Disc Brakes for D44

[Redeye]

Im looking at buying a new D44 from a buddy of mine. He doesnt know the history on it but it still has that nice shinny paint, and new drum brakes.
What I want to do is put Disc on it so that way I know I have the stopping power. Does anyone know where i can get this conversion or how to piece it together.

Thanks in advance

[Lauti]

I have a new factory Dana 44-3 that's getting built soon. I just returned from a buddy where he unbolted the disc brakes from a '94 ZJ (Dana 35C). I will try to fit the backing plate to the Dana 44-3 on Wednesday. I hope it's the same bolt pattern.

[CU4WHLN]

The ZJ setup will work with some minor machining. Hard to explain,just put it together and you'll see the hole that needs opening up. Am using the original prop valve and booster.

Bolt pattern is the same BTW

[Lil'Green]

Yup, the bolt pattern is the same. Let me know how it goes, Lauti. I want to do the same on my buddy's Jeep.

[-=Alien=-]

I've heard that disc brakes are better for stopping, but not as good at holding the jeep stopped. Does anyone have input on this? Is this mostly relevant to the parking brake?

[Lil'Green]

I don't think disk brakes are as good as drum brakes even for the initial stop. The drum brakes have much mores surface area used to stop the spinning wheels. The real benefit of disks comes in the form of their ability to dissipitate heat faster (for repaeted stoping power and/or the ability to drag the brakes more), their self cleaning and self adjusting abilities. They also dry up faster after getting wet. Plus I like the concept of fewer moving parts.

Anyway, the parking brake on disk brake setups is usually too weak to exert enough pressure to fully lock the vehicle's brakes. So, yes, it is weaker parking brake on disk brake setups that gets bad rep.

[Redeye]

Thanks you for all the replies. Im not sure about the ZJ thing tho, Which ever way i go I'll keep you informed.

[Lauti]

CU4WHLN,

I guess you meant the housing end, that would need machining to accept the ABS sensor, right?

The bolt pattern of the backing plate and the housing end is identical.


Milan,

The emergency brake or parking brake will just need to keep the vehicle stopped in parking lots and so on, they don't need to bring the vehicle to a complete halt.
I guess, if they work on the ZJ's, and Chrysler Europe got all the safety testing done before the Grand Cherokees were officially sold on our market, they'll also work for my TJ.

[Lil'Green]

Lauti,
The parking brake you will have is not what I meant. I meant parking brake incorporated into the caliper. Yours is a separate drum brake working inside the rotor hat. You'll know when you see it. Those work quite a bit better. I like my parking brake to be my emergency brake as well, so I want it to stop the vehicle not just hold it stopped. Although, right now I'd settle even for that.

[Lauti]

Milan,

my fault, there was some misunderstanding on my side.
Yes, my ZJ brakes have small drum brakes inside the discs. I will measure their diameter and width next time I'll be at my mechanics place.

[CU4WHLN]

Lauti...

No, that's not what I meant. No Dana 44s are set up with ABS from Jeep. They have no tone rings for the sensor to read.

The ZJ axle "hole" (in the caliper mounting bracket) needs to be opened up slightly to accept the TJ dana 44 shaft. It's really pretty simple when you can look at one. Of course, I'm terrible at trying to describe it here !

A picture would be worth a thousand words...

[Lauti]

CU4WHLN,

but of course, I didn't think about that. The Dana 44 axle shafts are 4.6mm bigger in diameter than Dana 35 axle shafts! Everything cleared up now! Or is there more machining necessary?

[Cutch]

I had thought about the disc brake thing but now that I'm switching to a Dana 44 from a Grand Wagoneer my rear drum brakes are larger. Just hope my master cylinder is up to the task. I have not heard any different.


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Cutch
Minnesota Trailriders