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Thread: Stage One V8 disk brake conversion

  1. #1
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    Stage One V8 disk brake conversion

    I am keen to upgrade the brakes from drums to disks on my 1981 Stage One V8 truck cab, at least the front anyway. Has anyone on the forum done this conversion and if so what is the best way to go about it?

    I have gone through the forum looking for this information but have not found the answers. I have checked out some of the posts on the British Landrover forums and there are kits available. Zues, Rocky Mountain and Heystee kits seem like the choice available in the old country.

    Has anyone used one of these kits and if so what are they like? Look forward to hearing from knowledgeable forum scribers.

    Regards Warrick.

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    JDNSW is online now RoverLord Silver Subscriber
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    As you will have gathered, these conversions are possible, but are either a lot of work, or expensive, or both. I suspect that there have been too few done in this country to really provide any answer to "best". I note an ad for kits that use largely standard parts (roamoffroad.com) in a recent LRO.

    John
    John

    JDNSW
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    Not having done it, I would have thought County balls and hubs would be the go albiet with some mods. But I have not done it.

    Garry
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    Quote Originally Posted by JDNSW View Post
    As you will have gathered, these conversions are possible, but are either a lot of work, or expensive, or both. I suspect that there have been too few done in this country to really provide any answer to "best". I note an ad for kits that use largely standard parts (roamoffroad.com) in a recent LRO.

    John
    Just checked the website out. Looks very good. Top quality conversion with excellent testimonials. Thanks for the link.

    Regards Warrick.

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    What is your definition of best?

    Best braking power?
    Easiest conversion?
    Cheapest conversion?

    As you have found, there are ~4 bolt-on kits.

    You can also bolt on everything from the swivels out from a county/defender. However the track rod is a tight squeeze with the leafs, and axle rotation will likely be needed.

    You can also fit 110 axles front and rear - which IMHO is the best option.

    If you have access to a lathe and a mill the options are limitless.

    IME most conversions in Australia are custom due to the cost of the kits.

  6. #6
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    Thanks for the reply Isuzurover. I don't have access to a lathe or milling machine so the kit is probably the best option for me. Performance and quality of fit come first, followed by cost when considering something like this. Cost, while it is certainly important, is something that from my experience is soon forgotten if the products or service perform the task they claim they will. I don't intend on selling the Stage One any time soon and would much rather keep the Stage One than spend 30K plus to get a defender.

    I have spent a lot of time and also money over the last 12 years of ownership getting the drum brakes as good as is possible but it is always going to be a second best solution to using the vehicle on roads with other vehicles that have the stopping power of 4 wheel disk brakes, especially when it is wet. I think that if the conversion can be done and perform as well as the brakes on a new Landrover then it will be money well spent and certainly safer.

    Have you converted a Stage One to disks before before? I see that your user name is isuzurover and assume you may own one of the rare isuzu stage one's. A good friend of mine did own one here in WA. He sold it a few years ago and has regretted it ever since. He owned the 5 door station wagon. Great Landy, noisy but just never stopped.

    Some people think I am mad by even considering spending money on my Series but I just love driving it and looking out at the world through that split screen. Only a Series driver knows the feeling.

    Regards Warrick.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by wpalmo View Post
    ...

    Have you converted a Stage One to disks before before? I see that your user name is isuzurover and assume you may own one of the rare isuzu stage one's. A good friend of mine did own one here in WA. He sold it a few years ago and has regretted it ever since. He owned the 5 door station wagon. Great Landy, noisy but just never stopped.

    ...
    I have an isuzu powered 110. But I have a Stage 1 front axle in my IIA. I have not yet converted it to discs, but have looked at the options (a while ago now).

    If you are happy to convert from 6-stud to 5-stud drive flanges then you can convert the rear end yourself using defender parts.

    I note some of the kits are 5-stud anyway - but don't seem to supply new drive flanges!

    For the front I would pick whichever kit uses the most off the shelf parts - especially discs and pads.

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    Quote Originally Posted by garrycol View Post
    Not having done it, I would have thought County balls and hubs would be the go albiet with some mods. But I have not done it.

    Garry
    The problem is with the spring pack on the SIII is in the same place as the track rod on the 110 swivel should go.

    You won't find me on: faceplant; Scipe; Infragam; LumpedIn; ShapCnat or Twitting. I'm just not that interesting.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies View Post
    The problem is with the spring pack on the SIII is in the same place as the track rod on the 110 swivel should go.
    One of the UK LR mags had a SIII 88" resto where they had bolted 110 swivels etc on.

    IRC they needed thin wedges.

  10. #10
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    I always wonder about these disk conversion threads, If you are able to lock the wheels under braking then the stopping distance is only dependent on tyres and road surface, Disk and drum will be the same.

    Locking wheels is very achievable with properly set up drum brakes - I have a S1 and a S3 which will lockup all wheels on dry bitumen any time I want.

    OK, I know disks have an anti fade advantage, so a heavily loaded LR in hilly country is better with disks.

    Just my 2c worth

    Cheers,
    Terry

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