Kanes disc brake conversion

[rr41mag]

OK so your doing rear disc on that Dana 44 . What brakes do you have now? Power or not power brakes? Will everything work or do you have to change the proportion valve?

 

[johnnyreb]

not sure on Dana 44 's but getting ready to add rear discs to my AMC20 . I have power rear drums now, had read that proportioning were fine. I found a gut on ebay that sells adapters plates and it uses maxima rear calipers and brackets and 96 geo tracker front rotors.

 

[Kane]

The nissan brake caliper uses the same amount of fluid as the stock drums brakes for the model 20. The only change from what I understand needs to be made is the residual valve needs to be changed out from a 10lb to a 2lb valve. If this remains a 10lb valve the rear brakes will drag. The 10lb residual valve overcomes the drum brake springs to help keep the shoes close to the drum and stop the wheel cylinder from contracting. The disk calipers does not have all those springs so the 10lb become too much. Of course this is only what Ihave found from research. I won't actaully know for sure until I have everything in and tested. I won't be bleeding or even filling the brake system for at least nother month or two. I have to mounts everything onto the body for hole drilling so I can get it painted this summer.

 

[IOPort51]

I have read that the 2# valve is only needed if the master cylinder is below the level of the calipers. This would be in some street rods. For our purposes the chance of the caliper pumping fluid back to the MC is pretty remote.

I would like to voice the opinion that if the piston in the Nissan caliper is only 3/4" diameter that the stopping capacity of the rear brakes will be reduced considerably but that there should not be a need for a proportioning valve.

 

[Kane]

Who knows IO. If it fails to work then I will need to spend a small fortune on the stock scout parts and go back to drums. Or find another used scout 44 with complete brakes to scrounge.

 

[Kane]

More I think about it. I don't think the diameter of the piston is the same. Just the volume of fluid capacity. The piston is typical 1.5-2 inches or so. This swap is as old as swaps come so I have high hopes of it working for me.

 

[IOPort51]

Pirate4x4.Com - The largest off roading and 4x4 website in the world.

this is well worth reading and the math is just so much fun.

the Napa parts description will tell you what size the piston is. look at the caliper or the rebuild kit and/or the replacement piston itself.

 

[johnnyreb]

I read on another forum and of course you I can't find it again. It listed several calipers including caddy elderado, nissan maxima, nissan 300 zx, and lincoln. I have read of good successs using 95-2000 nissan maxima. I think all of the piston sizes were similar, in the 1 3/4 - 2" range. I gonna run with the maxima as the local pick and pull has a dozen and they have an E brake bracket.