disc brake opinion

didnt put this over in tech because i didnt think it was really technical, if you feel it is please by all means put it there ive been reading over the parts list for the disc conversion, and it looks pretty much straight foward, my question is for the guys that have already done it. how much would you say it improved your braking distance, preassure required out of the pedal etc. overall how much of a improvement was it? thanks in advance.

 

When they are wet...Big improvment.

 

2x on Scotts comment on wet brakes. Disc's work almost as good wet as dry. I have heard many times that the peddle pressure is more with discs but I put the power booster on mine when I installed the new brakes so really do not have anything to compare with. As to handling and stopping distance, both were improved considerably and I had 11x2's in there for my last drum brakes. You can pretty much lock things up and stay straight in the road with very little fade. And, as an added bonus, if you are still running closed knuckles, if the hub grease seal fails, the grease runs on the ground instead of greasing the shoes.

Would I do it again? Absolutely for any Jeep that actually sees road miles and probably for any trail rig too where wet drum brakes can cause some serious problems.

 

i have discs up front 11 drums rear, this was one of the best upgrades i've done. Sunday i had a traffic light turn red ,and i had to do a quick stop from 60 m.p.h. The jeep came to a straight stop. i could have let go of the wheel without moving from my lane. i kept my stock master cylinder, and it doesn't seem to take any more pedal effort than the drums did.

 

pretty much what i was wanting to hear, i have the 9 inch drums now, and everything is new, i can lock them up on gravel, but it takes all the a$$ ive got to do it. they are not spongy, hard as a brick. better brakes would be a huge pluss. and i already have the caliper mounts, and caliper cores.

 

was looking over on the napa website, just to get a expense idea, those pads are $12.99

 

I wheel in a lot of mud, and find it packs the drums. No problems with the front discs though.

 

Xwhatever on the disks.

GREAT upgrade, less maintenence and adjustment, vastly improved wet braking, parts are cheap. On road stopping distance is better too.


I'll handle this one for lynn "If you use cross drilled drums they wet braking is much better, look for my (lynn's) writeup in the tech section"

 

it seems there is alot of pros. easier to service, cheaper to service, parts are easier to get with the exception of the rotors, but they can be got, and are not that big of a wear item as far as wearing them out, would really like to get away from the "S" line, and can actually get rid of 1 brake hose by going straight from the caliper to the frame with the longer hose. you guys just about have me talked into it selling the 25 and putting in a 27 anyways, so the way i have it figured its 50/50 on the expense as the 27 needs the brakes gone thru anyway, may even come out a $ or two ahead

 

X2, Huge improvement when wet.
And also noted above, the organic pads make a huge difference in pedal pressure.

 

I would never go back to drums up front. No more scary hard stops.

 

I will say that on road it is good, not much rain here so can not tell, but off orad it is the best, I can now hold the jeep to an inch on rocks. Never could do that with any cj with 9 inch drums, but now it sticks like my TJ

 

Hello, Running drums all the way around, so what is the easiest to install and what is the cost in the switch? How hard is it to do? 56 Willys CJ5 F134 /T90 only allows me around 45 mph. I haven't had a problem keeping it straight. I feel she pulls alittle to the right buti had to adjust the front drums so it is not a bother.
Thanx
Al
Al

 

check the tech section out, there is a whole write up there, i was mainly asking just how big of a improvement it made in this thread, the writeup by the way is extreamly usefull, part #'s and all. thanks guys for taking the time for the writeup mine does not pull to one side or the other, its just hard as hell to stop, especially on a steep hill you are trying to go down slow

 

I removed 11" brakes for discs up front.......
I didn't notice that much of a difference.
no water crossings around here, dry all the time.
I sold the discs and went back to the 11" brakes.
just as good as discs in my opinion.

 

x eleventy bajillion.

 

Thanx JPFlat, Thanx Kaiser, Ill look at the tech notes
Thanks again
Al
56 Willys F134 / T90

 

well i am gonna do it. i have a chevy so if i dont like it the only thing i will be out is some lug studs and 2 jeep rotors. the hoses, calipers and pads will fit my old chevy if i dont like it. and i already have the caliper mounts, been laying here before i ever got the jeep. sometimes it pays to be a pack rat

 

I have had only one problem with my discs, I managed to get enough water in there once while running in deep snow that the next morning when all was frozen, it actually ripped one of the pads loose on the rear axle. Now I ride the brakes awhile before I park it if I have been in the snow to heat them up a bit so everything melts out. Changing the pads is about a 15 minute job-much quicker than pulling drums and shoes. I am not sure I would bother swapping a good 25 out for a 27 however. I do not think the 27's are any stronger. The disc conversion parts needed are the same for both.