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2 questions calipers with e-brake and d18-20

705 views 9 replies 5 participants last post by  Nickmil 
#1 ·
First I was wondering if anyone could tell me what year caddy or other calipers to ask for that have the e-brake hookup (i am planning on disc brakes for my wagon 44). Second i was wondering if it would be possible to swap the input gears from a dana 20 into a dana 18. I am going to run the q-trac for a while. I have a dana 20 and 18 laying around but I don't have a centered rear 44. The dana 20 will bolt up to the th400 but it has a odd input. I was wondering if anyone had done something like this (before I pull them apart and try it myself).

GreenMachine
 
#4 ·
Dave, I was wondering if one that already had a dana 20 (like a commando or cherokee) could be used. It seems like you could swap the dana 20's input gear into a dana 18 and keep the off-set rear end. (I know someone who has a cherokee for parts that has a th400 and dana 20).

GreenMachine
 
G
#6 ·
I just saw an article in the latest JP about swapping 18 internals into a 20 case, for the extra case strength and larger idler shaft it looked great. The article was detailed and informative in the usual JP manner (i.e. really vague), but it could be worth trying if you have both cases lying around. If you are sticking with the 18 or a 20 with the offset, why not put the park brake on the t-case output. I am planning on grafting the disc unit from All-Pro Off-Road onto the back of my 18 in my CJ2. It is made for Toyota, but I am sure that with some slight modifications I can get it to work on the CJ. This my be heretical to say, but I am also planning on using a Toyota E-brake handle. All-Pro wants about $300 for their unit, so I will probably look into some home-brew units before I buy a pre-built product.

Cage Up, Wheels Down
Jeepfiend
All my Jeeps are in pieces! Except for one!!
 
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#8 ·
You can swap the 18 gears into the 20 case, but I've never heard of going the other way. I imagine it might be posible to keep the ofset ooutput if you are doing the Ford dana 20 2.46 gear swap thing, but then you'd need a new gear for the TH400, but that's available only from AA.

As for the calipers, the "best" ones are from 76-78 caddi eldo's but you can use many years around then. What makes those particlular years special is that they are the same size as the standard front dana 44/10 bolt calipers, but with the e-brake. (I happen to have 2 pair sitting in my garage.) The other years will work, but you might have to sand the pads down, or get a different backet.

My name is Ted, and I'm a Jeep-a-holic. /wwwthreads_images/icons/laugh.gif
[email]tzeiger@excite.com[/email]
 
#9 ·
I've got the '84 el dorado calipers. They were $50 for the pair, but I have since seen them for $15 a piece at U-pull-its. I bought the rebuild kit $9 each. So, they now have brand new seals, rubber boot thing, etc.

I used Warn's disc brake brakets and they work perfectly (ford 9" rear with full floater).





-raymo
4.6 Stroker Scrambler
 
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#10 ·
You can use the 20 gears in the 18 case but you have to use ALL the 20 gears which will increase your low range from the 18's 2.46 to 1 up to a 2.03 low range. Most people try to go the other way. The 18 or 20 case will not bolt up to the quadratrac adapter. You have to change both the output shaft of the transmission and get the appropriate adapter. These are around as the th400 came in pickups and wagons with the 20 behind it. One other thing, If you make the change and swap gears around, use the 20 case, it's stronger than the 18 case.
On the Cadillac calipers, go get cores from a wrecking yard or U-pullit type yard. You will need the hydraulic fittings, springs, and other assorted hardware that doesn't come with new calipers. Good luck. Nickmil.

 
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