SoK66 wrote:
> "SoK66" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>Hi all, need some expert CJ knowledge here. My '76 CJ-5 resto project
>>needs to be converted to disks. A buddy just gave me the housing &
>>knuckles from a '79, and a box of parts (rotors, calipers, hubs, axle
>>shafts, spindles, caliper supports, etc.) from an '84. I'd like to swap
>>over the '79 knuckle to my '76 housing and then adapt all the later bits.
>>Simple question, whets involved in using the 84 stuff on the 79 knuckles?
>>So far I found that the '84 caliper supports bolt right up, but I haven't
>>had time to try mounting up all the rest of the stuff to check the fit.
>>I'd also like to use the nice, new 6-bolt hubs off my '76 rather than the
>>later 5-bolt stuff. Thanks in advance! >
>
>
> So, an update. I put the '79 housing up on stands this AM and all the '84
> brake bits bolted right up. Next trick is to pull the '76 6 bolt hubs, press
> pout the studs & try & mount the '84 (7/8") rotors to the backside of them.
> Per every measurement I took this should work, and the parts books say
> everything should mix & match....weird!
>
> Fun pasr was popping off the old knuckles from the '79 housing. A buddy
> loaned nme the special socket needed to release the upper ball joint studs.
> To my astonishment a few good hammer whacks and all four ball joint studs
> came out clean as a whistle, as did the tie rod ends. No heating, cursing,
> pounding, etc. Somewhere along the line this is going to go south, but so
> far, so good.

Decades ago now, my brother converted his `76 CJ to disk fronts. As I
recall it was a bolt-up job, no need to even change the knuckles. Pull
the backing plates and bolt away. Jeep didn't change many things unless
they were forced to.

But if your existing wheels are the originals they will not not fit your
new brakes. The disk calipers will not clear by *just* enough to bind
on the drum brake wheels.