Rear Drum Break to Disc Break

[6.5SmokeStack]

So im interested in swaping my rear drum breaks to rear disc. Is it possible? and anyone actually done it? Also, I have a high pitch sound from the left front break, they were recently done, atleast 2-3 thousand miles on them, and on the back I had my pads replaced in the drum and it makes a funny sound like they are wet or something not sure how to explain the sound, just annoying!

[sixnickel]

Ya GM did it in 2001 and they had so much trouble with the parking brake they they went back to drum brakes in 05 or06. If the brake job was done correctly with quality parts you should not have a problem with noise.

[6.5SmokeStack]

hmm ok, one more question, do you think the noise from the left front could be from the missing lug nut?

[sixnickel]

When does it make the noise? Brakes off or applied? Cheap pads make noise!!

[6.5SmokeStack]

when i am stopping, and what would you reconmend for new pads?

[sixnickel]

Any premium pad with the shims built into them. I use Wagner Thermo Quite or NAPA's premium stuff. Stay away from places like Auto Zone and like. My wholesale cost on these pads is about $40 to50 but it's worth it.

[njdevi11]

I did a rear disc conversion on my '02 Jeep Wrangler TJ with a factory dana 44 Rear. What I did was find a 93-98 Grand Cherokee (ZJ) in the junk yard and pull the backing plates and calipers and parking break cables. Most of it bolted right up but I needed to order some axle retention plates from mopar ($12) With new rotors and pads and hardware kit the whole thing cost less then $200.


Find out what kind of axle you have in the back of your truck. Chances are your 3/4 ton is either a Dana 60 or a 14 bolt. Search online for an axle identification chart. It will show you pictures of what the diff covers look like. I see a kit on ebay for $300 All parts included for a dana 60 full floater w/ no e-brake. $500 for the e-brake version.

You could just put in a $30 lockout valve if you don't want to spring for the eldorado calipers with the e-brake provisions.

Also I am not sure if it matters but check whether your rear is a full floater or not. A full floater will have a big hub sticking out of the middle of the wheel that kinda looks like a lock hub but there isn't a lockout on it.