8 bolt rotor for rear disks?

[Jeff 98XJ WI]

I'm planning to build a rear HP 60 with Disk brakes and am going to be using front Ford 60 hubs and spindles on the rear. I want to set it up for using rear disk brakes and want to know what those that have some experience with this would recommend? I see kits on ebay for stock rear 60's and 14 bolts and they appear to use Chevy D44 8 bolt rotors with large GM calipers. I believe the large GM calipers are the same units that are used on GM front Dana 44's, right? The GM 8 bolt rotors that I've seen used are the ones with little cutouts around the hat. I believe Napa 85677 is this rotor. http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPag...677&Description=Brake+Rotor+Only+-+Left+Front

Here is the Napa 85731 Ford Rotor. http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPag...731&Description=Brake+Rotor+Only+-+Left+Front

Now, when I compare the Chevy rotor to a Ford 8 bolt D60 rotor they seem pretty darn close. Thickness seems comparable with a discard thickness of 1.18" for the Ford Rotor and 1.215" for the Chevy rotor. This is about 1/32". Diameter of the Ford part is 12 9/16" and for the Chevy is 12 1/2". Rotor height is a little more for the Ford unit at 3 7/32 with the Chevy unit being 2 13/16". The difference is about 3/8". Cost is about the same. So, it seems like I might as well use the Ford rotor since it is designed to fit the Ford hub.

As for calipers, the Ford dual piston units are a bit more expensive than the Chevy single piston units: http://www.napaonline.com/masterpages/NOLMaster.aspx?PageId=430&CatId=3&SubCatId=13
Here are the Chevy units: http://www.napaonline.com/masterpages/NOLMaster.aspx?PageId=430&CatId=3&SubCatId=13

I could use a stock Ford caliper mount with Ford calipers. Or, I could combine the Ford rotor with a weld on caliper mount and the Chevy calipers and I should have decent stoppers on the rear. Oh, at this point I am not worried about mechanical parking brakes on the rotors. Any information/ opinions/ thoughts would be appreciated. Jeff

 

[94xjkyle]

i just finished nine, i used chevy rotors and chevy front calipars off of a d-44, and i made my own brackets.

 

[JeepFreak21]

The chevy 8 lug rotors and d44 front calipers are the way to go. That's what most of the aftermarket kits use. Their less expensive and work great. I would not worry about the single piston (if fact, I didn't worry when I did it ).
Billy

 

[Jeff 98XJ WI]

Thanks guys. I don't believe the Chevy rotors are less expensive than the Ford rotors. Can I use Chevy calipers with Ford rotors? I see no reason why not, but maybe there is a reason? Jeff

 

[CRASH]

If you are welding a bracket on, it doesn't matter what rotor you use. If you are using a bolt-on deal, the height will screw you up a bit. I say use the Ford rotors so you don't have to worry about machining the opening to fit over the large Ford hub index diameter.

Some guys use a late 80's/early 90's Dodge front rotor to get the extra deep hat so they can run the rotor on top of the FF hub. This way you don't have to disassemble the hub/rotor combo to change rotors. You would have to open up the index hole, though.

 

[JeepFreak21]

Thanks guys. I don't believe the Chevy rotors are less expensive than the Ford rotors. Can I use Chevy calipers with Ford rotors? I see no reason why not, but maybe there is a reason? Jeff

Hmm... they were cheaper for me. CRASH's right though about the height. If you're bolting on, you may have to modify the bolt holes. Welding on is the way to go anyway, IMO.
Billy