XJ Rear Disc Brake Conversion

Hello Group & Thanks in advance for any information...

I have a '98 XJ which needs some rear brake work. So, when I go about
it, I was figuring that I might convert to discs.

I've bought and read the Eric Zappe book ("Hi-Po XJ Builder's Guide")
which describes the conversion procedure, but it concludes with the
comment that the stock 15" wheels with 5.25" backspace will no longer
fit with the Terraflex or ZJ conversions (need 4.5" backspacing or
less).

A person at a local dealership has said that a friend of his used rear
disc parts from a Liberty for the conversion and still runs his stock
15" wheels.

Has anyone had any experience with the Liberty parts? I guess my next
move would be to ask to talk with the parts guy's friend. Thanks for
any help.

Jim
Grand Rapids, MI

P.S. It's snowing!.... again....

I don't know about an XJ drums, but for my CJ7 I just pick up today, 2 new
drums, shoes, cylinders and small parts bag, total was $126.34, all parts
made in USA, don't think it's worth the hassle to swap to disc when the drum
parts are so cheap.
If I was going to that hassle I would be looking for an Explorer 8.8 to
swap in. We put a 2001 explorer sport trac in a freinds YJ, $100.00 for rear
end, $120.00 for gears, $50.00 for a machanic freind to swap the gears, 1/2
day job for the 2 of us to cut and weld on perches and do swap.

<98XJ> wrote in message ...
> Hello Group & Thanks in advance for any information...
>
> I have a '98 XJ which needs some rear brake work. So, when I go about
> it, I was figuring that I might convert to discs.
>
> I've bought and read the Eric Zappe book ("Hi-Po XJ Builder's Guide")
> which describes the conversion procedure, but it concludes with the
> comment that the stock 15" wheels with 5.25" backspace will no longer
> fit with the Terraflex or ZJ conversions (need 4.5" backspacing or
> less).
>
> A person at a local dealership has said that a friend of his used rear
> disc parts from a Liberty for the conversion and still runs his stock
> 15" wheels.
>
> Has anyone had any experience with the Liberty parts? I guess my next
> move would be to ask to talk with the parts guy's friend. Thanks for
> any help.
>
> Jim
> Grand Rapids, MI
>
> P.S. It's snowing!.... again....

On Sun, 10 Feb 2008 03:08:23 GMT, "Greg" > wrote:

> I don't know about an XJ drums, but for my CJ7 I just pick up today, 2 new
>drums, shoes, cylinders and small parts bag, total was $126.34, all parts
>made in USA, don't think it's worth the hassle to swap to disc when the drum
>parts are so cheap.
> If I was going to that hassle I would be looking for an Explorer 8.8 to
>swap in. We put a 2001 explorer sport trac in a freinds YJ, $100.00 for rear
>end, $120.00 for gears, $50.00 for a machanic freind to swap the gears, 1/2
>day job for the 2 of us to cut and weld on perches and do swap.
>

My XJ has the 9 inch drums. Their replacements cost over $90 each,
plus I need wheel cylinders in addition to shoes, springs, etc. A
repair estimate had over $300 in parts. At that point, why not do the
conversion - get better braking, and easier, cheaper repairs in the
future? I hate dealing with those springs and adjustors.