Mirage775
Member
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2016
- Messages
- 63
- Reaction score
- 5
- Points
- 8
- Location
- Huntsville, AL
- Vehicle Year
- 2003
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Size
- 4.0
- Transmission
- Manual
I rebuilt my drum brakes right after I bought the truck, as I was having a difficult time stopping. Wish I still had the pic of what it all looked like, when I pulled the drum! The shoes looked like they were original and weren't worn much at all, but all of the springs and both adjusters were either destroyed, frozen, disintegrated or missing completely! I put a good brand of replacement shoes on and a complete new spring/adjuster kit on both sides. I use the parking brake everytime I turn off the truck. I've been tinkering with vehicles for 25+ years and I'm very mechanically inclined.If all of the parts are cleaned VERY well and coated in anti-seize then the brakes should self adjust just fine on their own. Unless they're assembled wrong, which is very, very common.
I also hate drum brakes, but if they're put together right, they're pretty much drama free.
I converted my 8.8 to disc brakes and I wish I never would have. I've ran across a few other guys with the same problem too. Mine wear the inboard pad REALLY bad. I've put new calipers on, new caliper slide brackets, checked the rotors were centered/spaced properly in the caliper after bolting it all together.. Nothing helps. I'm a maintenance mechanic by trade, with 30 years experience, and I've never had anything continue to beat me like this disc brake conversion.
On my V8 swap truck I left the drum brakes alone other than a quick disassembly, cleaning, and coating with anti-seize. They're flawless.
GB
Which disc brake conversion did you install? Explorer or Mustang? Are there more than those two swaps? I would hate to do the swap and run into the problems you're having though...
It's like everything else in the modifying world, just personal preference. I've read that when people put 33" tires on steel wheels, that the drums won't engage or engage, but don't stop the truck? That's the tire/wheel choice I'm planning to run, that's why I was interested in the conversion.
Last edited: