Help with brake replacement parts

I have a '70 CJ5 in bad need of a brake rebuild. I have all the lines off and am awaiting delivery of new ones.

I have hit a small snag with replacing parts, I can find everything accept the self-adjusting rods. What I am seeing is a lot of self-adjusting cables, that appear to attach to the same places my rods do in all new brake hardware kits and most new photos. One side of mine is completely missing the adjusting lever and rods, so I am looking to replace, but are most people using cables now instead of rods? Is this why I am seeing a lot of them? Should I upgrade.

Thanks for helping the newbie,
Emory

 

So with a 70 you have the stock 10" drum brakes (?).

Have you checked here: http://midwestjeepwillys.com/cj5-cj6-brakeparts.html

I would also check at R&P in Oregon.

Could also place an add in the classifieds. Someone here has probably removed 10" brakes and has parts.

Good Luck

 

Some of the 10" brake parts can be hard to find. I would seriously evaluate cost of rebuilding what you have vs. replacing with 11" brakes, especially if you plan on keeping the Jeep. Think how hard the 10" stuff may be to find 5 or 10 years down the road.

 

This.
Plus, much better brakes, & it's an easy swap.

 

If my old brain still works, There was 2 brands of brakes used in that era. Wagner and Bendix. One used the cable for the auto adjust, the other used the rods. I can't find the FSM for my Commando so I can't tell you which had the rods.
Personally, as mentioned, I would do the 11' conversion. I Did it over 20 years ago and have had no issues with it.

 

Pretty sure the Wagner brakes use the rod and Bendix uses cables. The Bendix brakes are all 11"x2" AFAIK. The Wagners should be 10"x2".

 

Not wanting to start an argument but I think the '69 Commando had 10' brakes, either Bendix or Wagner.
I really need to go find that FSM...

 

This is the stock brake setup from my 70 CJ 5
10" brakes.

Edit: just noticed the picture is upside down...please turn your computer over for clarity!

 

I'm not familiar with the rod style setup. But if they are rods can't you go to hardware store and buy metal rod and bend yourself?

 

The rods are extremely accurate lengths and heat treated. In my experience you bend them too far they break because of this. The cable system is much better although not perfect by any means.