2001 jeep cherokee rear disc conv.

[dagwood3515]

i tow my 185 scout boat with my cherokee & wonder if you can upgrade your rear drum brakes to dics from a grand cherokee ?

 

[arks]

Re: 2001 jeep cherokee rear disc conv.

Sure it's possible, but it'll cost a bunch.
If you're serious about it, find a local 4x4 shop and ask them to price the conversion. I don't know of any off-the-shelf kits for this application, so they'd probably need to design something from scratch.

OTOH, you could just trade your Cherokee in for a GC....

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: 2001 jeep cherokee rear disc conv.

deleted

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: 2001 jeep cherokee rear disc conv.

Lots of kits available. Pick up any 4x4 magazine such as Peterson's 4 Wheel Drive and Off Road, or Four Wheeler. There are several ads from conversion suppliers. PM me if you need more defined info.

 

[dagwood3515]

Re: 2001 jeep cherokee rear disc conv.

thanks for your responce. i plan on doing the convert myself, was just wondering if anyone out there has done the switch & what model years will work. i have plenty of boneyards near me. i can go and part out if i know which years are needed. thanks again

 

[fishrdan]

Re: 2001 jeep cherokee rear disc conv.

I'm not sure on Cherokee/GC brake swaps, but a few years of Dakotas and Durango's have compatible brake components,,, or should I say upgradeable using OEM parts. IE; front 15" to 16" brakes, rear drum to disc. I have my eyes out for front 16" brakes for my Durango if I can find all the parts (knuckels, rotors, calipers, etc.) at a decent price.

You will have better luck finding info on this type of swap at a Jeep forum,,, and if it's possible, probably a write-up on what needs to be done and what parts you need.

BTW, you need to tell us what year of Cherokee you have,,, and axle. Difficult to say if it's possible without knowing what you have. Kind of doubt parts from a 98 Cherokee will fit a 72...

 

[Nutjob]

Re: 2001 jeep cherokee rear disc conv.

The swap is easy and fairly inexpensive if you use salvage yard parts.... find a 96-98 Grand Cherokee (ZJ) with the 4.0. It will have the D35 and all the brake parts will swap over to the Cherokee (XJ) with no problem. Make sure you get the backing plate for the parking brake (It uses a shoe/drum type parking brake in the back side of the rotor), the caliper mount, and the calipers with the hoses (rotors too if they are in good shape). You will need to modify the proportioning valve to allow the new rear calipers to receive more pressure so that they work correctly.

Edit:
The 99-04 Grand (WJ) has a different axle configuration and the parts will not interchange.

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: 2001 jeep cherokee rear disc conv.

Nothing gained in this swap IMO. Rear drums brakes are ultra reliable and last prit near forever. Rear disk brakes are short lived in comparison to rears drums in most applications.

Rear disk brakes do look better, that's one thing they have going for them.

 

[Rancherlee]

Re: 2001 jeep cherokee rear disc conv.

The other option is the much stronger 8.8 Rear Disc brake axle out of a 95+ Ford Explorer if you don't mind moving spring perches and shock mounts. Same bolt pattern and many had posi from the factory too.

 

[Nutjob]

Re: 2001 jeep cherokee rear disc conv.

Or a D44 out of an 87-88 XJ (stronger axle.. but still need discs)... Which would be a direct bolt on. But I doubt he's building it to wheel and doesn't need a stronger axle.... and the brake parts can be had cheaper than building an 8.8.

Besides... the 8.8 is a few inches narrower than the D35 in the Cherokee is and you have to 'rig' the parking brake to work...

 

[45Auto]

Re: 2001 jeep cherokee rear disc conv.

Nothing gained in this swap IMO. Rear drums brakes are ultra reliable and last prit near forever. Rear disk brakes are short lived in comparison to rears drums in most applications.

Rear disk brakes do look better, that's one thing they have going for them.

Another thing they have going for them is they will actually let you STOP your Cherokee and boat. Google "weak Cherokee rear brakes" and look at all the hits you get. This is an EXCELLENT conversion if you intend to use your Cherokee for any kind of serious towing. My Cherokee couldn't lock up the rear brakes towing an 1800 lb Bayliner (no trailer brakes), the boat would just push it down the road. I was about to convert mine to rear discs when I got a deal on a 3/4 ton 4WD Suburban I couldn't pass up.

 

[dagwood3515]

Re: 2001 jeep cherokee rear disc conv.

thanks everyone for exactly the info i need. i will be in the junk yard this week & try to find a 96-98 GC to convert to rear discs so i can STOP my cherokee when i tow my boat. thank you all very much

 

[shout]

Re: 2001 jeep cherokee rear disc conv.

here are a couple of other useful links -

http://www.go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoRearDiscs1.htm
http://www.madxj.com/MADXJ/technical/technicalfiles/BAzjRearDiscsOnXJ/ZJrearDiscsOnXJ.htm

I have bit of jeep problem too..

Shour

 

[Shizzy]

Re: 2001 jeep cherokee rear disc conv.

have you looked in to front brake upgrades? Most of the braking is handled by the front brakes.