Rear Disc Brake Conversion MAF vs. SOR vs. JTO

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Forgive the ignorance but do Discs provide better stopping for towing applications? Or not so much?
If not, why then do a good number of people use or consider this conversion?

Not really. When towing, most braking is still done by the front axle, and the trailer brakes.

Disc brakes are practically maintenance free, other then changing pads.

With drums I always had problems with water and mud getting in and clogging/rusting up the works.

Discs also dissipate heat better, although that is rarely an issue with drum rears, only drum fronts.

In short it's a good mod for off road driving. On road, drums are fine.
 
I do think disk brakes are more effective in just about any scenario I know of. I personally prefer 4 wheel disk (don't have that yet on my 60). If you look at just about all of the 1ton and 3/4 ton trucks in recent years they all have 4wheel disk.

I think a properly setup disk/drum brake configuration will do an adequate job. There are many examples of stuff that works in either case.. I think a 4 wheel disk setup that is properly matched to the vehicle outperforms the disk/drum setup.

Just my view.
 
I agree, a properly matched rear disc brake system will out-perform any drum brake system with one exception: holding static position. A drum system in good repair can't be beat for that.

The problem with most rear disc conversions is the "properly matched" part and usually a good parking brake solution isn't easy.
 
yes... the parking brake solution for brake swaps is not so great.
 
Some guys still try to use the Cadillac rear calipers, but the word is mostly out about how poor those are for the long term. TSM has a p-brake kit that mounts on the transfer case at the rear output. High Angle Driveline sells generic application p-brake parts that are similar for home builders. Or you convert the rear housing to use Ford 9" wheel bearings and go with the Exploder rear disc conversion, which uses the superior drum style p-brake inside the rotor hat. Then there are the FZJ80 parts. Haven't seen much about adapting those to a 60's rear housing, most seem to go with the wider 80 series housing. Those too have the drum p-brake inside the rotor hat.
 
FJ40 originally had driveshaft Parking Brake. It's a simple drum brake which bolts between the output of transfer case and rear driveshaft. Simple and elegant solution.
 
My 85 fj60 has the stock brakes with 35 ktm's and as long as it's maintained they work well, and I've never had a problem with em... why would I lose the e brake and go to disk? the ONLY way I would do that, is if it was all trashed and HAD to rebuild it all... and even then I would probably go with stock. and as for the stock drum on a 40 parking brake... well, that design is marginal at best
 
what are the typical parking brake solutions available if one was to convert to discs?

you try and get a set of calipers that have the parking brake built in.

you attempt to adapt some kind of brake on the drive shaft (disk or drum) or some people go to a line loc.

I believe someone came up with a bracket / mount / disk to setting up a rotor on the yoke of the TC (60 split case) and the associated bracket and then cable...its in one of the threads in the 60 section, but I don't knwo if that ever went into production.

THere is a line of thought of which I believe that the parking brake should be a mechanical device and seperate from the hydraulic system. So you have brake function regardless of the integrity of the hydraulic system.
 
I got all my stuff from Poser except the caliper and pads. Proportioning valve from Summit Racing.
 
you try and get a set of calipers that have the parking brake built in..

that was a totally waste of money in my case .. never made 'em hold Tencha .. never with 35" just a dream with 40"
 
So there really is no "tried and true" kit that will do the Rear Disk conversion with a good P-Brake solution? Was thinking of adding this to the list of upgrades that will go with my cruiser (once I find one) but now I am debating.
 
So there really is no "tried and true" kit that will do the Rear Disk conversion with a good P-Brake solution? Was thinking of adding this to the list of upgrades that will go with my cruiser (once I find one) but now I am debating.

thats right...

You'll see some other threads on a similar topic. I've not seen a complete solution for the 60.
 
....... and as for the stock drum on a 40 parking brake... well, that design is marginal at best
Assuming that the design is similar to other t/c or rear of trans mounted drum p-brakes it isn't the design's fault that they generally suck. It is the leakage of the seals supposedly holding back the gear lube that is to blame for their suckage.
 
Depends on if the po of the cruiser drilled 50,000 holes on the body to "prevent rust"

;)

And actually, I have a fondness for scouts.. Nothing like a truck you can hear rust ;)

I'm about to show my age. I ordered a brand new 1972 Scout. I chose it over the Bronco and Blazer because I could get limited slip differentials on BOTH ends. Plus it came with a roof, which was an option on the other two. I have to admit, I only had it a year. It just wasn't quite the chic magnet that the replacement Mach 1 was.
 
FJ40 originally had driveshaft Parking Brake. It's a simple drum brake which bolts between the output of transfer case and rear driveshaft. Simple and elegant solution.

I agree, why is there so much discussion/problem regarding e-brake? Mine works fine, '70 and '79.
 

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