Disc brake conversion

[Jalax23]

I have a 98 Tj mostly stock. It came with Dana 35 rear end with 4.10 gears ( I tested this on a lift and from what I read all 4cly 98s came with 410 gears.) The rear axle has been repaired a few time and the control arm brackets and shock mounts look like someone welded with bubblegum. Also the factory spring supports are rusted out and the springs are basically sitting on the axle tubes. I bought an 03 Dana 44 off a rublicon. A buddy was going to put it in his jeep had it sent out and rebuilt. My question is the 03 comes with disc brake set up. My 98 has drums. Do I just need new rotors and calipers or do I need new lines and modification to the brake master cylinder to use the 03 axle? Also I was going to measure but someone may know do I need a new rear drive shaft or will the old one fit? I have no lift and as far as I can tell the drive train is factory.

 

[Midtenn]

I think you need new cables like @mrblaine sells. I think they are $75.

 

[Jalax23]

I think you need new cables like @mrblaine sells. I think they are $75.

That is still probably cheaper than buying an entire conversion kit online. Or at least I think so. Conversion kit is like 800 bucks

 

[mrblaine]

That is still probably cheaper than buying an entire conversion kit online. Or at least I think so. Conversion kit is like 800 bucks

Not really.

 

[Chris]

Not really.

Do you sell disc break conversions?

 

[mrblaine]

Do you sell disc break conversions?

I do not.

 

[Jalax23]

Do you sell disc break conversions?

Yah sorry I noticed that after I posted haha should have read what I wrote. I hope my brakes don’t break when I do them.

 

[qslim]

I just put an ‘04 Dana 44 in my ‘99. I didn’t need to change anything. Parking brake cables lined up just fine. I can’t comment on the drive shaft though because I installed a CV shaft for my SYE kit.

 

[qslim]

Also that axle looks like you just pulled it from the Atlantic sea floor.

 

[Jalax23]

Also that axle looks like you just pulled it from the Atlantic sea floor.

That is the old one I want to replace. I agree with your assessment!

 

[qslim]

From what I’ve read the pinion on a 44 is a little longer than the 35, not sure if your stock DS will work or not. I’m sure someone will chime in.

 

[Jalax23]

Not really.

I know you don’t sell break conversions but it looks like you do sell brake conversions for what I need. Is the emergency cables different from drum to disc? Should I get those also?

 

[Midtenn]

I just put an ‘04 Dana 44 in my ‘99. I didn’t need to change anything. Parking brake cables lined up just fine. I can’t comment on the drive shaft though because I installed a CV shaft for my SYE kit.

Did you have disc brakes on both axles?

 

[qslim]

Did you have disc brakes on both axles?

No, I had drums on my 35. The 44 I installed has discs but the center brake line on it from the diff breather hooked right up to the same place on my frame rail. Parking brake cables on the 44 hooked up too.

 

[mrblaine]

I know you don’t sell break conversions but it looks like you do sell brake conversions for what I need. Is the emergency cables different from drum to disc? Should I get those also?

The parking brake cables are not the same between drum and disc. You will need disc brake parking brake cables if you don't have any and the ones for drums are not any. But, there are a few jury rig methods out there that folks have used that seem to work fine.

 

[qslim]

To clarify the Dana 44 I installed had the cables already attached. Those cables connected up just fine.

 

[Jalax23]

Thanks for everyone’s help. Amazed at how fast people responded