Front brake upgrade question..

The previous owners started upgrading the brakes to 11" on my '57 but only got the rear done. Currently it has 9" on the front and 11" on the rear. No, it don't stop well lol, but I have only been using it around the place like a big 4wheeler for getting around, taking out the trash, ect. so it hasn't been an issue yet. But I want to start driving it on the street this spring so I need to get going on these brakes. What are my options for front brakes if I want to keep the through-floor pedals? Can I run the chevy discs with the stock master cyl? Or should I just go with 11" drums up front? I will probably be running 31-32" tires and keeping my 5.38's. What say you? :?

Thanks- John

 

what do you plan on doing?

disk you can keep pedals, just switch the master cylinder with a two chambered one, add proportioning valve and new brake lines.
Drums you can keep your stock master cylinder.

I personally prefer disk, because you get added safety of two chambered master cylinder. However, I want to drive my jeep around for a while before I pull the body off to do the brake upgrade (I don't know if you have to pull the body but I know it will be easier). So I am replacing the rebuilt master cylinder I have and keeping my 10 inch drums for now. When nothing is leaking and everything is adjusted my brakes work fine.

it comes down to what do you want

 

It won't see steady hard offroading, mostly rural hiways, gravel roads, and some snow/sand use. There will be long hills as I live in the Pacific NW lol. I'm not sure if it can even do 65 but I'd say its never going to be going faster than that, more than likely I'll cruise around 40-50. I definetly want it safe on pavement though. I like the idea of the dual master though, even with drums. I'll have to search for a how-to on that.

-John

 

Seems like the younger guys get freaked out by drums, but I think they are fine. Takes a little technique to put them together, but it's easy once you learn the drill. The parts for Bendix 11" brakes are cheap and easy to source too.

The type of master cylinder (single or dual) is separate from wheather you have disks or drums - no reason you cannot have a dual MC on a drum brake Jeep. My CJ-6 came with this setup, and it's a common conversion for earlier Jeeps. Works fine with through-the-floor pedals.

Do you know what the rears came from? I'd say finish it up with 11" drums on the front.

 

I'm running dual m/c with 11'' drums front and 9'' drums rear.

Works pretty well, night and day to 9'' all around.

Unless you're going to be doing some really intense wheeling, or driving in rain/mud constantly, I don't see whats wrong with 11'' drums.

 

The only problem with drums is when you dip them into water like a water crossing, they just don't stop at all until you dry them out. And only problem with a stock single cylinder master cylinder is, if you lose one thing in your brake system ie a wheel cylinder, brake hose/line, anything. you will lose all brakes front and rear. this happened to me off road when my po installed, pto winch shaft made contact with and sheared off the hard brake line at the master cylinder.

 

Replace the 9" fronts with 11" and be happy.

 

Best junk yard source for 11" front drums?

 

GIYF https://www.google.com/search?q=sit...fficial&client=firefox-a&source=hp&channel=np

Lots of cars and trucks use the Bendix 11" brakes. Most of the parts you want can be had new. Use the same cylinders as, say, a 1972 CJ5.

 

Hey thanks for the advice guys. I have no idea where the rear brakes came from. I think I'll just go with you guys recommendation(thats why I asked here afterall, for expert advice lol) and go with a dual MC and 11" drums on the front. The drainage holes you were talking about, just at the bottom or all around for cooling too? Its going to be nice to be able to drive this thing off my property this spring lol

-John

 

Here are some of the older tech pages from here. I love the drilled 11" drums on my 5, one of the best upgrades I have done to it. If you jump on the brakes it will put you in the windshield.



http://web.archive.org/web/20100728...5.com/technical/brakes/early-cj-11-drum-swap/

http://web.archive.org/web/20100728...m/technical/brakes/early-cj-drilled-11-drums/

 

Well damn. I was out falling some trees today and while I was gassing up the saw I look over and saw this old Jeep chassis I got on a trade. Went over and looked and sure enough, has 11" brakes on the front lmao! I was just going to pick some parts off and haul it away and never really looked it over before. Guess I'll start pulling it apart this weekend. Thanks for those links, I'm gonna go through them as soon as I hit post on this lol

-John

 

anyone tried drilling the drums themselves?

 

Lynn did as have several members. There used to be a template floating around for doing this.
Personally I prefer discs as there are far fewer moving parts and less maintenance. I run 4 wheel discs with a stock under floor single reservoir with no issues on tge '59-5. Have for around 18 or so years. Eventually will go swinging pedals and dual reservoir master cylinder but my setup works quite well.
The 11" drums are self energizing though so less pedal pressure required to operate.


Sent from my iPhone

 

My drums front and rear are from a 75 postal as well. I built the fixture and had a friend from our machine shop drill them for me.

 

Probably easier to find a drum for a '72-73 CJ-5 ... looks just like that. No fins.