Hello All,

I have a 1979 F250 Ranger XLT Trailer Special 2wd w/460 donor truck that I would like to poach the front disk brakes off of and put them on the rear axle of my 1978 F250 Ranger Camper Special 4X4 w/ 351M. Does anyone know if this is possible?

I've scoured the internet and this site for weeks looking for info on this project. I know there are several threads on rear disk conversions informing me that I could buy a kit or even buy all of the parts separately (to save a little $$$) but it seems that all of these that I have found use GM parts. This is not what I'm wanting to do. I would prefer to not have Ford OEM parts on the front axle and GM parts on the rear.

Also I already have the donor truck so it just makes sense to use the parts I already have. Another bonus is that the calipers off the donor are dual piston calipers just like the ones on the front axle on my 4X4.

The kits I've seen all have a caliper mounting bracket so I'm sure I will also need a bracket that is compatible with my calipers and axle. Does anyone know if they make such a thing? Or will I have to get one custom made?

Also have questions about a proportioner. I assume this makes it so you can adjust the brake power to 60/40 to the front/rear brakes. Is this correct? Where should I mount a brake prop? What should I adjust it to?

I am aware that I will be losing the use of my parking brake but it's an automatic and I rarely ever use it so this does not concern me at all.

Any and all advise would be much appreciated.

 

not sure if 79 mounting bracket will work, but I do believe that 76-77 HB D44 front caliper bracket will bolt to a rear D60 mtg flange.

My buddy has this conversion on his truck, but it was done by the PO.

clean looking installation with all the brake components F&R.

 

sounds interesting, you have tofigure out how to make the 5 hole caliper anchor fit the 4 hole backing plate flange, as well as figure out how to mount a rotor to the hub, and then figure out how to mount a brake line that currently goes into the inside instead of the outside. On another note. . . Are the factory bendix drums really that bad? Mine stop on a dime. They are fantastic brakes, better than a lot of newer vehicles I have driven. If you put the drums new, shoes new, lines new, prop valve new, you will have a solid brake system.

 

Yes, it is possible. My brother did it on his Bronco. And it had a Dana 60 rear. Search "daddy's big bronco" and you'll find the whole build thread. It's in there somewhere, I just don't have it in me to look for it. He's not with us anymore to ask, and the build thread is a place I don't tread.