needed new brake lines.

Thats 77-78 Chevy Blazar backing plates that is <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

Do you need a vac assist? And how about a proportioning valve?

Originally posted by cj2a1946:
<STRONG>Do you need a vac assist? And how about a proportioning valve?</STRONG>

If your refering to my post? Nope. <IMG SRC="smilies/jeep1.gif" border="0">

You could also run CJ front rotors. They are the correct 5 lug and I forget but there is a break on the years that used the thicker rotors.

I want to do this or go to bigger drums at least on my TJ dana 44. I run 35" MTR's

Any parts sugestions?

well heres what I've done this weekend.

I got some backing plates and calipers off of a 80 something fullsize wagoneer. got some f150 rotors and put them on the back of the Jeep. the f150 rotors dont work.

I'm going to mail order some of the thick CJ rotors and I think that should solve the problem. its a pretty easy swap, the hard part is finding out what parts do and don't work, and finding out what parts stores have those parts in stock.

The Flem,
Check your e-mail.
Watch the cj-7 rotors,I used them in front at $70.00 a pop.F-150 rotors are about $25.00.
The f-150 will work you just got to fit them,
A little work will save you some money.

Originally posted by vingerroon:
<STRONG>The Flem,
Check your e-mail.
Watch the cj-7 rotors,I used them in front at $70.00 a pop.F-150 rotors are about $25.00.
The f-150 will work you just got to fit them,
A little work will save you some money.</STRONG>

What work do u have to do to "fit" them?

I THINK YOU SHOULD USE TJ ROTAS....THEY STRONG <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0">

I had no problem with the thin Jeep rotors. The thick ones only came on 78 CJ's and Scout 44's

I'm finishing up the rear disc conversion on my Dana 44. I used the 76-78 CJ7 rotors (1 1/8"), and they were only $26 each here in AZ. The only problem I can see with using the Chevy 1/2 ton calipers (the route I went) is having no e-brake. I'm planning to install Line Locks, and then upgrading to dual batteries so I can run the line locks for an extended time.

Originally posted by AGGIECJ-7:
<STRONG>I THINK YOU SHOULD USE TJ ROTAS....THEY STRONG <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"></STRONG>

hey hey... my drivers side rotor works great at stopping the jeep if you apply it directly to the ground. i just have to figure a way to keep the tire from rolling too far away.

Wow $26.00 for the thick rotors?Give me the the phone #.
The thick rotors are the best way to go,They hold there shape better and run cooler.That is why you will find them on larger trucks.
Fitting is done by making a few shims.On mine I had to shim the rotor in .045.I have a laser at work so it is really easy for me but I know one guy that did the samething in his back yard.
If someone needs shims e-mail me and I'll see what I can do.