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El Dorado caliper retrofit on rear disc conversion
So, long story short, my old All pro offroad rear disc calipers have finally worn out. They're the standard single piston chevy type and have worked great forever or since like 2006. Anywho, the tcase mounted ebrake works fine but I'm tired of listening to it rattle around and it makes taking the rear drive shaft off a HUGE pain. Plus, it's not that secure of an ebrake to begin with. So, I'm installing the infamous El Dorado ebrake calipers. I got these from Speedway motors, fully loaded. There's lots of reading out there about the difficulty making the ebrake reliably work. So, I guess we'll see. This is not a new mod, been done lots of times. Step 1, mount new calipers. Check. Step 2, connect ebrake cables....um....
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...72c6b611f8.jpg |
Does Speedway sell any form of universal brake cable kit? I’m thinking typical old GM equal length cables(67-69 Camaro) but youprobably don’t want center-pull.
And where’s your bleeder screws? They’d better not be pointing down… |
Originally Posted by Melrose 4r
(Post 52469258)
Does Speedway sell any form of universal brake cable kit? I’m thinking typical old GM equal length cables(67-69 Camaro) but youprobably don’t want center-pull.
And where’s your bleeder screws? They’d better not be pointing down… Right now I have two 3rd gen 4runner ebrake cables I'm hacking up to make one (one is a prototype, if you want to call it that, and the other will be the final product). This cable assembly will work the passenger caliper and will tie into the bellcrank where the factory one does. |
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Well, more progress today. I do my best work in Birks.
Anywho, I modified the thing at the end of the whatsit. I then had to open up the end fitting (trusty 6mm deep socket) after I popped it of the cabling to cut it down to a random shorter length. Then I reset the crimp and using my prototype cut slits in for the tension clip. I also cut the fitting down and cleaned it due to the angle of the dangle. Ran the cable assembly and got it all mounted up for the passenger caliper. Now I just have to figure out how to place a new crimp at the cut off end of the cable that will clip into the caliper. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...cf17f7cdd1.jpg Fitting pieces https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...82bec4c0fe.jpg Just the tip https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...5c06f8a65a.jpg Brake cable carnage https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...a1dac8ee47.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...1822037411.jpg Modified fitting assembly https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...456c782ab4.jpg Dual cable install |
So, I decided to weld on the crimp I made from solid rod I drilled a hole thru. Worked like a champ.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...b9e9ea7644.jpg |
So, I figured it out. I went ahead and tied in the passenger cable assembly with the drivers side. What this allows me to do is adjust both cables independently and makes it easier to do then I had previously setup. I also, put in some slop in the cables. This allows for the bellcrank to work more efficiently as a lever arm with the incab handle. If that makes sense.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...8eb28a32d3.jpg Single input, dual output cabling tie in with counter spring return. |
Aaaaaaaand now I need new brake lines because the new calipers have bigger banjo bolts....
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Incase anyone is wondering, allprooffroad still sells replacement rotors for their rear disc conversion kits. What they won't tell you is what those rotors are from.....what they will offer is the minimum (throw away) thickness!
Brand new: 26mm Throw away: 24.46mm https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...5645909867.jpg This pic is from Allprooffroads website. https://allprooffroad.com/140238-1ro...isc-brake.html |
A hair over 1.5 mm is crap for wear...
Originally Posted by BigBluePile
(Post 52470167)
Aaaaaaaand now I need new brake lines because the new calipers have bigger banjo bolts....
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Originally Posted by dropzone
(Post 52470206)
A hair over 1.5 mm is crap for wear...
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Also, not that this is new or anything, but I can confirm that 2nd gen axle shafts are longer than the 1st gen ones. So, a 1/4" longer. May not sound like much but now all the splines on the shaft will engage into the diff (a retrofitted elocker in this case...). That's what I'll be swapping in during this whole brake shenanigans project.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...25216c0c8f.jpg My current original rear axle shaft at 24 5/8"... https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...acff04fe00.jpg Here's a 2nd gen shaft which measures 24 7/8"... |
Got my rotors back today and they're shiny (no thanks to the rain). Can't wait to bed in the new pads. Cleaned all the things: bearing hubs, studs, wheel spacers, axles....blah. I did find that my drain plug was...difficult to unscrew. So, if anyone was wondering the threads are M18x1.50.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...1ef2e8f293.jpg Last time these will be turned. I guess they've worked out since I installed them in 2006 (?).... https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...eb20ceafcc.jpg Went ahead and painted the bearing cups. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...aa96799143.jpg Napa special tap. I found this in my toolbox...so I must have fixed a past drain hole. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...d3618dbb54.jpg Here's a pic of a tank my son has been working on case y'all are bored in here. Still needs the exhaust installed... https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...74730e24e9.jpg And while I was in there, I borescoped my R&P! https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...5eb1275831.jpg |
Custom brake lines on order. Had to piece them together to make it work.
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Finally!!!!!!!
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...9c45545684.jpg New -3 lines, banjo fitting adapters and AN to MM unions... |
So, I know y'all are wondering......
Anywho, got all those super fancy brake line speed parts connected and bled the brakes. Didn't seem to have an issue. The instructions for the calipers made it sound super convoluted. I guess we'll see when I get it back on the road but the pedal feels firm just like before. |
Finally got the tires back on and sitting back on the ground. Put the ebrake on....aaaannnddd...not holding...well piss. Maybe it will after I get the pads bedded.
Of course the truck won't start now...totally dead, just cranks and won't fire....ugh... |
It's alive! IT'S ALIVE!!!!!
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Originally Posted by BigBluePile
(Post 52471610)
It's alive! IT'S ALIVE!!!!!
Glad its alive, now wheel it instead of your wife's 4runner. one more week of work and i have a month off to tackle my non running POS |
Originally Posted by dropzone
(Post 52471640)
was the the spaghettification you posted on FB?
Glad its alive, now wheel it instead of your wife's 4runner. one more week of work and i have a month off to tackle my non running POS |
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