dana 60 experts... - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

Mike · 02-01-2013, 04:45 PM

i have a quick question.

i have an older dana 60 with drum brakes, and want to convert it to disk... i already have the rear brakes from my 99.

could i use ls1 backing plates and set it up as if it was a newer strange s60? and then simply install my rotors and calipers? or am i s.o.l.?

the car is currently a 4 wheel manual drum car. i already found the swap plates to convert the front to ls1 disks, and am wanting to do all four, but if i cant the front swap with new lines and a prop valve should be a significant improvement.

end game will be a power brake conversion, but there is no room currently, so it will be a manual disk swap for now

BonzoHansen · 02-01-2013, 04:49 PM

doesn't matter if it is a dana 60 or a ford 9" or anything else. the ends are what matter. a dana 60 didn't come in that car stock so it's modified form whatever it came in originally. you need to determine how the rear is set up now. figure that out, then call kore3

and dbl check the bolt pattern is still 5x4.75 on those rear axles.

Mike · 02-01-2013, 04:54 PM

alright then the first thing ill do is take one of my wheels with me and try it on the rear to double check... assuming it is still 5x4.75 how many options are there in ends?

full disclosure, i don't want to run this rear long term, but in the short term want the car to be as safe as possible, and have the parts, so if i can do it cheaply i will, if not, the fronts will be enough for the short term, and ill do the rears when i get a rear...

BonzoHansen · 02-01-2013, 05:00 PM

i'm not exactly sure what you might find as far as housing ends. pull a drum and take a pic, let's see if we can ID the brakes on there now.

Mike · 02-01-2013, 05:02 PM

alright ill get some pics next time we are over there unless my dad already has some

Mike · 02-01-2013, 05:16 PM

ill also get pics of the rear frame and suspension set up, what should i focus on for people in the know to be able to get a good idea of what i am working with in terms of returning to stock setup

PolarBear · 02-01-2013, 05:21 PM

If you look at the bottom of this Strange Axle ordering sheet you can see how many different end styles there are. If your rear was ordered with GM 10/12 bolt ends the LS1 brakes can bolt right on as the pattern hasn't changed. Give you something to work off for measurements too to figure out what you have already.

Provided the ends are all GM style stuff still, you could also have to worry about how far the axles stick out of the end of the tube. Just something else to think about..

PolarBear · 02-01-2013, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike

ill also get pics of the rear frame and suspension set up, what should i focus on for people in the know to be able to get a good idea of what i am working with in terms of returning to stock setup

I think the factory frame rails are a big one and if they are not there how much the metal was changed. I would think if the factory frame rails are still in place you should be able to convert it back with little difficulty.

Oh and the front spring perch area

WildBillyT · 02-01-2013, 08:17 PM

Depends on the housing ends for sure.

Featherburner · 02-01-2013, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PolarBear

I think the factory frame rails are a big one and if they are not there how much the metal was changed. I would think if the factory frame rails are still in place you should be able to convert it back with little difficulty.

Oh and the front spring perch area

I'm going to say, with the size of the tires on the car, there is very little of the original frame rails under the car.