Re: RE: rear axle interchangeability, or discs on a 1999

From: jon@dakota-truck.net
Date: Thu Dec 22 2005 - 18:31:30 EST


andy levy <andy-dml@levyclan.us> wrote:
: On 12/21/2005 17:20, jon@dakota-truck.net wrote:
: | BTW, as far as rear discs go, IMHO, its not really worth the
: | trouble or expense to swap 'em in place of rear drums. (Front drums,
: | yes...) However, I will admit that working on discs is a heck of a
: | lot easier than drums, so it might be worth it to you from that aspect,
: | but just be aware that there isn't going to be an appreciable
: | performance difference.

: I'd amend that to say "for the amount of time and money, the performance
: difference isn't worth it." My '03 stopped noticeably better than my
: '99, but I definitely wouldn't have spent $1000+ just to swap the drums
: for discs on the '99.

 
   I'll go along with that. :-) It is certainly possible that there
were other changes made between '99 and '03 which may have improved the
braking beyond the rear disc change, but I would certainly concede the
argument that improving the rear brakes will help improve your stopping
distance, the question is wether that improvement is worth the money
(as you said). Basically what it comes down to is that doubling the
capability of your rear brakes will only result in a maximum 20%
improvement in braking ability overall. (Whereas doubling the
capability of your front brakes would result in an 80% overall
improvement.) This all assumes everyday driving of course; for closed
circuit style racing where brake fade comes in to play, switching to
discs on the rear could very well be an advantage, and there is also
a simplicity and maintenance advantage to rear discs. Wether those
advantages are worth it for a particular person will be entirely up
to that person and their intended use of the vehicle.

-- 
                                          -Jon-

.- Jon Steiger --- jon@dakota-truck.net or jon@jonsteiger.com -. | 67 Dodge Coronet, 70 Plymouth Barracuda, 76 Peugeot TSA | | 78 Dodge B100, 90 Dodge Dakota Convertible, 92 Dodge Ram 4x4 | | 96 Dodge Dakota, 96 Suzuki Intruder 1400, 96 Kolb FireFly | | 99 Jeep Cherokee 4x4, 2001 Dodge Ram 3500 CTD | `--------------------------------- http://www.jonsteiger.com --'



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