Disc brake conversion pad identification

[Bustedbroc]

A question on my 74 EB with a disc brake conversion a PO did I am guessing 8-10 years ago. Truck is all stock except I see someone did a brake conversion to power disc front brakes and 11" rear drums. Brakes work ok but upon disassembly I see that a small portion of the front pad is not completely in contact with the rotor. It is actually partially off the edge of the rotor. That portion obviously has no wear on it. All components show little use since being installed. The brake caliper seems to me like standard Ford fare. I was just wondering if this kit was from let's say, TOMS, would it take standard 1975-77 Bronco pads or are special pads? Thanks in advance.

 

[toddz69]

Take a pic of the caliper and post it here and then we can tell you what it is and what pads to get.

Todd Z.

 

[DirtDonk]

It’s actually an unfortunately common problem with the GM conversion setups.
Haven’t ever seen it on a Ford brake, but doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen.
But as said, post up pictures of your calipers. Or at least brackets, which would tell the tale as well.

 

[Bustedbroc]

Will do. I am guessing it is standard Ford fare from recollection. Perhaps not. Tks

 

[Broncobowsher]

I recall there are actually 3 different diameters of Ford rotors. They interchange. And I suspect that the parts stores have commonized them all into a single interchange.
It's not a huge difference in diameters. I don't have access to my books (I know it is in the old Chilton's) at the moment. Off the top of my head the difference between the largest and smallest is maybe 1/10". You may have just enough dimensional stack up combined with standardization of interchange parts that you are getting the edge of the pad to overhang the edge of the rotor. Not to forget the manufacturing tolerances of the pads themselves, the friction material might be oversized and/or slightly off position on the backing plate.

 

[Bustedbroc]

It’s actually an unfortunately common problem with the GM conversion setups.
Haven’t ever seen it on a Ford brake, but doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen.
But as said, post up pictures of your calipers. Or at least brackets, which would tell the tail as well.

OK, finally got those pics. As you can see pads are off the rotors just a bit. To be honest it probably does not affect a thing. I would just like to know the proper pads to get. Truck pulls to the left under hard braking and these are the pads that were on the truck when purchased. Thanks in advance. FM

 

[1969miller]

73-87 chevy K10 or k5 pads and calipers.

76-77 hub and rotor

 

[gr8scott]

73-87 chevy K10 or k5 pads and calipers.

76-77 hub and rotor

Yup. Chevy disk brake conversion. The tapered ends of those pads are normal, how they're made.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/search?text=brake%20pads&referer=v2

 

[DirtDonk]

The OP is referring to the lack of wear on the outer circumference of the pads. Not where they taper on the ends.
If you look at the pads wear points, you’ll see an outer radius of unused fiction material.
And it looks to me from here, like the outer perimeter of the rotor is being polished smooth and clean from the overhanging pad.
As said, it shouldn’t effect braking performance. But in the immortal words of Gus Fleegman “oh that’s not right“ (from Galaxy Quest) or words to that effect.

I think the GM pads are the same from 73 to 87. Maybe even more years than that. But the calipers themselves changed after 76, if I’m not mistaken.
Even the brackets had variations, but there might be some cross compatibility anyway.
The later parts are often referred to as “metric” pads and caliper.
Don’t know all the ins and outs, other than what what was already posted about the varying diameters of the Ford rotors, and the subtle changes in the GM parts, often make things seem like we are living in an imperfect world.
Wait a minute! We are! :-(

 

[gr8scott]

The OP is referring to the lack of wear on the outer circumference of the pads. Not where they taper on the ends.
If you look at the pads wear points, you’ll see an outer radius of unused fiction material.
And it looks to me from here, like the outer perimeter of the rotor is being polished smooth and clean from the overhanging pad.
As said, it shouldn’t effect braking performance. But in the immortal words of Gus Fleegman “oh that’s not right“ (from Galaxy Quest) or words to that effect.

Gotcha Dirt. Mine actually do the exact same thing. It's as if the rotors are a hair too small for the pads, or the pads too big for the rotors.
Doesn't affect my braking at all.

Strangely enough, I don't recall this happening early on, when I first put the conversion in. So something in the pad design changed recently.

 

[Apogee]

GM FMSI D52 spec brake pads...you can take a rasp or file or whatever and chamfer the top of the pad so that you don't get that ridge of friction material there, which can minimize drag and possibly any noise it may be causing. FWIW, some OEM applications had pretty bad pad alignment from the factory...C3 Corvettes come to mind.

 

[Bustedbroc]

OK. that settles that. Thanks all. Are these conversions still sold? If so by who?

 

[toddz69]

OK. that settles that. Thanks all. Are these conversions still sold? If so by who?

Nearly everyone! Most of the Bronco vendors sell a variation of the kit.

Todd Z.

 

[Broncobowsher]

OK. that settles that. Thanks all. Are these conversions still sold? If so by who?

Yes, super common. The parts are production parts. Just a mix of GM (spindle to caliper) and Ford (rotors) with wheel bearings and lockout being universal between the two.
The Ford rotors are standard half ton 4WD from '76 to '96 (except the oddball 3-bolt hub version of the 80s only used a few years)
The pads and calipers are not only common GM 4WD truck stuff, but GM car stuff. And there is a ton of aftermarket stuff for conversions of all sorts and racing. Check out specality places like Speedway Motors and you can pick through pad options and fine tune pads to work for your needs. Not the parts store three choices of economy, value, premium. You can tune the performance and feel of the brakes with just a pad swap from the vast selection of available pads.

 

[Halfwheeler]

I bought a project Bronco, that someone else started work on maybe 20 years ago or so. It already has a dana 44 front axle disc conversion, but the rotors have already rusted from sitting so long. They might be able to be salvaged, but if I wanted to replace just the rotors, what would I be searching for? " 5 on 5.5 ford 11" rotor " ? I am only curious if all rotors will have the same spacing on the center of the rotor to fit the disc hub correctly - it would affect wheel spacing/ backspacing. I assume if it has the bolt pattern and diameter of the rotor, anything will fit..... but I am a novice mechanic. thanks in advance! I understand the concepts of being able to salvage the rotor.... more interested in parameters of finding a cheap replacement ( and possible drilled and slotted)

 

[toddz69]

I bought a project Bronco, that someone else started work on maybe 20 years ago or so. It already has a dana 44 front axle disc conversion, but the rotors have already rusted from sitting so long. They might be able to be salvaged, but if I wanted to replace just the rotors, what would I be searching for? " 5 on 5.5 ford 11" rotor " ? I am only curious if all rotors will have the same spacing on the center of the rotor to fit the disc hub correctly - it would affect wheel spacing/ backspacing. I assume if it has the bolt pattern and diameter of the rotor, anything will fit..... but I am a novice mechanic. thanks in advance!

A good reference for those rotors is the 76-86 Bronco or F150 4x4.

Todd Z.

 

[DirtDonk]

And unless the rotors are actually deeply rusted and pitted, if it’s just surface rust, it’ll scrape right off the first few brake applications.
The roughness might wear the pads a little quicker for a moment, but that would end soon.
And it would serve to break them in quicker!

 

[Oldtimer]

What year is your Bronco?
Dana 44's came in disc and drum versions.
Was conversion installation of disc brake axle, or conversion from drum to disc brakes
If drum to disc. You will need to determine parts (Ford, GM, etc) used.

 

[Halfwheeler]

I believe it's a 1972 Frame and front Dana 44. I believe it was a drum to disc axle conversion. it appears to be a GM conversion - which I am saying only based on the caliper banjo size - so I would need some data points to check I do understand the discs I have might work fine as is. I bought a Frankenstein bronco project. 1974 Body, 1972 Frame. Rear axle is a currie replacement ford 9" , i believe the front to be original - but no way for me to be sure.

 

[Broncobowsher]

To remove the caliper, does it need an Allen wrench to pull the slide pins out? Or a regular wrench to pull bolts that hold the wedge in place?
Allen headed pins = GM
Regular bolt head wedge = Ford