Front axle swap for larger brakes?

[RonA]

Several have changed rears. Has anyone replaced their front axle with a newer model for better brakes? I have found a disc brake dana 80 to replace my older 80. Now looking for larger front discs.

 

[TKingsbury]

I would personally check into aftermarket rotors and pads or using larger brakes from a different application before I swapped my whole front axle. A kingpin 60 is about as good as it gets without going to a gigantic axle.

Travis. .

 

[Cooker]

A DANA 80 Front? I wasn't even aware of such a beast What is the disc brake 80 out of?

 

[RonA]

Have 80 in rear. I agree that 60 is great front axle. Haven't found better rotors for it yet. will keep looking. Most aftermarket stuff is for newer models.

Will check out some newer trucks at the wrecking yard tomorrow.

 

[ARhine]

exhuast brake?



Other possibility might be a mid 90s ford SD. They used a D60 front with dual piston calipers. Only problem is I don't know how you would swap it on since the ford uses balljoint knuckles instead of the stronger kingpins in those years.

 

[bgilbert]

Plus where to find a late model passenger side drop D60? Isn't everybody using driver side drop beyond 94+ ? How about upgrading the master cylinder- if such is possible? I know Philip will tell you thats the limiting factor, which it was designed to be used with the old factory braking system. I think if you lived out this way, stopping wouldn't be so much a factor.

 

[DKarvwnaris]

How deep do you want to get involved in this project? You could consider having the axle tubes refitted with a set of ends from a newer truck? This could be cheaper when you consider the cost of trying to find matching ratio and driveshaft side compatibility. You could have a little more/less caster in the front end then as well if needed.

One of my buddies is looking to put air bags under his 85 crew cab cummins repower so he can go with a 94 or newer setup axle swap. His major complaint is the gearing and braking power. Just needs to decide how much headache he wants to balance in place of money spent on a newer truck. The truck was his dad's so he tends to be sentimental about selling it. If you come up with a solution please post it here.

Is Dynatrac making complete units for fullsize trucks? more money than its worth probably?

 

[Forrest Nearing]

99+ Fords have twin piston calipers front and rear!! if I had my druthers, I'd have those brakes on my truck...



Forrest

 

[RonA]

I just talked to a place in S. Cal. called EGR performance brakes. They sell a kit for the 92 4wd front. Any body have any experience with the company of their products?

 

[DKarvwnaris]

I just talked to a place in S. Cal. called EGR performance brakes. They sell a kit for the 92 4wd front. Any body have any experience with the company of their products?

First question I would have is whether they use a factory caliper and rotor off of another truck. Aftermarket brakes are great for hot rod's and showponies, but I would lean away from that in a truck where you know you'll have frequent heavy loads put against them. Think of the hassle or replacement costs if you need new rotors later on and they are only available from them. I have seen lots of aftermarket companies discontinue their product lines when the demand falls short and they don't want to stock the inventory anymore. That will cost you big if it happens, I'd make sure you can find the parts at NAPA or Car Quest for these reasons, at least the consumable parts of brake system. Brackets that adapt existing parts to your vehicle are a different story, they aren't usually an issue unless you have an accident or something.

Just something to think.

 

[Cooker]

There are several members running EGR products on their rigs (at least there are a lot of 2nd gen members running it). If you do a search you should come up with some good reading info.

 

[RonA]

Looks like there are several options to check on. Would be nice to not have to swap front ends. Will have to wait till monday for Raybestos info. Bill, I don't understand stopping not a factor in Indiana?

 

[Crash_AF]

Ford 3/4 and 1 tons have always had dual piston calipers in the front, whether 2 or 4 wheel drive. I believe that this may have changed in the mid '80s for a while, but I'm pretty sure that at least the HD 4x4s kept the dual piston setup as my '89 F250HD had dual pistons.



Later,

Joe

 

[NIsaacs]

Most larger brakes will require larger wheels.



"NICK"

 

[RonA]

If the Raybestos rotors are available for the 92 I am going to try them. If not I'll go with the EGR. I made a list of things to do from a search. Still shocked that there was anything available for these older trucks. Most of the aftermarket stuff cuts off at 94. Merry Christmas.

 

[ARhine]

If the early 80s vintage fords have dual piston calipers? If that is the case the 80s vintage axles were kingpin. You could theroretically run ford knuckles, hub, and outer stub shafts to get the larger calipers.



This might be a question that could be answered with some searching on pirate4x4.

 

[bmoeller]

The '82 F-250 and my current one have dual-piston calipers up front. I know thw '91-'92 Ford trucks do.



If you have enough money, I have seen trucks in off-road magazines that had custom Dana 70 and 80 front axles installed. They were on Ford trucks, IIRC. Think the 80 had the 70 internals, but the 80 tubes.

 

[DKarvwnaris]

If the Raybestos rotors are available for the 92 I am going to try them. If not I'll go with the EGR. I made a list of things to do from a search. Still shocked that there was anything available for these older trucks. Most of the aftermarket stuff cuts off at 94. Merry Christmas.

I bet the products will fade out in a few more years, like I said, if the sales aren't high enough, they will discontinue the parts line and you'll be back to nothing but stock spec replacements. Before we moved up here, I worked for Dick Cepek and 4 Wheel Parts Wholesalers, I saw lots of folks with specialized parts they couldn't find regular maintenance components for.

Good luck in your search, stopping faster is always a good thing.

Merry Christmas.

 

[Crash_AF]

If the early 80s vintage fords have dual piston calipers? If that is the case the 80s vintage axles were kingpin. You could theroretically run ford knuckles, hub, and outer stub shafts to get the larger calipers.

The '78-'79 Ford 60s have dual piston calipers, and I know that they are kingpin fronts. Not too sure if the '80-on are kingpin or balljoint. For compatibility, I think that the spindle and stubs are the same. If that's the case, you just need the caliper mounts, calipers and lines. Not sure on the rotors...



Later,

Joe

 

[tgbol]

RonA

Your pads and calipers are the same as '87 GMC V3500 one tons. So any of the upgraded caliper and pad kits should be a bolt on. I don't know about the rotors. I think the center is slightly smaller on the GMC.