cj7 Brakes

[ddp]

My 81 cj has drum brakes front and back. Is it hard to change front to disc and is it something should be high up on the "to do list" Have only had it a week and have learned so much here. I have the dreaded SR4 Transmission , AMC20 2.73 rear axle, odometer doesn't work, jeep has 33 tires on it which from what I read is not good. Seems my jeep may need a lot of work if I plan on keeping it for years. I have ordered the Factory service manual so hoping I will learn a lot from it. Any and all suggestions are appreciated.

 

[Torxhead]

I would suggest ditching those tires until your CJ is better set up for them. Then from there figure out just what you want to do in terms of off-road and street capability.

 

[mtnwhlr]

The disc brakes on the later Dana 30s will fit yours so I would look for one being parted out. When I parted one out I had a guy buy mine just for the disc brake setup. And as said above I would ditch the 33s for 30 or 31s.

 

[ddp]

What exactly do the tires hurt? Transmission , axle's. Have read it is bad but not found a place that tells why..

 

[IOPort51]

Drum brakes on an 81 is very unusual. Is there a possibility that the front axle is not original, A scout maybe? let us see some pictures?? Of course a Scout axle with 2.73 R&P would be very unusual too.

 

[Petescj]

What exactly do the tires hurt? Transmission , axle's. Have read it is bad but not found a place that tells why..

They are to big for the gear ratio you are running. For 33s you should be running atleast 3.54 gears for any kind of performance. Im betting your Cj is pretty sluggish. I had 31s on my Scrambler with 2.73 and even then it wasnt the greatest.

Since your looking for a Dana 30 with disc brakes Id try and find one with 4.10s and get your AMC20 regeared to match. That would put you right where you need to be and you could keep your 33s instead of buying 31s. Your going to end up re gearing anyway.

Heck you go to wide track axles if you buy these:
CJ Wide track axle set (F&R) 4.10 gears

 

[ddp]

Drum brakes on an 81 is very unusual. Is there a possibility that the front axle is not original, A scout maybe? let us see some pictures?? Of course a Scout axle with 2.73 R&P would be very unusual too.

How do I tell if original or not. I just got the jeep and sure what is original.

 

[Torxhead]

In addition to what Pete said those tires will also be harder to stop the vehicle, especially with drum brakes. It is also hard on the clutch with that tire/gear ratio. I also think 4:10s are a bit low for a non-Overdrive vehicle, where lots of highway travel is involved even with a 33" tire on a AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l six.

 

[IOPort51]

How do I tell if original or not. I just got the jeep and sure what is original.

Take some pictures and post them, the differential housing will do. It will be a Dana 30 , original, or a Dana 44 , the scout.


this may help.
Jeep Axle: Dana 30

 

[Old Dog]

Pic's of yours would still be nice.
Here's a pic of a Dana 30

Here's a Dana 44

 

[ddp]

I went to pick it up today and drive it home finally,it does have disc brakes guy said he made a mistake but now have bigger problems , when pulling in to the driveway power steering pulley broke . Not sure how it was attached but it was just wobbling. Have looked every where on line trying to find one and how to put it on. No where can I find one . What will I have to do to fix this? Sorry for so many questions but not sure what to do? Are the pulley' replaceable?