Brakes upgrade options

[Vanguy]

Update:

I finally got around to checking my rear brakes and sure enough they were way out of adjustment. Unfortunately with the jackstands under the spring perches I couldn't get at the adjusters through the backing plate so had to pull the drums off to adjust them. Since there was a slight ridge on the drums I couldn't really adjust them to where they needed to be but was able to turn the adjuster wheel at least a full turn and still get the drums back on. Even though it was tight getting past the ridge the drums still turned free once all the way on. Was enough to make a big differnce in the pedal. The drivers side "self adjusting" mechanism was not contacting the adjuster wheel so not sure its was doing anything. Man I hate drum brakes...

[86Scotty]

Put yourself a disc axle under there. I haven't done this but I used to know the details. I think it's pretty easy and definitely cheap and simple to find one from a salvage yard.

[Vanguy]

That is the plan but other more pressing matters must come first, like getting the thing water tight. Looks like all the door seals could be replaced and one back window is letting water in for sure. Then prob get all the door locks and power mirrors working. Then hopefully get my solar panels mounted and wired up.

When the time does come to change to a disc brake rear axle I'd love to try and find one with a 3.73 gear set to replace the 3.55's that are in the current axle. That would mean re-gearing the front though...

[TomsBeast]

I've had the rear drum brakes on my '95 E350 (Dana 60 rear axle) apart and I've gone through them like 3 times, Don't get me wrong, drum brakes are fantastic when done right, plenty good for supplying 35% of the stopping power in a 1 ton van. But jeez... If I count up the hours I've spent, I'd been way ahead if I had just converted over to rear discs.



Just after purchasing my van used, I found myself repairing the past hamfisted brake jocky's shoddy work. Then redoing my shoddy work re-assembling it, copying the last guys incompetent and out of order assembly... I've had them go out of adjustment from normal wear, then because things were so loose a spring popped off, taking out the new drum, both shoes, and I think the adjuster cable.



In my experience the entire Dana/Ford drum brake 'self adjuster' cable/cam set up is a complete POS, the weird mousetrap springs (that hold the shoes in place) require either the patience of Jobe or the special tool to deal with them. As far as I can tell, the self adjusting feature is there in name only, I have to adjust the rear manually every 10k miles or so.



Other than that, I love them!


I recently came a cross a Sterling full floating 10.5 out of a 2002 F350, a Craigslist find, and drug it home. It's a match to the front axle, also out of a 2002 (so it's got the right stud patter, same thread pitch, hopefully the right tone wheel for the speed sensor) on a stand awaiting the R&P swap, new leaf spring perches that it needs to work with my set up.

[vandiesel]

Originally Posted by Vanzila

Run the SSBC Kit.. you will be very happy. I am



https://ssbc-usa.com/collections/ford-big-brake-kits

Vanzilla, I have been stockpiling all the parts to do a 35 spline/big brake/dynatrac hub conversion. I got the discs from dynatrac and have asked napa to source the calipers. Are you running SSBC specific rotors? What calipers did you run and are you on 2008 and up big brakes?

[Vanguy]

TomsBeast, sounds like you share my passion for drum brakes. I finally got around to pulling the drums back off and cleaning up the ridge so I could fully adjust the rear brakes. Much better.

I'm still wondering if there is a cost-effective way of putting some better brakes on that dana 44 front axle. I looked at the ssbc website but didn't see any 5 plug options.