D27 Disk conversion

This is my first posting, but I have been reading them, and the tech area, for over a year and they have been a great help to me. Thanks to everyone for providing the information, usually just when I needed it. I have the 65 up and running and painted, but now it needs to learn how to stop.

In the various instructions for D27 disk conversions the 1/2 ton chevy caliper brackets are available from years 73-91 but the calipers are from years 71-78. One set of instructions I read said any caliper from pre 1987 would work.

My question is ... are the earlier calipers better? Smaller, or less grinding, or is there any difference at all? I have the brackets and calipers from 1987 chevy truck and before I start grinding I needed to know if the earlier calipers would work better. I have 11" backing plates that will go on the back some day.

 

Nice looking Jeep. I don't think there is any difference between the newer brackets and the early brackets. I was told at the wrecking yard that they are the same up to '93.

 

Actually there is a difference in the brackets. The earlier brackets were a full circle of stamped steel. The later ones had much of the "non-caliper" area removed in favor of a sheet metal dust shield that was riveted on. Personally, I like the later ones. If you remove the sheet metal you can easily get to the back side of the wheel to clean the mud and crud out. I don't think there's much if any difference in the calipers. The pre '88s had solid front axles, '88 on had IFS. Your '87s will work just fine.:v6:

 

Couple of ways to get around that metric thing. Your brackets and calipers match so I would stick w/ the year you got. Dimensionally there's no difference. You can also buy loaded calipers. They come w/ everything ready to install.:v6:

 

Should have caught that. Sleep deprivation; I'm sure that's my problem.
Like Steve said, be sure and get the right hose and/or adapter or just go -AN everywhere like I did, then it's just a metric banjo bolt.:v6:

 

I am using 82 brackets and calipers. One good thing is the hoses can easily be bought at the local parts store. The other side bolted right to my existing lines.

 

I stand corrected. Although the gist of the question was "will it fit" and in that respect the answer is still yes. I removed the "tin" dust shield from my brackets as they are really good at trapping mud and small rocks between them and the rotors.

 

The solid axle brackets are available through '91 on the Suburban and the Blazer. Just the pickup went IFS in '88.

 

Thanks for the information. I do have metric banjo bolts for it but I believe it was said the newer hoses were metric on both ends and need an adapter to fit my present brake lines. Or is only fits the metric banjo bolt on that end?