[willymutt]

I just put ford disk brakes on my CJ. I have Chevy flat top knuckles, and had a lot of clearance problems. I ended up grinding a lot of metal away. I even had to take one of the studs off the drivers side knuckle. <IMG SRC="smilies/pissed.gif" border="0"> Has anyone had this problem before? How did you fix this? HELP

Erin

 

[The Rockslut]

The 6 holes in the caliper mount are clocked differently than Chevy. You need to redrill the caliper mounts to rotate the mount down and away from the high steer arm.

 

[willymutt]

I used the caliper mounts off a wagonneer. Would this be the same case?

Erin

 

[Monkeyboy]

I had to redrill my Waggy caliper mount.

I think the thickness of the caliper mounts might be different or the studs are different lengths or something.

Seems that the GM drivers side knuckle with the original studs are too short for the redrilled waggy caliper mount.

Just a heads up.

 

[BillaVista]

I'm not getting it. If you have Chevy knuckles how are you mounting Ford brakes, or is it an older style Ford setup where the caliper bracket bolts on the spindle stude like a ring (as opposed to the Later Ford D44 disk brakes which have the caliper bracket cast as part of the knuckle.)??

Anyhooo - I would suggest - since you have Chevy knuckles, and I'm assuming want to retain a 5x5.5 pattern. Use the Chevy knuckle, caliper bracket, caliper, spindle, and stub shaft with F150 hubs and rotors, and you get:

1) Better Chevy brakes (caliper and mounting design better than Ford, IMHO)
2) 5x5.5 pattern, but with strong internal style lockouts
3) Cheap and easy replacement parts - no customizing - it all bolts together.
4) No cutting, grinding, clearance problems, or missing studs (yikes)

my $.02

 

[jeepgod]

not all chevy spindles work.. just the d44's.. the 10 bolts have a larger inner bearing.. i used chevy caliper mounts on mine.. but i am running wagoneer knuckles.. and didnt have any clearence problems.. used the waggy calipers also.. with the ford disk and bearing hub assy...
one suggestion that i learned this week.. is the 1980 and newer wagoneer calipers.. will have the same size bango bolt as the cj/yj brake lines.. with the later ones.. you have to drill out the brass brake line fitting.. no big deal.. but.. just something for someone..

 

[willymutt]

Here is what I used. The knuckles are chevy, the backing plate, calipers, and spindles are off a wagonneer. These are the same as a chevy. I then used hubs and rotors from a F-150. The stud that I was talking about was the one for the steering arm.

Erin

 

[Eric]

Is the caliper hitting the steering arm stud?

 

[willymutt]

Not anymore. I ground the stud off. I also had a problem with the banjo bolt hitting the knuckle end of the axle.

Erin

 

[Eric]

Maybe this will help....maybe not....

It seems that you still have a mis-match in your bolt patterns between the Chevy knuckle and the Waggy backing plate. The Chevy knuckle has the 6 studs at different locations (top stud is at 12 o'clock). The Waggy knuckle (and backing plate) will have the 6 studs rotated (2 studs are parallel at 11 and 1 o'clock).

The painted knuckle is Chevy.
The other is Waggy (non-flat top).

<IMG width=419 height=422 SRC="http://www.pirate4x4.com/ubb/uploads/nonflattopknuckle02.jpg">

The caliper positions are still in the same locations, but only if you use the same knuckle and backing plate. Since you have used different knuckles and backing plates, your caliper must be rotated up too high causing the problems. If this is the case, you have to change backing plates or redrill the bolt patterns to the Chevy pattern.

[ 08-31-2001: Message edited by: Eric ]

 

[SonoraBob]

Chevy knuckle, spindle, mounting plate, caliper.

Ford hub, rotor.

 

[ozarkjeep]

Hey eric, interesting note, ( you prob already know this)

My knuckles from a 76 wag front 44 look just like the black ones in the picture.


so it would seem teh differences are more "vintage" specific than manufacturer specific

who knows

 

[Jeepdude_Jay]

Originally posted by ozarkjeep:
<STRONG>Hey eric, interesting note, ( you prob already know this)

My knuckles from a 76 wag front 44 look just like the black ones in the picture.


so it would seem teh differences are more "vintage" specific than manufacturer specific

who knows</STRONG>

Yes. If that Waggy knuckle that is pictured above were a flat top then the bolt pattern would match the Chevy. Is the clearance problem because the backing plates are from a non- flat top knuckle?

Jay

[ 09-01-2001: Message edited by: Jeepdude_Jay ]

 

[CJ]

Not all Flat Tops are clocked the same.
I sent a left and right from a 77 Wagoneer to Parts Mike to be machined. Some one switched the left one before it got back to me. It was not clocked the same. Mike said that the one I sent him was the same as a Chevy.

BTY I am useing Ford rotors and the Wagoneer Brakes.