Brakes: Front drums to disc with no kit at all

[FJforty]

They are of coarse bolting the calipers to the same plate that the drum brakes use, drum brakes have 2 pressure points, one top and bottom and this design has less but the torque on the plate is about the same. With another plate (some laser cut thing) added to the back that wrapped around the axle this might do.

Advantages:
Simple mod, could be done in one evening per side ( possibly without welding)
Creates an inner rock shield for the disk
Uses factory welds of the backing plate

Disadvantages:
Needs another precut backing plate bracket for strength (just guessing)
This stuff could break and kill somone
Untested design, take this on a dozen races in Baja

I have factory disks so I am just looking.

 

[bikersmurf]

whos 40 goes 85mph?!?!


http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y6oVWmNwtHs/RofEuKKUUmI/AAAAAAAAAAc/LWpCYj4kdPM/s320/back_to_the_future_serious_****.jpg

if i ever hit 65 your are going to see some serious s***!

Your's doesn't?

Don't know how fast mine can go... Decided 90 was fast enough. Actually started keeping up with freeway traffic.

 

[justbecause]

Your's doesn't?

Don't know how fast mine can go... Decided 90 was fast enough.

well if i ever get mine put back together ill let you know my top speed...

till then

 

[DSRTRDR]

whos 40 goes 85mph?!?!

mine and it's not topped out.....;p

 

[bikersmurf]

My F would do 70 mph.

 

[DSRTRDR]

Lil John, I like your line of reasoning, but to convince the doubters, we should really be comparing apples to something more like apples. In this case, rather than comparing this to a rear disc conversion, I'd be more curious to know how this modded backing plate compares to a JTO or MAF drum to disc conversion in terms of plate thickness and ALL pertinent brackets that would support the caliper in the kits they market.

I have never seen on of those kits in person, so I honestly don't even know what guage of metal they use, or how many plates and welds are involved in their brackets.

THAT I think would make an interesting comparison. Hope someone who has seen or installed one can comment.

Best

Mark A.

Eshu, IMO, bringing stuff like this to the tech forum to be hashed out is what makes MUD great. THANKS!

on my MAF conversion, the bracket holding the brake caliper is thicker than 1/4 inch (in fact, this is the case for both the front and rear conversions); there is no weld on either bracket

 

[DSRTRDR]

Mark, true on comparing apples to apples... but I think given the bias of front brakes, I'd say looking at rear caliper conversions is semi-valid in this case. If a company thinks 1/4" is semi-safe for the rear, I'd think that 1/4" would be a good starting point for the front.

No comment on how thick a front Dana60 caliper mount is

I haven't seen the JTO or MAF brackets either. But I do think it would be reasonable to guess they went with 1/4" also.

thicker - can't measure right now, truck is 1500 miles away

 

[Eshu Elegua]

Guys ,i bring this topic for all share for newbies and old timers something new to think about. I'm not see this in person, but new topics its why Mud help a lot of people to learn. Don't point on me for this, cos im still a newbie here on mud > x 100

 

[cruiser_guy]

I'll bet this is something done either in Central America or elsewhere away from the USA/Canada. In Central America disc's did not come out in '75/'76 like they did here. I've seen '80's with 4 wheel drums and three speed trannies!!

They are great innovators but I'm not sure I'd trust all their innovations

I've also seen some scary stuff done down there that I wouldn't think of driving. I was looking for some of the pictures I had of the scary stuff we found on my '67 FJ45LV when I got it in Guatemala City but I can't find them.

 

[Slickdog]

They are of coarse bolting the calipers to the same plate that the drum brakes use, drum brakes have 2 pressure points, one top and bottom and this design has less but the torque on the plate is about the same.
.

The torque will be much different as there is much more stopping power from the Discs.

A good idea would be to make a copy of the backing plate brackets in a thicker say 1/4" (6mm) to 7/16" (8mm) using his backing plates as a template.

Still Chen in Batam, Indonesia has just simply welded brackets to the original knuckles on a lot of his conversions. He was doing this to mine when I stopped him and showed him photos of MAF brackets to copy. The welding was not good either and He would need to heat up the knuckle before welding which I dont believe he did.

 

[rockcod]

Looking at the photos, the guy is making an unsafe vehicle even worse. I am seeing a bent front spring, who knows what else is bent/wrong underneath that rig.

 

[cjgoode]

Most of the strength in the drum backing plate from the complete circle and that curved lip. That curved lip keeps it from folding up in hard braking, with this design you have destroyed that most critical part of that plate, that lip. I would not worry about this guy on the road unless you live on his street. Not sure how much further past his street this design would last.

Looks like he added some jb weld to help hold the top of the caliper on.

 

[GarageRat]

Guys ,i bring this topic for all share for newbies and old timers something new to think about. I'm not see this in person, but new topics its why Mud help a lot of people to learn. Don't point on me for this, cos im still a newbie here on mud > x 100

I don't think anyones saying anything about you, Eshu. I actually appreciate you posting it, it gives a good discussion.

 

[Slickdog]

I would agree this is probably, Indonesia, South america, Phillipines or some other third world country, in these places 'engineering' is suck it and see and if that backing plate works for the Drum brakes 'Then it must work for the discs also'.

If you have been to some of these countries you would realise what scant regard they pay to each others, and thier own, safety.

Often in INdonesia they ride a full family of five to a 50cc motorbike, Dad driving oldest in front mama behind carrying the baby and thefinally another behind mama.

Ive seen a photo of nine on a bike in Vietnam the baby being carried in an old paint container!

also these places do not have any form of yearly safety examination for the cars and they rarely travel faster than 60 km ph

 

[bsmith123]

who's got your back

IMHO , one of the big issues with mods is liability and insurance.

kits are brought to market with engineering design/input and if the worse happened you only need to defend that you installed it correctly in accordance with the OEM instructions---not the design.

Other mods like swapping between vehicle models are maybe a little more shaky but you can point to OEM quality parts, individual parts stronger & better than original, and mods done by professionals who upgrade these vehicles (acceptable industry methods and practices)

all the work of course hinges on you individually and your ability to prove you know enough to do the job correctly

I kinda like the ideas being thrown around about a disc plate based on the drum plate--seems a nice clean solution so I wonder why no-one is selling it?

Not trying to preach to anyone ---the pros already know it, but the hobbyists and enthusiasts need to keep in mind you are and can be held responsible for the work you do.


ESHU - we are getting it
Far from being a bashing, critiquing this is good for everyone/safety. Im glad you posted it up

 

[GRM]

Not a bad concept. Just bad execution.

I bet someone could make slight different brackets, like on the front range kit, and it would work out real slick.

Front Range Off-Road Fabrication