oldskoolvws Posted May 21, 2013 Report Share Posted May 21, 2013 Looking for some ideas. Don't like the fact that they are not auto adjust. I have the Krecs back brackets for disks but will likely not use them. I want to stay with drums in the rear. Anyone convert anything, upgrade? I'm thinking about trying to convert to first gen Toyota Runner back plates and brake gear. Quote Link to comment
thisismatt Posted May 21, 2013 Report Share Posted May 21, 2013 My plan is/was to put in an early Toyota axle ('84), but not just for the brakes. They do have self adjusting drums, but they're also a little wider so it would work better with the higher offset wheels I want to run, and I have an LSD to drop into it. But, the axle tubes are smaller so that's one downside, and I haven't found the right size spring perches nor ubolts. Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted May 21, 2013 Report Share Posted May 21, 2013 I have always wondered if the 720 84+ self adjusting rear axle drum brakes/hardware will bolt to an early axle, it looks like it is the same, but there are subtle differences in datsun/nissan hardware, it would be interesting to find out if it will bolt on though. Maybe someday I will try it when I have another late axle. Quote Link to comment
MicroMachinery Posted May 21, 2013 Report Share Posted May 21, 2013 Come on, your handle is "oldskoolvws"; you should be well accustomed to the monotonous tampering of absurd mechanical systems on a frequent basis. Quote Link to comment
oldskoolvws Posted May 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2013 I am, that's the damn problem. I want someone else to to have the damn answers :rofl: 1 Quote Link to comment
oldskoolvws Posted May 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2013 Wayno, next time I go to the yards, I may may have to pull some hardware from a 720 to see the same. I guess only the backing plate would be needed at first? Also I guess the measurement from the mounting face of the backing plate to the surface of the hub would be needed as well to make sure the pad to drum sits right. Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted May 21, 2013 Report Share Posted May 21, 2013 What I thought was that one would just transfer everything from the backing plate to the drums onto the end of the axle housing, I have no idea if it will work, but it all looks the same. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted May 21, 2013 Report Share Posted May 21, 2013 The self adjusters were introduced in the middle of the '82 model year. I was told the axle length was changed too because of this but you never know if you change the backing plate and everything Quote Link to comment
oldskoolvws Posted May 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2013 Dang it. "I WILL CLEAN MY GARAGE THIS WEEKEND, I WILL CLEAN MY GARAGE THIS WEEKEND!!! Quote Link to comment
what Posted January 6, 2014 Report Share Posted January 6, 2014 I drove my 521 to a pick n pull and a guy walked over to me and started talking about my truck. Long story short he said he had one year's ago and that he upgraded all of the brakes on it to 11 inch off a mid 60s chevy pickup. He used all of the backing plates and the master cylinder from the c10. Plus he stated he installed a self adjusting kit for them. It sounded crazy to me but who knows? Quote Link to comment
mrbigtanker Posted January 6, 2014 Report Share Posted January 6, 2014 WHY waste the time with drum upgrades? :confused: 1 Quote Link to comment
what Posted January 6, 2014 Report Share Posted January 6, 2014 I agree. The guy at the wrecking yard that I referred to was one of the dudes that you weren't sure if he was on crack or Angel dust. You know the type? Just wouldn't shut up! Making what he said about those chevy drum brakes seem like horse shit. Quote Link to comment
DanielC Posted January 6, 2014 Report Share Posted January 6, 2014 Datsun 521 body parts are made to American measurements. So are the brake fittings. I would not be surprised if backing plate off an older Chevy pickup would fit a 521 axle. The early Chevy half ton trucks had a six on a 5 1/2 bolt pattern. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted January 6, 2014 Report Share Posted January 6, 2014 The 521 has 10" brakes. More than you will ever need. (if kept adjusted). The trick is to NOT lock them up in an emergency stop. Quote Link to comment
datson4life Posted January 7, 2014 Report Share Posted January 7, 2014 How do u not lock them up in emergencies? Drums up front are kinda scary for sudden stops, i have drums up front and will be driving it like that for a while with a ka Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted January 7, 2014 Report Share Posted January 7, 2014 If you can't lock them up, the brakes are not big enough. The fact that you can lock them up means the brakes are bigger than needed. How to prevent lock up? The industry moved to ABS. Before that an expert driver could feather the pedal when on the edge of lockout. Disc brakes do not inherently stop faster. Instead their performance advantage is in superior cooling which means they can get much hotter before they fade. Quote Link to comment
mrbigtanker Posted January 7, 2014 Report Share Posted January 7, 2014 If you can't lock them up, the brakes are not big enough. The fact that you can lock them up means the brakes are bigger than needed. How to prevent lock up? The industry moved to ABS. Before that an expert driver could feather the pedal when on the edge of lockout. Disc brakes do not inherently stop faster. Instead their performance advantage is in superior cooling which means they can get much hotter before they fade. And discs work better in the rain. Quote Link to comment
mtiger69 Posted January 7, 2014 Report Share Posted January 7, 2014 First of all you shouldn 't lock up your breaks. You are suposed to pump them instead of riding them until they lock up. I know it is difficult to do this but with repeated practice it will be helpful when the emergency arises Quote Link to comment
mtiger69 Posted January 7, 2014 Report Share Posted January 7, 2014 Like datsunmike once posted in another thread about breaks, 80% of breaking power are in the front breaks. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted January 7, 2014 Report Share Posted January 7, 2014 How do u not lock them up in emergencies? Drums up front are kinda scary for sudden stops, i have drums up front and will be driving it like that for a while with a ka . The point is that larger brakes will just lock up easier. If you want to stop, in the shortest distance you don't want full lock up. In a emergency, I mean at death's door heading for a cliff, I know of no one that can feather the brakes once they lock up. Maybe if you were sliding a long long distance you may be able to have time to let up and re apply the brakes but it goes against everything your senses are screaming at you. When you need to stop there is no time to waste taking your foot off the brakes. 1 Quote Link to comment
what Posted January 7, 2014 Report Share Posted January 7, 2014 From what I have read 1960-1970ish chevy full size pickups use 3/16 brake lines for the front and 1/4 lines for the rear brakes. All the brake line nuts and knuckles are the same size as the 521 pickups. So I guess as long as you got the backing plates off the given year chevy pickup it could work. If somebody is willing to devote the time and effort. One good thing about chevy products is that there is always reproduction parts available. Somebody do this and tell us how it goes. Convert your 10 inch brakes to chevy 11 inch drum brakes. Quote Link to comment
Z chopper Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 cahoon installed the whole rear drum to drum from a 720 diesel into his 520 it pushed the rims out a touch but still inside the fenders, if I remember right so maybe just do a direct swap of the rear end drum to drum Quote Link to comment
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