I need a D70 with suregrip and rear disc brakes. I despise the factory drums. Any one know where to find one or have a spare one? Also was the D80's of this year only available behind 3500's? Only thing I hate about my truck is the rear drums.

 

food for thought:
I too hated my rear drums, as I had poor braking, I then added gm 1ton wheel cyls and lengthened the prop rod, and adjusted the rears properly, that being done along with the 3rd gen front brakes(larger rotors) has improved my stopping ability at least twice/ and increased my front pad longevity by 60percent (used to get 23,000kms and 3-4months out of the most expensive pad I could find locally, now its been 60,000kms and about a yr on the 3rd gen brakes)
I could not find a salvaged rear diff to get the rear setup off of, and since doing the fronts, I have not even given thought of switching the rears any more.

this has been my experience, hopefully it helps

 

pm sent.

 

I have the 1 ton wheel cylinders as well. Haven't done the prop rod trick. For some reason my rear drums don't hold their adjustment. I replaced all the brake hardware and while it helped, they still require, to me, excessive maintenance. I wouldn't mind an egr rear disc kit but I want to be able to find parts on the road. I am not sure if the calipers and pads on their kit is off the shelf parts.

 

I am told they are

 

Well after some searching I actually found a d70 from a 2002 2500. Sure grip rear discs. :-) hopefully nothing changed and it is a bolt in. Biggest concerns are brakes. Lines, parking brakes, if my current master cylinder will work and the rear proportional valve will hook up or not. Hopefully the driveshaft works as well. In a rush for this now because I might be getting a transfer to Yakima,Wa Woohoo, yet in a slight panic mode too

 

There is a part that keeps the adjusting wheel from turning backwards. Brakes will need frequent adjustment if that are isn't in the correct position. Otherwise, they shouldn't need frequent adjustment. Perhaps you're making the change more for bragging rights than need. When you want to do something, 1 excuse is as good as another. I bought my ram so I could tow my boat....sailboat gets towed once every 2 or 3 years.

 

Lol I understand what you mean but I honestly have trouble with the drums. Right side brakes shoes came apart and snapped the cable that adjusts the star wheel. I replaced all the hardware and the pads will not sit firmly against the backing plate. Kept adjusting the drums for a while when the real axle seal on that side started leaking. Pulled the brakes and that cable was broke again. Seal was leaking during our move from fl to az. Ran the rear low on fluid as I had to choice and now the rear has a slight whine. So the trouble with the rear drums and now the whine, a perfect opportunity to upgrade. So it is more than just a brake issue. Plus now I have. D70 for our Ramcharger as I am gonna to put 3/4 ton axles under it. I will have to get a 1st gen front axle for it as iirc the 94 up front axle diff is on the opposite side.

 

I have done that disc brake swap a couple of times. Brake lines/hoses to the axel housing are the same. I have always swapped the prop. valve but I'm not 100% sure it is necessary. The rear calipers will require more fluid than the original cylinders so you might find that you will need it.
Disc brake Dana 80s were also available of 3/4 ton trucks in '01 and '02.
You shouldn't have a problem with the e-brake cable or driveshaft. The plug for the sensor is also the same. Good luck.

 

Question, they cut the brake line going from the truck to the Tee on the axle. That line looks like it can't be replaced by itself. Do I need to get the T or is the line replaceable?

 

Is it possible to swap 3rd gen rear brake calipers onto a second gen with rear disc?

 

Food for thought before everyone does this swap.

I own a 2000 drum brake truck with one tone wheel cylinders and the third gen front brakes. Truck stops awesome.
(rear brakes only supply 25-35% braking power and rear disc only improve the rear brake performance by up to 10%. that means that your total brake performance increase will be 3.5%)

My brothers truck is a third gen and the rear parking brake, sucks, because it will not hold a load on any size of a hill. You MUST use wheel chocks to hold it, The drum brakes will hold very easily on the second gen.

I pull ten thousand pound trailers with both trucks and prefer the second gen drums any day.

That being said, I would prefer a Dana 80 in the second gen but it will have drums.