$99 Ford nine inch disk brake conversion

[indyTJ]

Ok, I searched and didn't find anything relevant. I'm building a Ford LP nine inch for the rear of my TJ. I got a housing from a 74 ford Ranchero and it has the Torino (Big bearing) ends. At the same time I'm doing a Ford Dana 44 up front with Chevy FT knuckles, spindles, calipers and Ford 5 on 5.5" rotors. I thought it would be good to run the same calipers front and rear and eliminate spares. So I grabbed another set of the Chevy caliper stands (Blazer) from the junkyard. My plan was to notch out the spindle hole and machine it to slip over the OD of my Ford housing tubes and weld it to the tube. When I went to figure out where on the tube I would need to weld it, I found that the bracket pretty much needed to be on the end of the housing between the housing end and the bearing retainer. After rotating the bracket, I found the Chevy 6 lug spindle caliper bracket pretty much bolts right to the Ford big bearing ends. (just a little wallering) This places the caliper in the correct position to run the Ford 1/2 ton 5on5.5" rotor on the axle. There were only 3 issues.

1.) I had to waller out the ID of the caliper bracket about .100" to allow the axle seal to slip through.

2.) I had to drill out the .375" diameter through holes in the Chevy caliper bracket to 15/32" (.469").

3.) Since the Chevy caliper bracket is .250" thick and the stock ford drum brake bracket I was replacing was .150" thick, I needed a .100" thick spacer between the retainer plate and the axle seal to keep the axle from moving back and forth .100". After calling Currie, I found that they make a retainer plate with this spacer machined into it for one of thier disk brake conversions. (I'm having Currie build my 35 spline 5on5.5" shafts so they'll just build them with those retainer plates at the same time (no extra cost I was told)).

There it is. No emergency brake provisions, but I had been planning on left and right rear line locks for cutting brakes anyway. Here's my costs:

Chevy caliper brackets (Blazer)- junkyard- $15.00 for both
Chevy calipers (78- 1/2 ton) Autozone- $13.99 each
Pads (same) Autozone- $7.99/ set
Ford rotors (78- 1/2 ton) Autozone- $23.99 ea.

Total $99

I didn't count misc. lines and hoses 'cause I was gonna have to redo these anyway.

Am I missing something or is this common knowledge already and I'm just a dumass newbie who doesn't know how to search????
If any one wants pics, I can email you some. I don't have a way to host any and I don't have a star.

[BBurris]

I don't know if it's been discussed, but can you email the pics to littlebluejeep@4playoffroad.org so I can get a mental picture of what the setup looks like?

Thanks...

[alx]

ill host or post the pics so send them my way also
1frdlvr@charter.net

[indyTJ]

I'll take some pics after work today and send them to both you guys. Thanks.

[kat2ktj]

Hello,
I just wanted to say that this worked out extremely well. I used this on a Dana 60 with the same ends. I ended up using the Chevy bracket as the axle retainer. No grinding needed. Could not have asked for a better fit. Thanks again. I should have a pic of the axle shortly. I'll pass it along when I get it.
Thanks again

-Keith

[Road Head]

I would love to see pics of this. I have a D60 that was converted to semi-floating using big bearing ends. The caliper bracket that is there now is messed up, and I might replace it. It would be cool to have 4 of the same calipers. scooter_ball@yahoo.com Thanks!

[Grnscru]

I'd like to see pics of the 9" setup since I am building a 9" and would rather have discs from the start. You can email them to mtgoattj@vt.edu

[fullygruntled]

Since '76-'78 Caddy rear calipers are pretty much just the Chevy calipers with an e-brake, the same should go for fitting them to these axles... just a good bit more money for the calipers themselves.

[indyTJ]

Ok,
I've emailed pics to about a dozen people on this already. I just emailed them to Grnscru. If someone can host them, that would be cool. If not, I'll post them in a couple of days whan my paypal account is activated (so I can get a red star).
That's cool that it works on a SF 60. I wonder if it can be made to work on a FF 60 using either 8 lug ford or chevy rotors. I pulled a FF 60 out of a Junkyard a couple of months ago for $50 and was planning on putting it into a future tube buggy.

[Grnscru]

When I get home tonight I can upload them and then post them here for you.

[Grnscru]

Here are the pictures for indyTJ:

[Nickm]

Bump for bronco91shee

[Jrod-13]

looks farmiliar..

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...highlight=disc

I see you had to grind the flanges too?

[Nickm]

I started my conversion but step 3 has me at a halt. I need some suggestion how to keep the bearing from sliding. I am working with a '74 9" with a sealed bearing.
A friend suggested I use a wider bearing. what bearing would fit? Ill try and call currie in the AM and get a price on the retainer plate, if theyll sell it seperatly and its not too expensive.

Originally Posted by indyTJ

3.) Since the Chevy caliper bracket is .250" thick and the stock ford drum brake bracket I was replacing was .150" thick, I needed a .100" thick spacer between the retainer plate and the axle seal to keep the axle from moving back and forth .100". After calling Currie, I found that they make a retainer plate with this spacer machined into it for one of thier disk brake conversions. (I'm having Currie build my 35 spline 5on5.5" shafts so they'll just build them with those retainer plates at the same time (no extra cost I was told)).

[jeffdukovac]

What does this spacer / retainer plate look like?

" I needed a .100" thick spacer between the retainer plate and the axle seal to keep the axle from moving back and forth .100". After calling Currie, I found that they make a retainer plate with this spacer machined into it for one of thier disk brake conversions."

[Nickm]

make sure you get the rights ones. these diodnt have the lip. but they look just like the right ones

[twistedtj]

Yup I called them for just the spacer and they sent me the right ones, but requires pressing the other stuff off the axle, removing the original plate, placing the new one on then then pressing everything else back on. I dont have a press, so I really cant use them, so I am going to the junk yard later to buy another rear end for spare shafts, misc bolts, etc and I am just going to cut the backing plat and use them instead.

So if someone wants them I would be willing to sell them for what I have in em, $15 + $3.95 shipping. I also have the 8 grade 8 bolts with the one side of the head cut off and lock nuts $10 (thats what they cost me). I just cant return the suff since I already cut the heads off. I'll take pics of them later and post up.

[Nickm]

Originally Posted by twistedtj

Yup I called them for just the spacer and they sent me the right ones, but requires pressing the other stuff off the axle, removing the original plate, placing the new one on then then pressing everything else back on. I dont have a press, so I really cant use them, so I am going to the junk yard later to buy another rear end for spare shafts, misc bolts, etc and I am just going to cut the backing plat and use them instead.

So if someone wants them I would be willing to sell them for what I have in em, $15 + $3.95 shipping. I also have the 8 grade 8 bolts with the one side of the head cut off and lock nuts $10 (thats what they cost me). I just cant return the suff since I already cut the heads off. I'll take pics of them later and post up.

what was the part # for the ones you got. I ended up changing me rear end to a 14bolt. So I never finished my 9" completely.

[46willys]

Hate to HiJack but if you need a 3rd member with 4.56 gears already set up or flattops for the 44 or the spindles, hubs, and rotors to do the ford 5 on 5.5 to the 44 shoot me a PM, its all taking up space and I get to Indy everyonee in a while.

[Nickm]

Originally Posted by 46willys

Hate to HiJack but if you need a 3rd member with 4.56 gears already set up or flattops for the 44 or the spindles, hubs, and rotors to do the ford 5 on 5.5 to the 44 shoot me a PM, its all taking up space and I get to Indy everyonee in a while.

any pics of your rig?

[jeepxj91]

Originally Posted by kat2ktj

Hello,
I just wanted to say that this worked out extremely well. I used this on a Dana 60 with the same ends. I ended up using the Chevy bracket as the axle retainer. No grinding needed. Could not have asked for a better fit. Thanks again. I should have a pic of the axle shortly. I'll pass it along when I get it.
Thanks again

-Keith

could you email me some pics on how you used the bracket as the bearing retainer? its not clicking in my head at the moment . im going to do this swap aswell but step 3 has me at a standstill wondering what sthe cheapest way to do it.

p_nut360@hotmail.com

or

kpasichnyk@gmail.com

thanks man, kyle

[Nickm]

Originally Posted by jeepxj91

could you email me some pics on how you used the bracket as the bearing retainer? its not clicking in my head at the moment . im going to do this swap aswell but step 3 has me at a standstill wondering what sthe cheapest way to do it.

p_nut360@hotmail.com

or

kpasichnyk@gmail.com

thanks man, kyle

Here are the ones I got from Currie





They fit right on top of the bearing. Its not hard to figure it out. They need to have a small lip. But you get the idea. These didnt have the lip so they sent me a new set.

[jeepxj91]

instead of buying a retainer with a spacer do you think you could just get the mounting surface machined down .100? would that still be enough metal to make the bracket strong enough and useful?

[jeepxj91]

also does the bracket have to be from a blazer , anything significantly diffrent with them or will any chev 6 stud caliper bracket work?

[supergildo]

wow old thread, great info.

awesome, ill be doing this on mine...