I'm considering the mini-truck front disc installtion on my 9/73 FJ40.

I read over the POR Tech article and ih8mud's (all very helpful by the way) and just have a question on the stopping power of the mini-truck discs.

A built FJ40 with a heavy bumpers, big meats, spare and all the trail gear has to be pretty heavy compared to a mini-truck.

How do the mini-truck discs measure up to the discs that came stock on the later model FJ40's. Do disc brakes have some sort of stopping/load ratings?

Just want to make sure the family is safe on the road and trail...


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I think that the stopping power between the two is prety much the same, but the LC rotors are vented, so that means less heat. So they would be better/safer for long down hill type roads where you are using the brakes alot. For the most part though, I'd say the mini truck brakes are just fine.
Jeff

I think that the stopping power between the two is prety much the same, but the LC rotors are vented, so that means less heat. So they would be better/safer for long down hill type roads where you are using the brakes alot. For the most part though, I'd say the mini truck brakes are just fine.
Jeff


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Thanks!

BTW: Does Downey or anyone make any aftermarket vented rotors for the minitrucks?

[ 09-08-2001: Message edited by: Cruiserhaven ]

Man a Fre sells some drilled/slotted ones from Australia that would work, or you can get FJ-40 stuff to do your conversion.

When you do the minitruck conversion you use vented rotors from an fj60 & calipers from an ifs mini truck & you get brakes that stop as good as fj60 brakes but cost much less than a cruiser DB front end.

HTH

minitruck stuff works just fine. if you acn swing it i'd opt for the fj60 rotors and ifs calipers, nice having vented rotors.
i have minitruck front discs on my wagon (springover with 35 inch boggers) and it will lock up the front tires if i want it to. i do have discs in the rear also, which i would certainly think about if i were you.
i think any rig with 35's or bigger should have 4wdb. <IMG SRC="smilies/bounce2.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/bounce2.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/bounce2.gif" border="0">

Cool! I think I'll look for the 60 rotors and calipers from the IFS mini.

Thanks,

The rotor choice depends on the year of mini-truck parts you are using. I believe 81 minitruck and newer can use the FJ60 style rotor. Look for a rotor held onto the hub by the lug studs. If they are old('79&'80) minitruck parts you can use the 76-79 FJ40 rotors. Look for a rotor held onto the hub by 6 14mm head bolts. Hope that helps. Both are compatible with the same '86 and newer IFS pickup calipers. Hope that helps...

I concur <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

I did the toy mini brakes with fj60 rotors and ifs cal and they stop my VERY heavy fj55 just fine.

cool cruisers of texas has fj60 rotors for like $40. they where hands down the cheapest I could find.

and as far as IFS calipers go, the standard ifs caliper would work fine but the choice caliper would be the ones off of the V6 trucks. they have 4 large pistons as opposed to the 2 large/ 2 small of the 22re trucks.

no matter what disc you go with.....still better than drums.

Originally posted by 2manycruisers:
<STRONG>The rotor choice depends on the year of mini-truck parts you are using. I believe 81 minitruck and newer can use the FJ60 style rotor. Look for a rotor held onto the hub by the lug studs. If they are old('79&'80) minitruck parts you can use the 76-79 FJ40 rotors. Look for a rotor held onto the hub by 6 14mm head bolts. Hope that helps. Both are compatible with the same '86 and newer IFS pickup calipers. Hope that helps...</STRONG>I used hubs from a '79 mini, and the fj60 rotors bolted right up with the 6 bolts. Your advice to look for the 6 hub/rotor bolts is the key. I used the larger IFS calipers, which is V6 application. They have 2 large piston vs. 1 small/1 large. I forget the year ('90?), but both 4 cyl and v6 application came with the dual large piston calipers.

I'm getting teh parts together to do the FJ rotor/larger caliper swap on my mini....

I've also heard that 90+ is the years to get for large mini calipers.....I did call around for caliper prices, and Pep Boys was the only one that told me there were two different calipers for a 90 V6 4wd halfton PU....Something about a different casting number on the side of the caliper..

I'll be going to take a look at what they got before work tomorrow..I'll post the results......

Oh yeah.....here's another write-up on the swap: Mike Fox's FJ40 vented rotor swap (http://www.yankeetoys.org/black900rr/Rotors.html)

[ 09-09-2001: Message edited by: Cracker ]

Art, I would see if you can find some used calipers in a junk yard and rebuild them with new seals. Cheaper and OEM is usually better.

Uh.....thanx for the advice. Unfortunately, a junkyard rebuild is NOT an option up here. <IMG SRC="smilies/frown.gif" border="0">

Shoot, my calipers rust and the seals disintegrate just from sitting in the yard for 3 months without use...... <IMG SRC="smilies/frown.gif" border="0">

I went with FJ40 disk brake rotor and backing plate using mini truck knuckle and steering arm for strength.

You didnt have to modify or change anything on the knuckles did you?

I've heard that 79+ LC knuckles and mini knuckles are the same.....
But then I've also heard that the bolt pattern on the bearing caps/arms is different between the two... ???

Art,

You have to use the steering arm from the 79 FJ40 or a mini truck one since the spacing is different from the 76-78 FJ40 knuckle.

Charles