[M_Nuckolls78]

I know this is kind of an old post, but I had a thought. are the backing plates between the dak and rango the same? if so, then it'd be easy for anyone already having disc rears to adapt it for vented rotors, all that'd be needed would be the rotors and durango calipers. thats just a theory, I'm working on a rear disc conversion on my 99 R/T, and haven't seen the durango rear disc set up yet.

 

[socal909dakota]

Good write up...

...But here's my .02... wouldn't it be cheaper to go pull a rear end out of a 03-04 Dakota and just swap the rear ends. I imagine there is hardly any difference between the two.

That's what i did on my 2000. I won a disc brake rear end on ebay from a 2003 V6 Dakota I believe. Got it for like $150 bucks and still looked new. Got a freakin speeding ticket on the way home picking it up in Vegas tho and that sucked. Cost more than the rear end!

Only difference is my old rear end was 9.25 and now I have a 8.25 rear end. Both are 3.55 ratios with non-posi. I just bought a posi unit and am thinking about going with a 4.10 gear.

Anyone have any input on a 4.10 gear with the 8.25 rear end? Think it will hold up as good as the 9.25 rear end? I love the way my disc brakes look through the 20" R/T wheels... a lot cleaner looking than the drums

 

[markmdz]

That's what i did on my 2000. I won a disc brake rear end on ebay from a 2003 V6 Dakota I believe. Got it for like $150 bucks and still looked new. Got a freakin speeding ticket on the way home picking it up in Vegas tho and that sucked. Cost more than the rear end!

Only difference is my old rear end was 9.25 and now I have a 8.25 rear end. Both are 3.55 ratios with non-posi. I just bought a posi unit and am thinking about going with a 4.10 gear.

Anyone have any input on a 4.10 gear with the 8.25 rear end? Think it will hold up as good as the 9.25 rear end? I love the way my disc brakes look through the 20" R/T wheels... a lot cleaner looking than the drums

sorry to bring this one back from the dead, but I did what many members break balls about not doing (a search).

this is the exact post I was waiting to see. Rather than going through the pains of swapping bits and pieces, wouldn't it just be easier to yank the whole rear end, axle and all, and swap it out as long as the spring and shock mounts are the same. ...that's providing there are some that do run disc and have the same mounting points as the drum ones.

On another note, has anyone tried the kit linked in the first few pages yet: http://www.tsmmfg.com/2552.htm ? If so, I need some feedback as that's a relative bargain when you consider the time with doing the rest of the conversions mentioned.

As for the machining of the flange, I've worked with a company a number of times in the past to cut parts for me on a waterjet. They're more than fair on price and the product is top notch. Scott, if you want to send me the cad file, and don't mind me asking the shop to cut some, I'm about 99% positive I can get them done, and at a price WAY better than a CNC shop.

Has anyone tried playing around with a combination of the different height tophats on the different rotors, and seeing if they make up the difference on the flange location without having to modify the flange? Can we fab up a different caliper bracket to mount to the stock drum flange to locate the caliper in the proper position? Fabricating brackets, etc for a true "bolt on" installation is (IMO) a hell of a lot easier than having to do permanent modifications (and potentially damage) to the axle via welding, cutting, grinding, etc.

 

[threesixoh]

semi necro, but that kit linked looks like a good kit. I'll be the one to try it out probably next month, spending my money on front brakes at the moment.

 

[Shimrra]

i think it would be far simpler to just take the whole rear end and move the mounts if you need to, than re-make the whole brakes from scratch...

 

[jrp1588]

was going to get that kit this spring, but got distracted by other mods. I'll buy them later. Unfortunately the local junk yards don't have any daks, much less 2003-2004's.

 

[coop]

This thread has me a little confused....

Won't an 03 / 04 dak rear bolt in without moving / welding anything?

I'm having trouble with my computer....got the blue screen of death today twice
May not be back tonight

Coop

 

[2k1AmberR/T]

What size bolts are used for the 4 bolt flange on the end of the axle housing? The bolts that hold the backing plate on.

 

[coop]

Sorry bro......I don't remember what size they were.

Coop

 

[70Cuda383]

Hey guys, you're right, it is easier to just swap rear ends. if you can do that, I suggest that you do.

however, finding the perfect rear end, isn't always possible. if you have a 2wd truck, and find a 4wd truck...something gotta be cut and welded to make it fit into your truck anyway. or what if you have 3.92 and an LSD on a 98 axle, but you found an 03 w/ 3.55s and open? you have to decide, lose the LSD and the better gear ratio, or swap internals, or swap brakes.

what if you just spent $1000 on 4.56s, detroit true trac diff, and new bearings for your 9.25 2wd Dakota rear...then 6 months later find a cheap 8.25, with 3.55s and an open diff, with disc brakes on it...

what are ya gonna do then?


that's why I did what I did. I just had a killer rear end built for my truck, 9.25 axle with 4.56s, detroit true trac, rear end girdle, all new bearings in the whole thing, and had it sand blasted and painted while it was all apart. then came across a disc brake rear end from an 03 V6 4x4 truck. I sure as hell wasn't going to toss all the good parts I bought, to turn around and do an axle flip kit to the 4x4 8.25" axle...so I did the disc brake swap that you see here in this thread.

if you have a stock 98 9.25 w 3.55 open on your 4x4 and you happen to find an 03 9.25 w 3.55 open and disc brakes, our of a 4x4 then yea, swap the whole thing out--it's a bolt in deal. ....after you swap the yokes on the axle.

 

[jegten]

thanks for all of the info. i am trying to get this done, but it is taking a little more research.
the boneyard here has the exact 03/04 rearend with the matching gear ratio, but they want 900.00 installed!

so, i am having to figure out other options that will not be that expensive. funny thing is, i got the entire front brake setup from them for very little. lol

 

[jegten]

Hey guys, you're right, it is easier to just swap rear ends. if you can do that, I suggest that you do...

if you have a stock 98 9.25 w 3.55 open on your 4x4 and you happen to find an 03 9.25 w 3.55 open and disc brakes, our of a 4x4 then yea, swap the whole thing out--it's a bolt in deal. ....after you swap the yokes on the axle.

thanks for all the help!
would you mind elaborating on the bold faced? thanks!

 

[Blue93Dakota]

You could swap Jeep GC rear disks on it for very cheap.

 

[jegten]

You could swap Jeep GC rear disks on it for very cheap.

is that using the mid 90s GC setup?
how difficult is it? other than what i read, are there any other modifications needed? thanks!

 

[jegten]

i just read your post that you used part from a 98 GC!
the picapart here has GC from 93-97 and one 2001.
do you have pics when you did the swap?

if i can get them as cheap (or close to) as you got them, i will definitely go this weekend.

any info is greatly appreciated!! thanks!

 

[Blue93Dakota]

Yes to all the above.

http://www.dakota-durango.com/forum/showthread.php?t=114356&highlight=rear

 

[jegten]

whaw! thanks for the link!
going through it now.
i do want to keep the parking brake. have figured it out for yourself yet?

can we find a rotor that would fit this setup w/out having to drill?

again, thanks!

EDIT: reading thoroughly. good write up. i am sure i'll have questions, but know what to get so far. thanks!

 

[jegten]

i will give it another read, and i am glad this will also work on the 9.25, which is what i have.

 

[Blue93Dakota]

No problem dude. I don't know of a rotor that would work without drilling. Wilwood or someone like that may be able to make one for you, but I wouldn't worry about it at all. I haven't done the parking brake yet, since I have an automatic and it's not a priority. Plus I have been focused on my engine build.

 

[jegten]

No problem dude. I don't know of a rotor that would work without drilling. Wilwood or someone like that may be able to make one for you, but I wouldn't worry about it at all. I haven't done the parking brake yet, since I have an automatic and it's not a priority. Plus I have been focused on my engine build.

yeah, i was asking just b/c i know it might be a pain in the butt to get it done, right? lol
i'll take them to the machine shop, like you mentioned.

quick question-do you have to pull the axles to remove the backing plates on the GCs? i know we do to remove the drum backing plates.

what motor are you building? last year, i finished an ls3 418 stroker motor.