Ford 9" disc brakes for under $100

83126 Views 71 Replies 31 Participants Last post by brewchief, Jun 20, 2010

Jrod-13

Discussion Starter · Mar 8, 2004

5

not long after putting 35's on my 89' F-150, I realized my stock drums just weren't up to the task. After tearing itno the stock brakes, I noticed that a stock ford rotor looked like it would fit over the axle

After checking all the rotors Napa had to offer in that bolt pattern I found that no stock rotors would fit stock. Rotors from a 94-02 dodge would clear over the axle flange but were to small in the centering hole to fit the stock 9" axles. CJ rotors, pre 94 dodge rotors and ford dana 44 rotors would all fit, but were to small to fit over the axle flange. Since the ford rotors seemed the closest fit, I bought them, $25.99 each at napa. I then just ground the axle down to fit them.

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Jrod-13

Discussion Starter · #2 · Mar 8, 2004

7

Now just cut a plate to mate up the calipers of choice, I used ones from a 82' K-10 4x4. The pl;ates were simple 3/8" steel. First I madea templet with cardboard and then chalked it onto the steel.

Then I blasted it out with a plasma cutter. After grinding it smooth, I got it into place on the axle, and welded it.

Test fitting plate

half ton 4wd chevy calipers, $7.99 lines from napa, $9.99 for pads. calipers were $10 each at the junk yard.

And the 15" rims even clear it.

looks much better than rusty stock drums..

Can I get a "bling bling"? 31 spline ford 9 inch, with a mini spool, and disc brakes, all for $230?? hell yes.

How does it stop?
Much better than stock, and the stock proportioning vlave seems to work quite well, only under extremely hard braking can I get the 35" BFG's to lock up on pavment. On snow, it brakes a bit different from stock, but the braking is still fairly well balanced, but the rears do seem more agressive than before.

Still tons better than the stock rear drums.

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mikesimpson

· #3 · Mar 8, 2004

How much material did you take off of the axle flanger for the rotor to fit?

Jrod-13

Discussion Starter · #4 · Mar 8, 2004

I had to grind it down about 1/16" or so all the way around, not enough to make any structural difference.

Hutchew

· #5 · Mar 9, 2004

Does the rotor center up good just using the wheel studs? It doesn't look like a tight fit from the pics. Guess it would vibrate or shudder if so. Looks good, though, way better than rusty drums.

Judd

· #6 · Mar 10, 2004

What did you do with the gap between the axle bearing flange and the actual bearing cup where the old backing plate used to sit? I thought of cutting the old backing plate into a spacer to make up the difference. Looks good this is the next mod to be done to my 9, thanks, judd

Jrod-13

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 10, 2004

well, I thought about cutting out the center of the back plate as well, but then just found 4 washers the same thickness, and put them in there as shims. Since it's a sealed bearing, it won't leak anything.

Judd

· #8 · Mar 11, 2004

Thanks for the reply, looks like a great setup, I'll be doing mine shortly, judd

Dave C

· #9 · Mar 11, 2004

that is badass, would you be willing to make up a set of the caliper brackets for me? I have no fabrication skills to speak of

jboone02

· #10 · Mar 11, 2004

Disc Brakes

How about a part number on the rotors.

Sillyneck

· #11 · Mar 13, 2004

Re: Disc Brakes

jboone02 said:
How about a part number on the rotors.

just ask for 1978 f-150 replacement rotors from a 4wd truck. dana 44.

wuzabronco

· #12 · Mar 13, 2004

Dave C said:
that is badass, would you be willing to make up a set of the caliper brackets for me? I have no fabrication skills to speak of

You can order Howe weld on caliper brackets from Summit racing.
http://www.summitracing.com/

Part # HRE-340, $25.39

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Jrod-13

Discussion Starter · #13 · Mar 13, 2004

the rotors I used were number 4885611 from napa, 25.99 each.

The dodge rotors I think might fit(never got to actually test them) are 4886447 $36.99 each

jimmy102

· #14 · Mar 13, 2004

Great mod, I'll be doing it in the near future. Tower, MN. Cool I'm from Cook, live in Grand Rapids.

Spawn_X

· #15 · Jun 8, 2004

wuzabronco said:
You can order Howe weld on caliper brackets from Summit racing.
http://www.summitracing.com/

Part # HRE-340, $25.39

do those fit the calipers mentioned above? if not, then what kind / is there enough material/room on them to modify for the calipers mentioned?

i don't have a plasma or a torch, so cutting it out with a grinder or sawzall would be loads of fun.. thanks

wuzabronco

· #16 · Jun 8, 2004 (Edited)

The Howe mounts are 7.040" mounting bolt to mounting bolt. They work with '74 blazer calipers. Should work with most any pickup or fullsize car from the 70's. I'm not a GM guy so I'm not sure of exact years or models with that spacing.

mlogan24

· #17 · Jun 9, 2004

Kickass thread! Just what I was looking for. Does anyone know if those 9" brackets like the Summit one and the ones you get from race supply houses will accept the Cadillac calipers with the e-brake provisions?

Also, I've heard many people have great success using the stock h-blocks that come with 4-wheel drum setups when they go with 4-wheel disk, but other insist on getting a disk/disk proportioing valve. Anyone know of a specific reason why one is a must over the other? (of course I'll switch to a disk/disk or drum/drum MC)

jboone02

· #18 · Jun 9, 2004

Proportioning valve

On EB's you don't have to switch the proportioning valve according to WH4x4.

Fireguy50

· #19 · Jun 9, 2004

You screwed up bad dude!
the rotor is not true on the axle, look at all that rust and junk you left.
AND the rotor is not centered on the studs, bad idea
Here is mine:
http://fordfuelinjection.com/bronco/brakes.html

Jrod-13

Discussion Starter · #20 · Jun 9, 2004

Fireguy50 said:
You screwed up bad dude!
the rotor is not true on the axle, look at all that rust and junk you left.
AND the rotor is not centered on the studs, bad idea
Here is mine:
http://fordfuelinjection.com/bronco/brakes.html

I've seen yours, it looks good..

As for them not being centered.. The dial incator says they are, there isn't any runout, or anything strange going on driving down the road, or under light or hard braking.

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