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Adding Power Disc Brakes

greatguy57078

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Jul 15, 2006
Messages
3,430
How hard is it to add power disc brakes to a '72 Bronco? I have the Dana 44 with the discs from a donor '76, but am wondering how difficult it is, and what I would need to complete the assembly. I intend to have 4 wheel disc brakes eventually. What is the best set up? Any thoughts?
 

jeffncs

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
May 4, 2004
Messages
1,895
Loc.
Raleigh, NC
I have a 77 with power front discs. After buying replacement calipers, discs, pads, bearings, seals,etc... I realized that I would have been better off just buying a complete kit from WH. Don't waste your time trying to piece it together. It's not worth the aggravation, IMO.

FWIW.

Jeff
 

broncnaz

Bronco Guru
Joined
May 22, 2003
Messages
24,342
I dont know where jeffncs is buying parts but its obviously at the wrong place.
Swapping the knuckles is fairly straight forword but the 76/77 knuckles are not the best choice as they have a different tierod setup and is a slightly different size than the 72 tierod but there are conversion tierods availible or you can upgrade and do a TRO with ch#vy ends or even your stock tierod but you will need a reamer and possibly some bushings. One other thing about the 76/77 knuckles the steering arms usually end up very close to the rim so backspacing will be critical some people sun wheel spaces to correct this..
All said and done the swap will probably cost you close to or slightly more than what one of the kits cost but you will endup with new balljoints and possibly a better steering setup at the same time
Your parts list will be the same as the F150 conversions for everything except for the tierods.
 

ponch0v

Sr. Member
Joined
Nov 2, 2001
Messages
671
If you dont like the thought of driving around picking up various parts then get a whole kit from one of the EB vendors. But since it sounds like you are set for the knuckles...I have found that if you do some "shopping around" you can cut the total coast of the upgrade substantially. I go to the bearing house for bearings and seals, brake jobber for the brake stuff, etc. Most expensive part was the new disk/hub at $55ea.

Get one of the PB boosters from BCB, you dont have to dent the inner fender to install it.

I spent WAAAY less than the $700 that some of the vendors want for the basic kit.
 
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