1971 cj5 brake conversion

You want the 1/2 ton GM/Jeep style caliper brackets. Some 3/4 ton brakes have a larger diameter rotor so when used with the Jeep/Scout rotors the pad hangs off the rotor as the caliper is spaced farther out. Been there, done that. Ymmv.


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Thanx .... I am still accumulating parts for that part of my rebuild !

 

Here's how you do the disk brake deal with a factory 71 MC, take the brake lines off and swap them, large reservoir to the disks, small reservoir to the drums, 2lb residual pressure valve (RPV) to disks, 10lb valve to the drums. Mine has been working just fine since 2005. No drag and no stopping issues even with a 1000lb trailer behind my jeep. My jeep has a 77 dana 30 with factory disks in it and has the factory 71 MC and rear 10" drums, works great. There is no proportioning valve in a stock 71 setup, there is a distribution block only, there are RPV's in the MC, they need to be removed and the aftermarket Wilwoods used in its place.

RPV's are only used in a system where the master cylinder is lower or at roughly the same level as the brakes. So if you mount a firewall MC you will never use them.

 

I had to use RPVs with my firewall mounted MC. Anytime the JEEP went >30deg or so nose up, I would lose pedal pressure. Made for a hairy ride the first time I learned this on the trail. I installed Wilwood 2lb RPV and the problem went away.

 

Probably due to the fact that your MC at those angles was then at the same level or lower than your brakes, never really gave that much thought but then again cars and most trucks never see angles like that unless there in an accident so that makes since you would still need them.