FS[SouthEast]: Disc brake conversion kit
Junior Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 79
Likes: 1
From: Piedmont SC
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
A couple of things I've noticed:
1.) My 1989 Cherokee Laredo had the Dana 35 with bolt on axles. Mine is the 2nd of these mentioned in this thread and these kits won't work with the bolt in axles. If you have an early model may want to check.
2.) Since I had the 8.25 to install it all worked out anyway. BUT...on the 8.25 once I opened the holes on the backing plate to slide over the axle tube the bolt holes didn't quite line up. I ended up drilling them out to 7/16".
3.) I suggest taking the calipers apart and rebuilding. The caliper pistons are a plastic material so no issues on that. One of mine had rust inside the bore. I ordered seal kits from Rock Auto for 7 bucks and used Scotchbrite to clean them up.
Mine is all together now and in the Jeep (yeah I'm slow). Still have to do brake lines and e brake cables. A very worthwhile upgrade and David is great to do business with. The shipping on mine was almost 40 bucks so his cost shipped is about what I'd pay to go get them myself. Thanks for doing that bit of work for me:-)
1.) My 1989 Cherokee Laredo had the Dana 35 with bolt on axles. Mine is the 2nd of these mentioned in this thread and these kits won't work with the bolt in axles. If you have an early model may want to check.
2.) Since I had the 8.25 to install it all worked out anyway. BUT...on the 8.25 once I opened the holes on the backing plate to slide over the axle tube the bolt holes didn't quite line up. I ended up drilling them out to 7/16".
3.) I suggest taking the calipers apart and rebuilding. The caliper pistons are a plastic material so no issues on that. One of mine had rust inside the bore. I ordered seal kits from Rock Auto for 7 bucks and used Scotchbrite to clean them up.
Mine is all together now and in the Jeep (yeah I'm slow). Still have to do brake lines and e brake cables. A very worthwhile upgrade and David is great to do business with. The shipping on mine was almost 40 bucks so his cost shipped is about what I'd pay to go get them myself. Thanks for doing that bit of work for me:-)
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,720
Likes: 44
From: Gainesville GA
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Thank you for the information. I was unaware until about a week ago the old Dana 35 was such a problem. I have only done one 8.25. I must have gotten lucky because the holes lined up with me.
I edited the first post to include the information.
I edited the first post to include the information.
Last edited by Big David; Apr 5, 2016 at 03:52 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
What's going on everyone? I found these guys on YouTube.. not sure why re drilling the holes was too much for him.. But he ended up using the front calipers from the jeep he got the Dana 44 from...I was thinking rather then have the mounting brackets made, there could be some way to make mounting brackets out of the original spindles.. Anyway I thought it was good tutorial for what he ended up with.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,720
Likes: 44
From: Gainesville GA
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
I like Bleepin' Jeep, he has good information on his site. I meet Matt last September at a Jeep event & he is a cool, down to earth man.
Thank you for posting the video.
Thank you for posting the video.
::CF Administrator::
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 14,479
Likes: 805
From: Blunt, South Dakota
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.6 stroker
