1991-92 front brake upgrade (1 Viewer)

[Lka1988]

So after searching for waaay too long, I can't seem to find the answer I'm looking for.

Let me preface... My buddy and I recently lifted his 1998 Pathfinder. At the same time, we installed bigger rotors and calipers from a later 2001 Pathfinder. All that was needed to fit the new stuff was to grind a bit off the new calipers. The difference in braking is HUGE.

This got me thinking. I would like to upgrade my front brake rotors and calipers to the larger ones from a later 80. However, all the threads I find about this seem to lead off a different path. Many of these threads end up with suggestions to upgrade to 100-series pads. Others just don't go anywhere.

I want to know if this has been done or not. If so, how? If it can be successfully done, I will do it. I know I will need a lot of stuff.


TIA
-Lane

 

[alkaline747trio]

bhaines (sp?) says that all you need are the new calipers, pads, rotors, and the backing plate/dust shield. CDan said once that the knuckles weren't the same and would need to be changed. I believe it is a simple bolt on mod, backing plate not necessary (trim stock piece), that one of us FJ guys need to jump on and document.

 

[Lka1988]

Yeah, I saw what CDan said... I'm a bit skeptical on that, though.

Ha bhaines actually done this?

 

[alkaline747trio]

Yep it's in his big build thread.

And yea, I think CDan was just seeing different pt #s and assumes different # = different part all together.

Easiest way to do this I think would be to have a 91-92 beside a 93-97 and start trying to swap parts.

 

[Lka1988]

You got a link? I didn't find it...

 

[alkaline747trio]

https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/139604-rotw-bhaines-80-series.html#post1919213

 

[teejnut]

If you do go ahead and experiment let us know the details. This would be a good mod!

 

[Lka1988]

Reading up on bhaines' ROTW, it seems pretty simple. Not sure what size wheels he's running though.

 

[alkaline747trio]

Reading his page does make it seem extremely easy, but it makes you wonder why nobody else has done it yet or if his Aussie spec rig is any different than ours would be.

Doesn't matter about the wheels, it's the FF rear that causes problems with 15" rims.

 

[fester]

Plenty of guys been doing over here in Aus of late. I've just finished the rears and now doing the fronts. All just a bolt on conversion.

On the front the calipers are the same physical size but the lugs are longer to allow for the bigger diameter rotor. You could get away with adjusting your backing plate but most of the guys here are getting them from the later model to make it look totally factory. So for front you need backing plate and caliper and rotor if they are good but probably better to get new ones. Then you stick the 100/105 series pad in for a bit more upgrade but this pad only fits the later brakes not the early stuff.

On the rear if you want to got that far you only need the backing plate with all the handbrake parts. Having said that it's only the actual handbrake shoes that are bigger inside all the other handbrake bits are the same. Again you can use old (late) rotors if they are good but best to get new ones considering how cheap they are. Most of the guys here are going slotted rotors too. The calipers and their mounts are exactly the same as the early ones. So as a bare minimum you could get the backing plates and buy new rotors and handbrake shoes then swap all the early model stuff in from that.

It's only when you go to the bigger rears that you have to start running big offset 15's or go to 16's. The rear is not necessarily a big upgrade and doesn't improve handbrake but I got all the bits as a package and am running 17's so decided it was worth doing as my early brakes were getting to their useable limits anyway.

If you still must run 15's you can shave the rear calipers and their mounts a little but I don't advocate this, it is dodgy and cheap.

 

[alkaline747trio]

Rears over here are drum brakes on the early ones, did ya'll get disks yet smaller?

 

[jvazquez53]

The only upgrade I did was replace the rotors with slotted/drilled ones and ceramic pads, big improvement, my two trucks stop on a dime, spent less than $200.00on each.

One Stop Shop for Brake Rotors, Brake Pads, Brake Kits | R1Concepts.com

 

[alkaline747trio]

Slotted is cool, drilled doesn't do much for us heavy rigs....will eat up your pads quickly. Larger, is the biggest upgrade we can hope for.

 

[Marco7]

bhaines (sp?) says that all you need are the new calipers, pads, rotors, and the backing plate/dust shield. CDan said once that the knuckles weren't the same and would need to be changed. I believe it is a simple bolt on mod, backing plate not necessary (trim stock piece), that one of us FJ guys need to jump on and document.

I might add that you would need the brake hoses that match the newer calipers too.

 

[fester]

Hoses are the same. Same part numbers till some time in '95 which would be when ABS started to filter in.

As far as drum brakes, we got drums on the early poverty pack models (standards with barn doors no frills) but everything else got disks. Not sure if later poverty packs got disks or they continued with drums.

I don't think much of drilled rotors for a road car particularly a heavy one. Can make pad choice more critical for cold braking performance and they often get stress cracks between the holes. Fine for race cars who replace them regularly and don't need strong cold braking.

 

[Lka1988]

Plenty of guys been doing over here in Aus of late. I've just finished the rears and now doing the fronts. All just a bolt on conversion.

On the front the calipers are the same physical size but the lugs are longer to allow for the bigger diameter rotor. You could get away with adjusting your backing plate but most of the guys here are getting them from the later model to make it look totally factory. So for front you need backing plate and caliper and rotor if they are good but probably better to get new ones. Then you stick the 100/105 series pad in for a bit more upgrade but this pad only fits the later brakes not the early stuff.

On the rear if you want to got that far you only need the backing plate with all the handbrake parts. Having said that it's only the actual handbrake shoes that are bigger inside all the other handbrake bits are the same. Again you can use old (late) rotors if they are good but best to get new ones considering how cheap they are. Most of the guys here are going slotted rotors too. The calipers and their mounts are exactly the same as the early ones. So as a bare minimum you could get the backing plates and buy new rotors and handbrake shoes then swap all the early model stuff in from that.

It's only when you go to the bigger rears that you have to start running big offset 15's or go to 16's. The rear is not necessarily a big upgrade and doesn't improve handbrake but I got all the bits as a package and am running 17's so decided it was worth doing as my early brakes were getting to their useable limits anyway.

If you still must run 15's you can shave the rear calipers and their mounts a little but I don't advocate this, it is dodgy and cheap.

x2 what Logan said, we only got rear drums on 91-92... The U.S. is ed-up that way. Safety my ass...

Anyway...

Was there any grinding required to fit the new front calipers?

 

[fester]

Sorry slight correction. Got some new front hoses today as mine were a bit old so thought may as well do the lot. Got different guy at shop and the 93 on hoses are slightly different. Slightly longer and the angle on the banjo is slightly different. However I wouldn't be surprised if the old ones could still work. Didn't look first.

There is no grinding required to do this.

Anyone know the torque setting for the 4 bolts that hold the caliper halves together. I decided I may as well rebuild the calipers fully while I'm at it.

 

[savageX]

i did a rear disc brake mod from a 99-2001 seqoia on my 91 fj80.ill i needed was the back plate bigger hand break shoes and bigger disc. caliper was the same just bolted up higher on the back plate..and u must have 16 inch rims..not sure if the front would be the same, im in need of breaks myself and am inquiring about the option now..personally i think it can be done just as easy as i did in the back.

 

[cody c]

i did a rear disc brake mod from a 99-2001 seqoia on my 91 fj80.ill i needed was the back plate bigger hand break shoes and bigger disc. Caliper was the same just bolted up higher on the back plate..and u must have 16 inch rims..not sure if the front would be the same, im in need of breaks myself and am inquiring about the option now..personally i think it can be done just as easy as i did in the back.

please post some pics!

 

[lt1fire]

i did a rear disc brake mod from a 99-2001 seqoia on my 91 fj80.ill i needed was the back plate bigger hand break shoes and bigger disc. caliper was the same just bolted up higher on the back plate..and u must have 16 inch rims..not sure if the front would be the same, im in need of breaks myself and am inquiring about the option now..personally i think it can be done just as easy as i did in the back.

Where are you located?? Did your 91 come with discs from the factory.