Disc Brake Conversion

[Catchin1]

I'm sure this is "old hat" for most of you but some one bring me up to date on what it takes to put discs on the front of my 73'. Manual is fine. I know there is some type of Chevy parts that work but are there any Ford parts that work?

Thanks in advance.

 

[S_bolt19]

Sure there are Ford parts that work. It is just a lot more fun when you walk into the parts store and drop a caliper on the counter and have the following conversation:

You: "I think this is off of a 76 Blazer"

Parts Guy: "What is it going on to?"

You: "73 Ford Bronco"

PG: "Huh? I thought you said it was for a 76 Blazer?"

You: "I did, but I am going to put it on a 73 Bronco"

PG: "That won't fit"

You: "Yes it will"

PG: "No it won't, GM & Ford don't make interchanging parts"

You: "Sure they do, Just give me a new pair of calipers and I will see you back in a day with that Ch*vy caliper on a Ford Bronco"

Insert the dumbest, blank stare you can possibly come up with here :huh: ...lol

I got that when I did my front discs, my rear discs, my spark plugs when I couldn't remember what EFI I had, and the best was when I did my J**P Cherokee wiper conversion. That conversation was real fun.

But to answer your question, it can be done, I think you have to use 78-79 Bronco or F series spindles...I don't remember all the stuff for that. Do a google on "Chevy disc conversion" and you can get all kinds of parts lists.

 

[Catchin1]

I'm afraid I won't do my parts guy like that. This is how it went with me at the local Advance yesterday.

Me- I need rear axle seals,and rear shoes for a 73' Ford Bronco. (i'm thinking, I'm gonna have to explain to this acne faced kid that they actually did make a Bronco in 73 )

Acne faced kid - 2750lb. axle or 3300 lb.?

Me - :blink: (long pause because I'm caught of gaurd) uhh 2750

Acne faced kid - Redoing an EB huh?

Me - :blink: (long pause again cuz I'm still stunned that he knows what a Bronco is) uhhh not entirely

Acne faced kid - Have you done the disc brake conversion for the front yet? If not you really should makes a big difference, my brother and I have done a couple.

Me - :wacko: Really... tell me more

Acne faced kid - Yea we used some chevy blazer stuff... I've got a parts list here somewhere, (fumbles around the counter for a minute) well can't find it right now, but you can google it and find out all about it.

Me - :blink: (still dazed and confused) errr thanks kid.

Hence my post.

 

[S_bolt19]

LOL..thats pretty funny...never would have expected that one from the parts guys.

Here is a pretty good write up about the D44 disc swap using a 78-79 Bronco.

http://classicbroncos.com/disc-f150.shtml

Hope this helps you some.

 

[Catchin1]

Thanks again for the info sb19.

 

[bartowb]

just did the swap that s bolt told you about 2 months ago. it went on easy. it took more time getting things together then doing the project. i got my knuckles out off a '79 bronco. i replaced all things that could be replaced (seals, calipers, rotors, ball joints, ect.) and also axle u joints and hubs. only took me about 3-4 hrs to do it and a couple hundred it parts. it is well worth the time and money. braking is like nite and day and not to mention you have a all ford setup. if you have any questions give me a yell.

 

[Catchin1]

Thanks Bartowb. I 've been researching and from what I'm understanding there is no Ford/ chevy spindle it's just a dana spindle. And the only difference in spindles is the drum and disc are different. Then its your choice of using the Ford caliper set-up or the Chevy set-up. If I am correct about this I'm going with the Chevy set up because it seems a little simpler because the calipers mount to the backing plate / dust sheild and there is no mods to the tierods.

I am correct about this anyone?

 

[S_bolt19]

as far as the Ford one goes, I don't know about it, but the Ch*vy, the only real mod you have to do is a little grinding on the knuckle to get clearance for the caliper. Also, the outter snap ring will not fit with the Ch*vy conversion (don't know about the Ford conversion), so you have to get a bolt and fender washer, ***** it into the end of the axle and then put the outter hub on. You never will see it, and there isn't a problem, so don't worry about that outter snap ring not being there and/or becoming a problem. The fender washer holds everything together like the snap ring would, it is just bolted into the end of the axle.

 

[bartowb]

catchin1 there actually happens to be a slight difference in the ford and chevy spindles and off hand i can't remember which one it is but one of the spindles has an extra shoulder machined into it. but that really doesn't make a difference because which ever way you go you will get the parts for that application. what s_bolt said is true the snap rings wont go on and you will have to grind the knuckles. buddy of mine did the chevy swap and hasn't had a problem. as far as mods with the ford swap there are none it is more or less a bolt on. everything goes in place no fender washers no grinding. the only thing i had to get other then replacentment parts was a tie rod adapter sleeve f-150/full size broncos have a larger taper think they were 10 bucks from jeff's. and brake lines got ss braided from tom's for around 40 bucks. if you look around the net you will find prob half a dozen write ups on it with different pics of the steps but i used the write up on classic bronco and didn't have a prob. best of luck to you yell if you need sumpn

 

[Catchin1]

Thanks again bartowb. Yea I've read some of the articles on here and other places. Think I've bout got it figured out.

As far as this project goes at present I'm working on the rear, replacing axle seals, drake shoes, wheel cylinders and I've even got the chunk out so I can properly replace the dope and clean that slimey sludge out of the housing. The front brakes will be next.

BTW speaking of seals this reminds me. I had trouble with the left rear axle leaking. A guy I work with builds racecars and naturally he's used a lot of Ford 9" axles. He told me they use double seals on each side. From looking at the housing it looks as if there is enough space for 2 seals so I'm probaly gonna do that.

Anyone else tried this?

 

[walkercreekbronco]

I used Loctite to install a single wheel seal. Seemed to work. (My left rear was also the leaking seal)