Disc Brake Conversion

[Jeep839]

i have seen many threads this topic but not one is clear so the question is i would like to know if tsm's kits are worth it for a reardrum to disc conversion kit. i am really looking for like a good bolt on kit that would be good and if you think that the bolt on kits are no good and welding is really a necessity. please help on the topic my brakes really suck...

[Wiley Coyote]

TSM kits are pretty expensive for my taste. It looks like it would be about $630 plus shipping by the time every thing was said and done. I’d bet that you can get a Ford 8.8 with disk brakes under your Jeep for cheaper than that and it would be a stronger rear end to boot.

[RichP]

Or you can use all jeep parts from a ZJ on to a 35, if you have an 8.25 same thing, OR you could find a newer liberty and swap it's factocy equipped 8.25 disc brake rear in. No welding required and you don't have to remember 'is that an 81 or 83 caddy disc and ford pads' or was it 'caddy pads and ford discs'...

[natep1]

Definately do the Grand Cherokee Conversion vs buying a kit. I spent less than $150 doing mine and it only took me a Saturday. (Included removing the hardware at the boneyard, grinding the caliper brackets for my 8.25 and install).

All bolt on and works great

[rcasey]

Hey Y'all, I dont think I've ever posted here before, just in the S.E. Chapter forums.
I have a 35 in my '98 ZJ that is howling and I want to swap in the 8.25 from my XJ when I get my waggy 44's finished for it.

Originally posted by: natep1
Definately do the Grand Cherokee Conversion vs buying a kit. I spent less than $150 doing mine and it only took me a Saturday. (Included removing the hardware at the boneyard, grinding the caliper brackets for my 8.25 and install).

All bolt on and works great

Will the 35 parts bolt onto the 8.25.?

I am going to use the TSM kit on my J-10 rear 44 and the one going in my XJ.. I got a qoute of less than $300 for the kit, add some cheap Chev calipers and pads and its still around $300. I would much rather use ZJ parts on my XJ for obvious reasons and I am considering making the full size Jeep axles accept the ZJ disc brakes. I have seen the TSM kits on a few full size Jeep 44's and I'm told they work great.

[EricsXJ]

Originally Posted by RichP

Or you can use all jeep parts from a ZJ on to a 35, if you have an 8.25 same thing, OR you could find a newer liberty and swap it's factocy equipped 8.25 disc brake rear in. No welding required...

Well, he would have to weld on spring perches, unless he's doing a rear coil conversion at the same time (KJ 8.25 is set up for coils)
Also some people have used the TeraFlex rear disc conversion with good results and I think I've heard it retails around $400.

[xj-grin]

I run the TSM setup on my D44. 1. its expensive. 2. for smaller axles, the caddy calipers e-brake just plain sucks (D60 and larger kits use 1978 caddy calipers which work great -- D44 uses 1979, which suck). 3. I've had some really marginal customer service from TSM, even though I'm local -- regarding their supplying the wrong caliper spacers...

If I had it to do over I would definately adapt some 8.8 or ZJ stuff.

[natep1]

Originally Posted by rcasey

Will the 35 parts bolt onto the 8.25.?

The brakes will with a little work. When I did mine, I had to grind out the axle tube opening on the caliper mounting brackets to fit and, you would also need to open up the backing plate if you keep the e-brake. I used a dremmel on mine and a carbide cutter to clean mine up. Took about an hour each side but, you don't have to remove much material. The test fitting is the PIA. Probably do it in a few minutes if you are/know a machinst.

[Jeep839]

ok so in my situation everyone think that my best bet would be to get all of the ZJ parts for my dana 35 and that would just bolt on??

[jfw432]

Well the biggest problem I see with the Liberty axle conversion is the liberty only runs 3.73 or 4.10 gears. No 3.55 so unless you've got a 4 cyl or 2wd you'll have to regear one of the axles and that shoots out the whole easy/direct swap.

[natep1]

Originally Posted by Jeep839

ok so in my situation everyone think that my best bet would be to get all of the ZJ parts for my dana 35 and that would just bolt on??

Yes on all. Best price if you find one in a junk yard and by far the easiest to find parts for.

[Jeep839]

if i remember correctly the ZJ is a grand not a liberty right???

[Jeep839]

what year ZJ axle would be best for my 90 dana 35??

[Dave DE]

Here's what I've found is not 'bolt on' moving zj brakes to an xj d35:

Lug bolts need to be longer since disc is thicker than drum. Longer studs
are available at dealer.

Need mounting bracket for the junction between the caliper flex line
and the hard line. Also need to bend the hard line to fit, or make a new
one.

E-brake cable will need to be adapted to work with discs.

Hope that helps
Dave

[cherokeekid]

Originally Posted by Jeep839

what year ZJ axle would be best for my 90 dana 35??

you have c-clips?