rear wheel disk brakes rotors and calipers

[IOPort51]

I have the desire to put discs on the Dana 44 I am about to build for the CJ5 .
Here is the the issue.
I think it would be a good thing if the rotors were all the same, as in like the ones already on the front. these are 11 1/2 inch diameter and 1 1/8 inch thick.
What is needed is calipers with E-brakes that will fit the 1 1/8 inch rotor.
You mite think this information was easily available but so far I have found no specs on calipers and very little on rotors.
Can anybody offer information or advice??
It seems the most popular caliper is a GM found on the back end of an 85 Eldorado's. these are 1 inch.
If I could find a list of rear wheel disc calipers from late model trucks and/or cars and there range of operation it would be great.

 

[priceg]

Re: rear wheel dusk brakes rotors and calipers

I have heard that the ZJ stuff will work with a little finesse.

 

[CJKrawler]

Re: rear wheel dusk brakes rotors and calipers

You don't need to have them all the same size. Most vehicles have smaller rear brakes than front.

 

[mylittlecj5]

Re: rear wheel dusk brakes rotors and calipers

I'd think that without an adjustable proportioning valve, having the same size brakes on the front and rear would lead to rear wheel lockup way too soon.
Think of it this way. The front brakes have the engine weight to keep the front from locking up, but the rear has almost no weight to keep the tires from sliding. Not very desirable.

 

[IOPort51]

Re: rear wheel dusk brakes rotors and calipers

pretty much any disk rotor I use will be 11 inch or better in diameter, the problem is with the thickness of the disk, which is a bit wider than most on a CJ. The width will only be an issue in heat dissipation, as far as I can see.
It would be handy to use the same rotors as it would not tax the intellect of the parts house counter person and it would have the 5X5.5 bolt pattern.
Can anybody tell me how thick the rotor on the rear of a ZJ is?

 

[73CJ]

Re: rear wheel dusk brakes rotors and calipers

I put F150s on the back with 78 Monte Carlo calipers. Drew up the caliper mount and cut them out of 3/8" plate. Put it all together, pumped up the pedal to align and welded the mounts to the axle tube.

I'm running a 78 master cylinder with a separate adjustable proportioning valve. Then you can tweak them to where you want them. Just set it by hitting the brakes on gravel and made sure they all lock up.

Parking brake? Well we have a lot of trees around here and just bump one when parking on a hill. I got a manual line lock, but haven't put it in yet.

 

[IOPort51]

Re: rear wheel dusk brakes rotors and calipers

I think that the F150's are going to be the best choice to have the right bolt center.
I do not think I have ever used a parking brake in my life. With the exception of the vehicle inspection. Just making an attempt to remain as legal as possible.

I put F150s on the back with 78 Monte Carlo calipers. Drew up the caliper mount and cut them out of 3/8" plate. Put it all together, pumped up the pedal to align and welded the mounts to the axle tube.

I'm running a 78 master cylinder with a separate adjustable proportioning valve. Then you can tweak them to where you want them. Just set it by hitting the brakes on gravel and made sure they all lock up.

Parking brake? Well we have a lot of trees around here and just bump one when parking on a hill. I got a manual line lock, but haven't put it in yet.

 

[73CJ]

Re: rear wheel dusk brakes rotors and calipers

Never had a parking since 76 when I picked her up.

Even on the DD, just don't need it around here.

Plan B, with the line lock is ready to be implemented should the need arise. No inspections here to worry about.

 

[Sasquach]

Re: rear wheel dusk brakes rotors and calipers

I put F150s on the back with 78 Monte Carlo calipers. Drew up the caliper mount and cut them out of 3/8" plate. Put it all together, pumped up the pedal to align and welded the mounts to the axle tube.

I'm running a 78 master cylinder with a separate adjustable proportioning valve. Then you can tweak them to where you want them. Just set it by hitting the brakes on gravel and made sure they all lock up.

Parking brake? Well we have a lot of trees around here and just bump one when parking on a hill. I got a manual line lock, but haven't put it in yet.

That sounds good but then I'm scrathing my head and thinking ya lot's of trees here were it's flat but when I'm out in the hills the trees are pretty scarce I would not have stopped or at least been comfortable stopping by realying only on the thing being in gear in many occasions in my parts of the country. In the Ca. high desert you can go into steep country and not see a tree, the miners cut them all down to smelt there ore to try and get rich.

 

[dalefan88]

Re: rear wheel dusk brakes rotors and calipers

pretty much any disk rotor I use will be 11 inch or better in diameter, the problem is with the thickness of the disk, which is a bit wider than most on a CJ. The width will only be an issue in heat dissipation, as far as I can see.
It would be handy to use the same rotors as it would not tax the intellect of the parts house counter person and it would have the 5X5.5 bolt pattern.
Can anybody tell me how thick the rotor on the rear of a ZJ is?

"as it would not tax the intellect of the parts house counter person"

hey now not all parts counter people are dumb lol.

did you find any info on say a early 2000 chevy trucks. those rotors are not cheap but have the parking brake in them. also look up a chevy trailblazer. smaller but might do the job. they would be a different bolt pattern though.

 

[CJ]

Re: rear wheel dusk brakes rotors and calipers

What is the reason for the disk brake rotor width (thickness) question? Inquiring minds need to know???

 

[IOPort51]

Re: rear wheel dusk brakes rotors and calipers

The disk rotors on the front of my 77 CJ5 are 1.125 inches thick. This is a bit wider than most rotors. When I put disks on the rear axle I think it would be advantageous to use all the same rotor. It just keeps things simple. The problem is, if there is a rear caliper available that will open wide enough to accept the rotor I don't know how to find it, unless I spend massive amounts of time wandering the junk yards. This would be fun but there are other things I need to be doing.
so far the F150 option seems to be the best best bet, I believe I can use a 98 GM rear caliper with it.

What is the reason for the disk brake rotor width (thickness) question? Inquiring minds need to know???

 

[CJ]

Re: rear wheel dusk brakes rotors and calipers

I kinda see where ya are going... BUT! Do you need a parking brake? Disk PB are rare...

 

[IOPort51]

Re: rear wheel dusk brakes rotors and calipers

pretty much everything I have seen with rear discs has a parking brake. I am talking about the factory rear wheel disk brakes.

I kinda see where ya are going... BUT! Do you need a parking brake? Disk PB are rare...

 

[73CJ]

Re: rear wheel dusk brakes rotors and calipers

pretty much everything I have seen with rear discs has a parking brake. I am talking about the factory rear wheel disk brakes.

Most factory rear calipers have a cable operated PB. PITA

The 78 Monte Carlo calipers were from the front end.

76-77 disks are 1.125" 90 F150 are too.
77-up were .88"

 

[IOPort51]

Re: rear wheel dusk brakes rotors and calipers

78 still had 5x5.5 wheel studs too, did they not??

Most factory rear calipers have a cable operated PB. PITA

The 78 Monte Carlo calipers were from the front end.

76-77 disks are 1.125" 90 F150 are too.
77-up were .88"

 

[73CJ]

Re: rear wheel dusk brakes rotors and calipers

78 still had 5x5.5 wheel studs too, did they not??

The 78 CJ sure did - 5x5.5 - went to 5x4.5 with the Wrangler

Not 78 Monte Carlo disks, only the calipers.

 

[IOPort51]

that will have to be close enough I guess. 1978 CJ rotors and 98 Eldorado calipers.
that sounds like a plan.

 

[ken98k]

How diificult would it be to rig up a parking brake on the Transfer Case like early cj's?

 

[ThisGuyUKnow]

Hey IO, You are gonna do what you are gonna do but I think you would be way better off if you tried doing a hydroboost (if you dont have PS then I am a dumbo and ignore me).

I did it on my wag and the the stopping is ridiculous. If you did that you would for one spend less, have less potential for failure, still have your parking brake, and be able to stand your cj on its nose.