Rear Disc Brake Conversions

[Hojack]

My 80s rear with parking brake works just fine...

 

[Seth S]

Technically the drum brakes have much more braking power than a disc. The disc is self cleaning and better cooling.

If you are running big tires, upping the engine, hauling a lot of load or heavy towing then an all around brake upgrade would be ideal. For a run around basic cruiser the stock setup works great.

Seems it’s easier and cheaper to start with a booster/mc upgrade. Then up the front setup and if still needed go after the rear upgrade.

I don’t think everyone is a cruiser purist but when you buy a 60 and spend a ton of money to make it a boxy 80

 

[Cruzerman]

I am not surprised this turned into a purist thread. Not a single person linked to a disc kit and instead pushed for swapping in a whole new axle which is ridiculous given the question.

I whole heartedly stand behind my rear disc conversion having owned Cruisers with both. The disc's stop way better especially on a loaded rig. The rear discs will completely lock up a truck and trailer with trailer brakes.

Check out TSM Mfg.

TSM Mfg now Rustic Disc Brakes

We proudly provide, Rear Disc Brake Conversions for most rear drive vehicles and drive shaft parking brake products, wherever possible, designed, machined and assembled in the U.S.A. We supply complete kits taking all the guesswork out of parts needed to

www.tsmmfg.net

Downside, you need to figure out an ebrake when converting for at least the set I have. This can be achieved fairly easily with a Tcase brake. I have hydraulic line locks in place of a tcase brake kit which I don't reccomend but it works. I also have a wilwood adjustable proportioning valve to balance the brakes and a FZJ80 Master cylinder with upgraded 93/94 T 4Runner front calipers.

There is no reason to keep the known underpowered brakes on these trucks when cheaper options are available to increase the vehicle safety on a 30 year old truck.

I did this type of rear disc conversion on my 40 a long time ago. It is a good upgrade, but the 40 has the parking brake on the transfer case already, so it was an easy, cheap solution. However, on the 60, I feel that the cost of doing this plus the transfer case brake (which isn't the best) isn't worth it. Get the stock system in good shape.

Now take the 80 axle swap. Way more work. More money too. However, you get more than just some rear discs. You get a full floating rear axle. And you potentially could get an electric locker out of it too. Now that is an upgrade.

 

[Seth S]

Even better. Dump the diffs and driveshafts and transmission and transfer case. Mate the engine to a generator and run electric motors at the diff mounts. Install a small bank of batteries to act as an electric reservoir and go full hybrid. Now you can regenerative brake and hardly ever need your mechanical brakes.

 

[FJACS]

I am not surprised this turned into a purist thread. Not a single person linked to a disc kit and instead pushed for swapping in a whole new axle which is ridiculous given the question.

I whole heartedly stand behind my rear disc conversion having owned Cruisers with both. The disc's stop way better especially on a loaded rig. The rear discs will completely lock up a truck and trailer with trailer brakes.

Check out TSM Mfg.

TSM Mfg now Rustic Disc Brakes

We proudly provide, Rear Disc Brake Conversions for most rear drive vehicles and drive shaft parking brake products, wherever possible, designed, machined and assembled in the U.S.A. We supply complete kits taking all the guesswork out of parts needed to

www.tsmmfg.net

Downside, you need to figure out an ebrake when converting for at least the set I have. This can be achieved fairly easily with a Tcase brake. I have hydraulic line locks in place of a tcase brake kit which I don't reccomend but it works. I also have a wilwood adjustable proportioning valve to balance the brakes and a FZJ80 Master cylinder with upgraded 93/94 T 4Runner front calipers.

There is no reason to keep the known underpowered brakes on these trucks when cheaper options are available to increase the vehicle safety on a 30 year old truck.

If I was trying to do this swap, given the choice between using a full float 80 axle that uses off the shelf Toyota brake parts or paying $600+ for a “kit” that uses a mix of parts including calipers from a 1970’s Oldsmobile - well...

 

[mattressking]

Me thinks It's really not worth the effort or expense for the marginal gain it could bring.
For the 30 years I owned my 60, (frequently driving it overloaded) the thought of upgrading the rear brakes to discs never even crossed my mind. When the factory rear drums are working correctly, they stop the cruiser fine.

I’m with @OSS

Properly adjusted drums function more than sufficiently. 99% of trucks on here just need to have them adjusted and maintained correctly vs throwing on other parts just for the sake keeping up with the Jones’s.

 

[Spike Strip]

Admit it though, having 4-wheel disc on a 60 is sexy !

 

[KWalkerM]

Technically the drum brakes have much more braking power than a disc. The disc is self cleaning and better cooling.

If you are running big tires, upping the engine, hauling a lot of load or heavy towing then an all around brake upgrade would be ideal. For a run around basic cruiser the stock setup works great.

Seems it’s easier and cheaper to start with a booster/mc upgrade. Then up the front setup and if still needed go after the rear upgrade.

I don’t think everyone is a cruiser purist but when you buy a 60 and spend a ton of money to make it a boxy 80

I have a V8, 37s and a 7k pound 60 that tows a 3k pound trailer. Rear discs are a huge improvement and its a lot cheaper than paying someone to source and swap in an 80 FF axle

 

[Hamachi]

I have a V8, 37s and a 7k pound 60 that tows a 3k pound trailer. Rear discs are a huge improvement and its a lot cheaper than paying someone to source and swap in an 80 FF axle

Post some pics of your rig!

 

[KWalkerM]

Post some pics of your rig!

First two are pics of the disc kit for ya. Its not the prettiest since my truck needs some underbody love.

 

[mattressking]

Admit it though, having 4-wheel disc on a 60 is sexy !

I’d get 80 axles to ditch my spacers....the sole reason I’d swap. I’d even want to keep it leaf sprung.

i think everyone needs to buy 80s and ditch the flares instead of swapping all these fancy parts on a 60, hehe.

 

[KWalkerM]

I’d get 80 axles to ditch my spacers....the sole reason I’d swap. I’d even want to keep it leaf sprung.

i think everyone needs to buy 80s and ditch the flares instead of swapping all these fancy parts on a 60, hehe.

What if I already have a matching FZJ?

 

[Hamachi]

What if I have an FZJ80 too?

 

[FJACS]

What if I have an FZJ80 too?

View attachment 2137364

Then I guess you’ve got your donor vehicle. Save the frame, suspension & axles and crush the rest.

 

[Mace]

Monte Carlo disk brake conversions are cheap and easy. The parking brake concept is not..

For those that have done a tcase pbrake, How much did you spend and what did you use?

 

[Hamachi]

Then I guess you’ve got your donor vehicle. Save the frame, suspension & axles and crush the rest.

why didn’t I think of that? What should I do with the 6.0 LS that’s in it?

 

[Elbert]

Yeah the parking brake setup is the magic "sauce" on rear disk brake conversion. Seems like the TC park brake setup would be prone to getting damaged off-road?

I too, have been on the fence about the stock rear brakes on my 60....just never been happy with their ability to stay in adjustment. Not thrilled about other parking brake solutions to include line-loc and mounts on rear of transfer case. I hear different views on the parking brake setup on the 80. To me a parking brake is where I'm on some steep slope or whatever I'm dumb enough to take my 60...and I set the parking brake...I expect the tires not to move....if it slides down the mountain because I'm just stupid...that will be fine as long as the tires don't roll.

 

[Cruzerman]

I have a V8, 37s and a 7k pound 60 that tows a 3k pound trailer. Rear discs are a huge improvement and its a lot cheaper than paying someone to source and swap in an 80 FF axle

Your 60 weighs 7,000 lbs? And I thought my 80 was a fat pig.

 

[KWalkerM]

Your 60 weighs 7,000 lbs? And I thought my 80 was a fat pig.

Yes. Without getting too off topic I put it on the scales last year fully loaded and it came to 7.1k truck. 3.2K trailer. Combined 10.3k total.

 

[Cruzerman]

Yes. Without getting too off topic I put it on the scales last year fully loaded and it came to 7.1k truck. 3.2K trailer. Combined 10.3k total.

That is totally crazy! Just like me, it needs to go on a diet!