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Upgrade from 10" to 11" brakes on 83 CJ8?

MomoJeep

MomoJeep

Basic User
City
Seattle
State
WA
Is it possible to swap in the 11" drum that came on 76-78 Cj's to a 1983 CJ8. I have a hardtop, 33" tires, rear seat, roof rack, tow a boat, etc, and have done other upgrades to the brake system, (SS braided lines, dual-diaphragm booster, sitckier pads on front discs) and need every bit of increased braking I can get! I've heard it's very hard to do this swap only because the 11" backing plates are almost impossible to find? (It's an AMC 20, solid axle).

Also, correct me if I'm wrong but I've heard doing a rear disc conversion means I'd end up with a crappy emergency brake?

Anyone know a source for 11" backing plates and the parking brake cable to match?
 
If you're bent on sticking to narrow track, why not go for the Dana 44 with 11" drums? Those might be a little easier to find complete, and are generally regarded as stronger. I found one on Craigslist many years ago, and had it rebuilt and installed for my build.
 
walkerhoundvm said:
If you're bent on sticking to narrow track, why not go for the Dana 44 with 11" drums? Those might be a little easier to find complete, and are generally regarded as stronger. I found one on Craigslist many years ago, and had it rebuilt and installed for my build.
Click to expand...

Oh I currently have wide-track (1983) AMC20. I want to stick with Wide Track.

Are there D44's in Wide-track and 11" drums?
 
I totally misunderstood what you meant, I'm sorry! I thought you were swapping out the whole axle. I'm sure there's a way to mix the 11" and WT dana, but there are way better uses of your time and money.

The wheels fit over them... Not sure what else physically would prevent you from swapping an 11" for a 10"? So long as you can find all the parts like you said.
 
Pretty sure you just find a 76-81 Narrow track axle and take all the parts you need from the NT and put them on the WT... if you are doing this and don't have 1 piece axles, probably a good time for that as well. But as @walkerhoundvm said, there are probably better ways to spend time and money. I have 35's that I can lock up pretty easily with a stock configuration in terms of the brake parts... I have a Navajo Brake Booster on there and that really woke it up... I would look into the issues you are having and see if not the brakes themselves, but the parts pushing the fluid might be the culprit.

cb
 
certifiablejeep said:
I would look into the issues you are having and see if not the brakes themselves, but the parts pushing the fluid might be the culprit.

cb
Click to expand...
I have a somewhat similar set up to @MomoJeep in terms of tire size, new booster and lines, etc with the 11" drums on the 44. and my brakes are a little squishy. I suspect it's something to do with the proportioning valve, but I haven't had the time to dig into it.
 
walkerhoundvm said:
I have a somewhat similar set up to @MomoJeep in terms of tire size, new booster and lines, etc with the 11" drums on the 44. and my brakes are a little squishy. I suspect it's something to do with the proportioning valve, but I haven't had the time to dig into it.
Click to expand...

Yes an adjustable prop valve can help distribute more/less to where you want it... but also the booster itself (assuming there is a power booster and not manual) could have a leak... they get old and worn out over time.

cb
 
Odly enough, it's easier to swap the 11" drums from an older D44 to an AMC20 than it is to swap them to an 86 D44.
 
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