disc swap dilemma

OK, here's the deal. I scored a set of Scout axles (30/44) with an aftermarket disc brake conversion (SteelTech Solutions, now out of business). I was thinking of swapping axles, but ended up deciding to move the disc setup to my '73 30/44 axles.

Front is fine, swapping everything from spindles out.

Rear...um, not so fine. One slight problem to figure out.... On my stock '73 D44, the flange on the end of the axle tube is 6-bolt 3/8"). The flange on the Scout axle is 4-bolt (1/2"). I am flipping back and forth between redrilling the axle flange for the 4 bolt retainer (1 hole almost lines up, 1 hole barely lines up, 2 holes would be in between other existing holes), or drilling the brake caliper bracket for the 6-bolt.

If I drilled out my axle for the 4-bolt pattern, I'd have to pull the bearings off the axle shaft on both sets of axles, to get the flange retainer off, so I could swap the 4 bolt retainer plate to my axle shaft.

If I stuck with the 6 bolt pattern, and redrilled the disc brake brackets, I'd have to make 2 spacers to make up for the missing backing plate. (I already have these from the 4-bolt Scout axle. The bracket would catch 3 or 4 of the 3/8" bolts, depending on clocking.

Ideas, opinions?

 

One other thing to think about is the axle flange to housing flange offset is different between the two axles.......

 

oops, missed that completely. Looks like I may have something that'll work, I'll have to mock it up and see how close it comes.

 

I can get within about 3/16 if I goober it up backwards....so I just ordered a r-p caliper bracket set and discs....i can sell the Scout disc parts and recoup some $$.

Thanks nickmil, you just saved me a headache. But, if I don't come back around after May 14, well....that's when the wife gets the credit card bill.

 

Ahh, so that was you!. I was up there when your order came through.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Cool...you get around.

My CJ has been neglected the past 4 or 5 years, as I've been pouring all my Jeep funds into the 715...this summer, I'm going to get it back in shape and get some upgrades done. I'm sure I'll have plenty of questions. This month I'm getting brakes, TBI, and a locker in...then got to catch up on some body work and new seats.

 

Are there other threads that give guidence on converting the stock d30, and d44 axles to power disc brakes? I have the suspension torn apart currently, and the axles on jack stands. It would be a good time to do the conversion.

Thanks,

Dennis

 

I don't think there's any way to convert to rear disks without making or buying conversion caliper brackets. R&P has a kit - that will show you what's involved: http://shop.rp4wd.com/product/disc-kit-1

For the fronts, there may be a page or two out there, but the process is said to be straightforward. Take the knuckles-out from a later disk brake D30 axle and bolt them on. Jeep offered disk brakes on the CJs starting in 1977 (Online sources are wrong about optional disk brakes in 1976 - no CJ disks in 1976. Certainly drum brakes were still standard equipment for CJs in 1977, so disks optional in '77). The rotors changed in 1979 from 1.125" thick to 0.875" thick. In 1981, they switched from the 6 bolt to a weaker 5 bolt locking hub, so the earlier parts are more desirable.

 

I readily converted a rear D44 to disc using the same parts required for the D27 conversion. However, I had already done the full float conversion which made the disc swap easy. I used the thick rotors with the GM caliper brackets.