Rear Disc Conversion Parts

[ColoradoLC]

So the rear calipers on my rear disc conversion don't ratchet for the parking brake any longer and need to be replaced.

I ordered them from JTOutfitters 18 months ago, so they haven't been on that long.

Has anyone else had problems with these before that has done the conversion? Are there any other rear calipers that can be used? I heard there are other GM calipers that are the exact same thing that may be cheaper, so I am looking for alternatives.

Too bad someone doesn't make a kit that works better with the stock parking brake lever.

 

[Tapage]

I have Eldo Calipers from TSM and the e-brake still useless to handdle my Tencha with 37" .. I'm still thinking the best way it's no e-brake calipers and just keep it simple with a e-brake system in the t-case ..

 

[ColoradoLC]

Thanks for the reply Tapage.

I am constantly amazed that no one in the aftermarket has addressed this huge need for the older trucks. If someone made a full disc setup kit with everything, including the parking brake to work with the stock handbrake, they could make a ton of money. I would buy a whole kit all over again, just to get the handbrake to work.

Anyone else know of a GM replacement for the Eldo calipers that are not at the Eldo $$$?

I thought I heard Malibu calipers were the same thing???

 

[Tinker]

Uh, Colorado, what Tapage refers to is The Streetrod Manufacturing Company in Castle Rock, also home of the famous Solid Rock Offroad. Dunno what JTOutfitters sells, but TSM's kits work. They sell new Eldo calipers for theirs. No other larger caliper has the park brake. A few folks on this forum have used Lokar cables to adapt the park brake with success.

Check 'em out: http://www.tsmmfg.com/2491.htm

BTW the caliper doesn't ratchet - your handle does.

 

[ColoradoLC]

Thanks Tinker. I had not seen that before. There are some good troubleshooting information on that site for this brake setup. I will have to check that out and see if it is the adjustment that is all that is needed or if the calipers themselves are defective.

Time to get dirty again!

 

[ColoradoLC]

Oh, in particular, I found this tip interesting:

"Remove the spring from your parking brake cable, it will coil bind with the rear calipers."

 

[redcorn]

Does anyone have a dwg, dxf, or iges file of the bracket?

I have brackets for the 40 rear axle, but not the 60....

Thanks

John

 

[ColoradoLC]

Here is an interesting excerpt I read from another site (source: http://www.mpbrakes.com/technical-support/troubleshooting-disc-05.cfm)

Rear caliper problem
If you are using Cadillac ElDorado rear calipers there are some important things you should know. One of the biggest advantages of a disc brake system is the fool proof self adjuster. Not so with this rear GM system. The rear calipers adjust off the parking brake. The parking brake is incorporated into the caliper. You must set the parking brake every time you park the car.The rear caliper pitons utilize a one way clutch inside the caliper piston. When the parking brake is applied the clutch senses when there is .030" or more clearence between the friction material and the rotor on the inboard side. When there is more than .030" the clutch turns inside the piston adjusting it out keeping the rear brakes adjusted. If you do not set your parking brake every time you will start to lose brake pedal (low and spongy) and the adjuster mechanism will not work any longer. Also: never use rebuilt calipers on the rear because the rebuilders use the old pistons and the pistons were the reason the caliper failed in the first place.

Unfortunately, my wife never uses the parking brake since "it's completely useless" so I assume my caliper pistons are totally shot now.

Now would be a great time to replace this with something that does self adjust. I wish I had a little more experience with this and I would try some other calipers that are out there that are designed for use with hand brakes.

Do any newer Toyota trucks that use rear discs have hand brakes that can be mated to the FJ60?

 

[Tapage]

Unfortunately the 80 series rear disc and e-brake can be PITA to swap to 60 housing ..

Anycase and Honest .. I take time to disarm and arm plenty of times my rear calipers and are pretty well adjusted ..

They break as a Porsche .. no clues with that, but the e-brake still useless in my aplication no matter what how hard I pull the lever ..

My cable setup ..

 

[ColoradoLC]

Thanks Tapage. I saw that someone suggested taking the springs off the calipers to keep them from binding. I think that mine would work if I could just pull them a little farther. This is something I will try.

 

[cody c]

also looking at part source or location, where did you guys get the brackets for the eldo calipers for the rear? and did you replace the rear rubber lines , if so where did u get new lines. I need to replace the front with some 4runner calipers, and since im going to be digging into the rear to regear and throw in some poly axles id love to do rear discs.
I see someone sells the brackets but they wont work for post 1980 or so rear axles i think.
Thanx.

 

[Downey]

I had the E-brakes on my EL Dor. calipers proffessionally adjusted after install, and they work just fine, BUT BUT BUT we get so many customer complaints about them, we frequently consider discontinuing them. Every time we do this, a bunch of customers come along demanding we don't discontinue them---go figure???

The problems we've ran into with other choices is either (a) they are so big they would clobber the frame during bottoming out, or (b) the brake shoe types that ride inside the rotor (ala Ford SUV's) can not be configured to adapt to the Toyota housings???

 

[Vicm]

About 3 weeks ago I was doing 2 disc brake conversions 1 on rear axles of an fj40, the other on rear axles of an 89 Toy 4x4 pickup.
I used toyota rotors and calipers for both conversions. In doing the truck one ,as you know, the e-brake is on the rear wheels. Unforunatly the guy I was doing the conversion for was not concerned with the e-brake at all, so I just used toy calipers and rotors from an 84 toy truck .
When I was getting everything together and doing some reading and searching. I found that the Supra calipers can be used for the same conversion. I am sure the year is 79-81. Later ones also use levers for the e-brake cables.

Here is how everything bolts together for the FJ40.
first is a drawing which shows all the parts less the caliper.

Then an actual pic of evrything bolted together including the caliper.
You could make the bracket for the supra calipers instead if you need rear e-brake .

 

[Vicm]

And here is a pic of the Supra calipers used on a Toy truck rears.
This is for ff float conversion, but it shows the cable hookup to the supra caliper. Are you confused yet.
The parts you would need will be
Toy 4x4 rotor (79-85)
Toy Supra rear calipers (78-81) , these are single piston floating calipers that have levers for e-brake cable hookup.
You need to make a bracket for the supra calipers.
You also need wheel studs front toy 4x4 truck (79-85) , you need them to press the rotors to the back of the axle flanges.
Also you will need to make a wheel spacer (1/2" thick), No big deal.

Vic

 

[Tinker]

Spook50 got his Eldo park brakes working IIRC - search it out or PM him.

 

[Tapage]

pretty much leaves in this spring pack !

I dont't gonna mess more with those eldo calipers .. they brake fantastic, just found other option for my e-brake.

 

[ColoradoLC]

Thanks Vicm. That's interesting. I like the idea of using Toyota parts, so the Supra solution may be a good one.

Like Tapage said, I don't think I have ever seen so many leaf springs on a truck before!

 

[ColoradoLC]

I remember reading that Spook was going to work on his, but I didn't see that he got them working, I will check for his post on that.

 

[Vicm]

I just want to add few notes.
This is regarding using toy rotors and landcruiser calipers.
Using the toy parts on the fj40 rear axle didn't creat any new issues.
No lockups , no proprotioning valave no porblem with different brake lines, and no need to do anything to the brake Master cyl.
Going with all toy parts is a good option for someone who doesn't have discs in the rear and wants them.
If you have e-brake on the trans case , you just use landcruiser calipers .
If your e-brake is to the wheels, you use the Supra calipers.
You make your cliper bracket for the caliper of your choice.

I can't speek for how good the supra calipers work, but that guy with that huge spring pack is very pleased with them. FROR sells them with the kit that converts the rear to full floaters on the toy trucks.
So if you need more info about the supra calipers , check with frontrangeoffroadfab.com Or anyone who has exp with them Supras.

This regaring the drum brakes;
Personally I never had much luck with the stock e-brake drum setup on the toy trucks, I always have to take them apart regularly and clean them, otherwise , only one wheel gets adjusted and I have had a drum split in 1/2 as a result. So I am for e-brake on the transfer case approatch. It seems to last much longer and work better. Living in Canada I think has a lot to do with it.
So my next project will most likely be putting e-brake on the
transfer case of my friend's Toy pickup.
Vic