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disk brake rear ?

sweetk30

sweetk30

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is there any reason you cant use 1/2 ton 2WD calipers on a disk brake swap for a 14ff ?

they use the same pads . . . i have a set and trying to pinch my pennies to get this done .

i just dont recall anyone ever saying you can or cant use them .
 
You can buy the brackets on Ebay to mount stock calipers to 14ff. They even sell templates so you can make your own. I used the templates to get a friend, who is a machinist, to make a set for me free for getting the templates for him because he wanted to do the swap himself. I ordered 3/4 ton calipers and pads. If you want an E-Brake you can use early Eldorado units. They are pricey but you can do a Google search to find the exact years.
 
trukker1 said:
You can buy the brackets on Ebay to mount stock calipers to 14ff. They even sell templates so you can make your own. I used the templates to get a friend, who is a machinist, to make a set for me free for getting the templates for him because he wanted to do the swap himself. I ordered 3/4 ton calipers and pads. If you want an E-Brake you can use early Eldorado units. They are pricey but you can do a Google search to find the exact years.
Click to expand...


Right. But he is asking about 1/2ton calipers
 
trukker1 said:
You can buy the brackets on Ebay to mount stock calipers to 14ff. They even sell templates so you can make your own. I used the templates to get a friend, who is a machinist, to make a set for me free for getting the templates for him because he wanted to do the swap himself. I ordered 3/4 ton calipers and pads. If you want an E-Brake you can use early Eldorado units. They are pricey but you can do a Google search to find the exact years.
Click to expand...

Screw the Eldorado stuff, its expensive, nobody has a core and it comes without the e-brake hardware so you will be fabbing up parts to make it work. If you want an e-brake with a disc 14B just get the AAM 10.5. Basically same axle with factory disc brakes and an e-brake all engineered to work by GM. You can buy the whole thing for less than Eldorado parts.

The last 14B disc conversion I did I remember taking a set of 2wd 1/2 ton caliper cores in and buying the mid 70's spec 3/4 calipers. I can't remember what the issue was that prevented me from using them. The line fitting? Just can't remember. For the price of a reman these days it really wasn't an issue but I understand building on a budget for sure. Try them and see what happens, the piston might be smaller but most of your braking force is on the front anyway.
 
obijuank5 said:
Cut brothers makes an a-dapter kit to run late model aam 10.5 discs on an older 10.5.
Far better system. Sell what you have and what another couple hundred bucks?
Click to expand...

That's cool. Needed to happen, the AAM 10.5 brakes are sweet.
 
TreeFarm, Since the axles are the same I thought the calipers would be the same as well. Calipers themselves are relatively inexpensive but I never, personally, buy re-manufactured brake parts of any kind. This after going through three defective master cylinders. Yeah, I know, master cylinders are not the same as calipers but I've gotten bad calipers before also so I've just decided to only use new parts for anything to do with any brake system parts.

TreeFarm said:
Right. But he is asking about 1/2ton calipers
Click to expand...

HankScorpio said:
Screw the Eldorado stuff, its expensive, nobody has a core and it comes without the e-brake hardware so you will be fabbing up parts to make it work. If you want an e-brake with a disc 14B just get the AAM 10.5. Basically same axle with factory disc brakes and an e-brake all engineered to work by GM. You can buy the whole thing for less than Eldorado parts.

The last 14B disc conversion I did I remember taking a set of 2wd 1/2 ton caliper cores in and buying the mid 70's spec 3/4 calipers. I can't remember what the issue was that prevented me from using them. The line fitting? Just can't remember. For the price of a reman these days it really wasn't an issue but I understand building on a budget for sure. Try them and see what happens, the piston might be smaller but most of your braking force is on the front anyway.
Click to expand...

I wish I'd have known about these before I bought the Eldorado calipers. Haven't tried to put them on yet. Still on the "to do" list. I know a lot of guys have used the Eldorado calipers with mixed results. Definitely the GM parts in your post would have to be a much better way to go.

Do you know what parts can be found at the local salvage yard (years/vehicles)?
 
I'm running 3/4 ton calipers on my 8 lug ten bolt up front and half ton calipers on my 14 bff out back. I wanted the slightly smaller piston size to get a little less braking in the rear. Didn't really make a difference with my mc I'm running. Still way too much braking for snow or wet roads. Installed a manual prop valve and I turn the rear almost all the way down normally.
 
I run 1/2-ton front calipers in back with 90's front 1/2-ton rotors and it fits together fine. IIRC I do have to trim the lower edge of the pad or it can rub the rotor "hat". It would be nice to have smaller pistons since the bigger the piston the longer the pedal travel. Braking is good with Hydro and an adjustable rear prop valve, but the pedal travel is longer than a stock setup.
 
Blue85 said:
I run 1/2-ton front calipers in back with 90's front 1/2-ton rotors and it fits together fine. IIRC I do have to trim the lower edge of the pad or it can rub the rotor "hat". It would be nice to have smaller pistons since the bigger the piston the longer the pedal travel. Braking is good with Hydro and an adjustable rear prop valve, but the pedal travel is longer than a stock setup.
Click to expand...
My pedal travel is pretty short and pretty firm . I'd almost say it brakes too well. I think that is due to running a rear disc P30 master cylinder that has a larger diameter piston that displaces more fluid.
 
Truckman4life said:
I'm running 3/4 ton calipers on my 8 lug ten bolt up front and half ton calipers on my 14 bff out back. I wanted the slightly smaller piston size to get a little less braking in the rear. Didn't really make a difference with my mc I'm running. Still way too much braking for snow or wet roads. Installed a manual prop valve and I turn the rear almost all the way down normally.
Click to expand...
Blue85 said:
I run 1/2-ton front calipers in back with 90's front 1/2-ton rotors and it fits together fine. IIRC I do have to trim the lower edge of the pad or it can rub the rotor "hat". It would be nice to have smaller pistons since the bigger the piston the longer the pedal travel. Braking is good with Hydro and an adjustable rear prop valve, but the pedal travel is longer than a stock setup.
Click to expand...

You guys are talking about 4WD calipers, no? I think he's asking if 2WD and 4WD calipers can be interchanged.
 
Don't knock the eldorado calipers unless you actually tried them. I bought a set off ebay for a reasonable price and I won't use anything else. After some adjustments they work very well. I set them, while on a steep incline, and they held up like I was holding the brake with my foot. I know some have had problems with getting them to hold but I never had a problem with them. I made my own spring and lever set up and was very impressed. I also found some original parts and same outcome.
 
HankScorpio said:
Screw the Eldorado stuff, its expensive, nobody has a core and it comes without the e-brake hardware so you will be fabbing up parts to make it work. If you want an e-brake with a disc 14B just get the AAM 10.5. Basically same axle with factory disc brakes and an e-brake all engineered to work by GM. You can buy the whole thing for less than Eldorado parts.

The last 14B disc conversion I did I remember taking a set of 2wd 1/2 ton caliper cores in and buying the mid 70's spec 3/4 calipers. I can't remember what the issue was that prevented me from using them. The line fitting? Just can't remember. For the price of a reman these days it really wasn't an issue but I understand building on a budget for sure. Try them and see what happens, the piston might be smaller but most of your braking force is on the front anyway.
Click to expand...
Are you saying use AAM brake system on a 14bff corperate?
 
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