Brake setup advice wanted

[ripper72]

My 72 is currently on jackstands without a rear end or brakes. In the coming months I plan on adding a 3-1/2" suspension lift and getting the rear end back where it belongs in working order. I have been debating on the rear brake issue for some time now and was looking for some experienced opinions. I am going to convert the front to a disc setup but was torn when it came to the rear. I am going to be using the Bronco as an occasional city driver and some muddy off roading, no rocks. Is it worth it for me to run discs on front and rear or will front discs and new rear drums be sufficient? Any advice appreciated as well as suggestions on where to purchase the best components.

 

[TJK74]

I would say front disc alone would be plenty. You could alway add the rears later if you felt you needed them. Of coarse disc all the way around would be the best but I know plenty of people running just front disc that are perfectly content with there set up!

 

[TOFIC]

do the rear disc now that you have the rear end out. You will be glad you did. I have done it both ways and now I pull the rear end when I do the conversion.
TOFIC

 

[Cactus killer]

And you won't waste your money on drum brake parts. If you get all new drum parts, for almost the same money you could have rear discs.

 

[drscotch]

In my case my rear drums were shot, turned too many times. Made the decisions easy for me. I couldn't justify paying the $$ for new drums.

 

[SaddleUp]

If the cost will be reasonably close (Within $50 or $100 or so) of going either way then go ahead and do the rear disk. Otherwise there isn't a significant advantage to having them. I.E. You will have better brakes if you run Disk/Drum with a hydroboost than you would to run disk/disk with a vacuum power booster. The only advantage rear disks have over drums is that they are less susceptable to loss of brakes from wet drums or from brake fading. Since the majority of the braking occurs in the front brakes that makes it a minimal advantage that is hardly noticeable. My advise to anyone regarding rear disks is that if it is convienent to do them then go for it. Otherwise don't sweat it unless you just want them for the cool factor. The only reason I did them on mine was because I switched rearends and had to buy a complete rear brake setup and axles anyway which made the cost difference negligible.

 

[76Broncofromhell]

The only real advantages to rear disc brakes are:

-Pedal feel
-Less susceptable to lock up
-Better heat dissipation

If your rear drums are good, then don't bother. Mine were shot so I changed over as all new hardware, wheel cylinders and drums were within $20 of having discs. With discs (except Explorer rear discs) you can kiss the idea of a parking brake goodbye. The Caddy calipers don't work worth a shit. If you don't believe me, I have a brand new set for sale.

 

[bigmuddy]

Rear brake setup

I have had both drum rears and disc rear setups on my rig. I just dumped the Caddy rear disc brakes because they frankly just did not work well at all, particularly the e-brake equipment. If you are going to rear disc brakes I would only use the Explorer/SVo/Currie rear disc brakes with the integrated drum style e-brake. If you do not need the e-brake you can do it really cheap by buying the mounting bracket through one of the circle track suppliers and using a caliper from several different vehicles: monte carlo front, S10 etc.. I personally was so irritated about my caddy rear brakes went back to the big 77 rear drums. I got the drums and backing plates from a buddy for a trade that had went to rear discs without the e-brake so this made the decision a lot cheaper for me. I would have went to the SVO/Explorer rear discs but I have the 77 rear end which I did not want to lose and I would have had to modify the ends of the housing to use the EXP/SVO axles and brakes.

 

[SaddleUp]

I have had both drum rears and disc rear setups on my rig. I just dumped the Caddy rear disc brakes because they frankly just did not work well at all, particularly the e-brake equipment. If you are going to rear disc brakes I would only use the Explorer/SVo/Currie rear disc brakes with the integrated drum style e-brake. If you do not need the e-brake you can do it really cheap by buying the mounting bracket through one of the circle track suppliers and using a caliper from several different vehicles: monte carlo front, S10 etc.. I personally was so irritated about my caddy rear brakes went back to the big 77 rear drums. I got the drums and backing plates from a buddy for a trade that had went to rear discs without the e-brake so this made the decision a lot cheaper for me. I would have went to the SVO/Explorer rear discs but I have the 77 rear end which I did not want to lose and I would have had to modify the ends of the housing to use the EXP/SVO axles and brakes.

Dutchman sells the kit to fit either housing. They do charge a few dollars more though because the backing plates need to be drilled to the right pattern.

 

[dustybronco]

with the dutchman kit you have to either grind down your axle flanges or have the inside of the rotor machined to fit over your axle. your axle is 7" across the flange and the rotors are 6 5/8" inside.

 

[SaddleUp]

with the dutchman kit you have to either grind down your axle flanges or have the inside of the rotor machined to fit over your axle. your axle is 7" across the flange and the rotors are 6 5/8" inside.

Dutchman doesn't make the kit. Ford Motorsports does. Dutchman just does the machine work required such as drilling the rotors for the correct wheel pattern. Currie and Wild Horses (just to name a couple) sell exactly the same thing.

 

[ripper72]

thanks for the info

I appreciate all the information given and with that said I just need to make a decision.