i have a 98.5 dodge that im trying to do this upgrade on and it seems like it was going to fit up until i went to put the 3rd gen rotor onto the 3rd gen hubs. Right now my old 2nd gen calipers has a little bracket or alignment type thing on the axle knuckle and now blocks the rotor from going on, it seems like everybody that has posted onto this thread has a early 2000's truck but was seeing if any of the late 90's trucks have done it, im temped to just cut the bracket type thing off because the caliper sat in between the thing and that should allow me to put the rotors on. Any advice?

 

IIRC you need third gen brackets, calipers, pads and rotors, not to mention 17" or larger wheels...

 

ive been having problems trying to get this 3rd gen conversion to work properly, every step i take it seems like im taking backwards, i have purchased all the parts that you have listed above and they wont fit up to my axle, can somebody that has done this conversion take a picture of their brake setup and show me what they did to make it work

 

You have the 94-99 style axle... AFAIK, the conversion doesn't work on these. The knuckles are quite different.

 

Yep. if the stock brake disk will not come off without removing the wheel bearing you have an incompatible version of the front axle.

 

Mine is a late 02 2nd gen and IT came with ALL THAT "". So It's Workin On Mine. ". FACTORY 4-WAY DISK AND FACTORY 16'INCH WHEELS...?

 

3rdgen discs are bigger than 01-02, so bigger wheels are required.

 

Ow ' OK "". I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT IT'S A SPECIAL CONVERSATION "". ON THE SAME PAGE NOW "" I KNOW THESE THREADS ARE OLD BUT THERE STILL INTERESTING " I WAS WANTIN TO TELL ONE GUY THAT I'M A RETIRED TRUCKER AND REAR DRUM BRAKES ARE THE ONLY BRAKES TO HAVE WHEN YOUR DOING SOME ". REAL SERIOUS. "" TOWING/HAULING ' YOU KNOW GROSS 40.000 "" THOSE REAR DISK WILL GET YOU IN SERIOUS TROUBLE " THE'LL ". FADE. " RIGHT OUT" BUT I KNOW " HAVE TO KEEP THE DRUMS ADJ UP " IT'S PAIN SOMETIMES ". BUT THERE HAS TO BE A TRADE OUT SOMEWHERE"". HAY " THANKS FOR REPLY "". AFTER ALL THESE YEARS "". AMAZING "". James.oklahoma...KD5UTU

 

Retired trucker...huh?

What did you drive for a truck?
What sort of part of the country did you drive?

 

I have a 2001 3500 Dually with drum brakes. Is there a way to convert the back to disk?

 

Yes. Roll the drum braked axle out from under the truck. Roll under the hard to find disc braked Dana 80 2nd gen axle. Bolt it up and re install driveshaft, brake lines and shocks.
You will then need to deal with the brake proportioning valve to get the brake to work right.

 

If you have time and are crafty.... Some people have changed the axle flange so that all the factory disc stuff bolts on.

This is a Ford axle, but the flanges and disc componentry are identical. Rotor choice would be a variable. https://www.fordmann.com/F350.rear_disc_brakes.htm

FWIW, i have extra disc hardware to do a conversion , but still decided to rebuild the drum brakes. Reason being, if I was going disc, I want big ones - stuff that needs 17" or 19.5" wheels.

 

Wow another resurrected post from the archives

Guess I should get this conversion done as I have been acquiring everything over the years and need to pull the trigger on it. And regain some shelf space in the shop!!

Never a dull moment....

Kurt