Front disc brakes

[MThalfcab]

Hope all is having a good day! In need of a little information, if I buy a Front brake change over from drum to disc on my 74, do I just buy a kit and put it on or is there more involved??? My Bronco is stock height?

 

[SteveL]

It pretty much bolts on from the knuckles out and you need the right master cylinder and proportioning valve. You can buy a kit from the vendors or hit the junkyard to save a good chunk of cash.

 

[MThalfcab]

Thank you for replying, any help appreciated, but I heard there's bushing that will have to be replaced , an alignment, I'm just trying to figure out how much of a rabbit hole I'll be going down?

 

[Timmy390]

Thank you for replying, any help appreciated, but I heard there's bushing that will have to be replaced , an alignment, I'm just trying to figure out how much of a rabbit hole I'll be going down?

Bushings.....Yes kind of......but probably not what you think
https://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/Tapered_Sleeves_for_F150_Knuckles/Custom_tie_rods

These sleeves are used so you can install your stock 66-75 tie rod and drag link after you convert to front disc brakes from 76-79 F150 or 78-79 Bronco. They are needed because the tapered holes in the bigger knuckles are larger. The sleeves bring the hole size down to fit the stock 66-75 tie rod.

Got mine from the link above. I sourced all my own parts from a 78-79 Big Bronco. Not sure if the kits come with the tapered Sleeves or not.

Tim

 

[MThalfcab]

Bushings.....Yes kind of......but probably not what you think
https://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/Tapered_Sleeves_for_F150_Knuckles/Custom_tie_rods

These sleeves are used so you can install your stock 66-75 tie rod and drag link after you convert to front disc brakes from 76-79 F150 or 78-79 Bronco. They are needed because the tapered holes in the bigger knuckles are larger. The sleeves bring the hole size down to fit the stock 66-75 tie rod.

Got mine from the link above. I sourced all my own parts from a 78-79 Big Bronco. Not sure if the kits come with the tapered Sleeves or not.

Tim

Thank you for replying, I'm not much mechanical so I apologize but if I use a complete conversion set from say Toms, I'll need these tie rod tapered sleeves with new bushings to complete the job or is it only needed if I use brakes from a 76-79??

 

[mpboxer]

Hope all is having a good day! In need of a little information, if I buy a Front brake change over from drum to disc on my 74, do I just buy a kit and put it on or is there more involved??? My Bronco is stock height?

If you don’t need/want all Ford parts just do the Chevy conversion kits that the vendors sell. They don’t require new knuckles.

 

[Timmy390]

If you don’t need/want all Ford parts just do the Chevy conversion kits that the vendors sell. They don’t require new knuckles.

It' been a LONG time since I've looked at kits. Maybe an all Ford kit isn't sold anymore? I though someone was selling one. Maybe that dried up. And yes the all Chevy conversion doesn't need the tapered sleeves, Only the Ford F150 and Big Bronco knuckles need them.

Tim

 

[toddz69]

It' been a LONG time since I've looked at kits. Maybe an all Ford kit isn't sold anymore? I though someone was selling one. Maybe that dried up. And yes the all Chevy conversion doesn't need the tapered sleeves, Only the Ford F150 and Big Bronco knuckles need them.

Tim

BC Broncos and Duffs both still sell kits that use repop Ford stuff, but for what I think the OP has in mind, it'll just be knuckles out so you don't need to worry about the tie rods or knuckle sleeves, etc.

Todd Z.

 

[mpboxer]

It' been a LONG time since I've looked at kits. Maybe an all Ford kit isn't sold anymore? I though someone was selling one. Maybe that dried up. And yes the all Chevy conversion doesn't need the tapered sleeves, Only the Ford F150 and Big Bronco knuckles need them.

Tim

I think Duffs has the Monster Brake Kit with all Ford parts still (except Master Cynlinder). I did that a year ago which included new knuckles.

 

[Scoop]

I've used the chevy style kit on several Broncos. It works just fine. The biggest advantage of the all-Ford conversion is the larger hole in the knuckle which allows easier installation of bigger axle U-joints or Super Joints. You only really need these if you plan on off-roading a lot and will be upgrading your front axles..

That said, I highly recommend doing a front disk conversion. Much better brakes. It's not a deep rabbit hole!

 

[sprdv1]

I've used the chevy style kit on several Broncos. It works just fine. The biggest advantage of the all-Ford conversion is the larger hole in the knuckle which allows easier installation of bigger axle U-joints or Super Joints. You only really need these if you plan on off-roading a lot and will be upgrading your front axles..

That said, I highly recommend doing a front disk conversion. Much better brakes. It's not a deep rabbit hole!

X10.. front discs for sure

 

[SteveL]

Thank you for replying, any help appreciated, but I heard there's bushing that will have to be replaced , an alignment, I'm just trying to figure out how much of a rabbit hole I'll be going down?

After doing any work with the knuckles you're gonna want to check your alignment afterwards.

 

[MThalfcab]

Thank you good people for all your good information that will help me make my decision!

 

[MThalfcab]

I noticed with the JD Master Disc Brakes products, there's grinding to be done, I live very rual, small town so to speak, getting extras done is pretty ruff! I like their products but looking for power booster master cylinder to disc brakes with out the major machine work needed. Does anyone have a product that they'd recommend that's works really well with my 74/ Dana 44? Thank you for any information that can help me decide!

 

[.94 OR]

This isn't necessarily "machine" work to get the clearance for the GM brake kit. Side grinder or possibly even a bench grinder would do the work needed.

Had a boss years ago that worked for the USFS in Yaak. Took a guys weekend trip down the Yaak river, flipped the canoe and lost his guns and fishing gear. It was a 1959 Herter's fiberglass canoe that he had mail ordered and was delivered on the train. I bought it from him and just sold it a couple years back.

 

[Scoop]

I noticed with the JD Master Disc Brakes products, there's grinding to be done, I live very rual, small town so to speak, getting extras done is pretty ruff! I like their products but looking for power booster master cylinder to disc brakes with out the major machine work needed. Does anyone have a product that they'd recommend that's works really well with my 74/ Dana 44? Thank you for any information that can help me decide!

This kit is probably the chevy conversion. (I've not looked at it). If so, there is some interference between the knuckle and caliper. The grinding is minor - not major machine work. You could probably do it with a Dremel. The all-Ford kit should not require any grinding.

 

[MThalfcab]

This isn't necessarily "machine" work to get the clearance for the GM brake kit. Side grinder or possibly even a bench grinder would do the work needed.

Had a boss years ago that worked for the USFS in Yaak. Took a guys weekend trip down the Yaak river, flipped the canoe and lost his guns and fishing gear. It was a 1959 Herter's fiberglass canoe that he had mail ordered and was delivered on the train. I bought it from him and just sold it a couple years back.

Thanks for the update!

I was in a canoe with the great mountain man TO, trapping, we flipped his ole canoe losing his traps but on the West Fork Yaak, on this part of the river during the so called summer, the river goes down quit a bit and he retrieved the traps. I never heard of anyone finding any guns in the river but what a bummer!

 

[MThalfcab]

This kit is probably the chevy conversion. (I've not looked at it). If so, there is some interference between the knuckle and caliper. The grinding is minor - not major machine work. You could probably do it with a Dremel. The all-Ford kit should not require any grinding.

I was looking at the Ford kit, I'm thinking they all require some type of grinding, I sometimes wished over a up with a phone in my butt so I could get to all this high tech!

 

[hsach]

Here are some pre-ground knuckles for the Chevy conversion. They are pricey, but new and already have the grinding work done, and new ball joints.
https://tomsoffroad.com/parts/69-75-ford-bronco-pre-ground-dana-44-knuckles

 

[MThalfcab]

Here are some pre-ground knuckles for the Chevy conversion. They are pricey, but new and already have the grinding work done, and new ball joints.
https://tomsoffroad.com/parts/69-75-ford-bronco-pre-ground-dana-44-knuckles

They are pricey but I'm finding in my situation being rual, out in the sticks of Montana, it's a good way to go! Thank you for this information, ?, Can you use them on a Ford kit?