E250 question

[family XJ]

I made the wife drive my jeep today and she said my brakes suck(good for me now) and that I need to fix it. So after doing a search I have came to the conclusion I can do a couple of things, 1) I could put on a dual diaphram booster from a 96, 2) I could put on an E250/350 M/C or, 3) I could put Disc brakes on. I think 2 is the easiest and probably cheapest. I am not trying to be cheap I only want the best stopping for my XJ. Keep in mind this is on a D30 and 8.25. Am I way off in looking at option 2. Someone please enlighten me.

TIA
DuG

 

[keith haw]

I went through the same thing before I upgraded the brakes on my 87.. I even bought the Ford m/c.. After some more research I decided to go with the 96 booster/mc setup and it works great.. The problem with using the ford mc is the larger piston size. If you incease the piston size and not the calliper and wheel cylinder size it COULD reduce the stopping power. The reason I say could is because I never tried it. It's like a garden hose, the larger the diameter the more water flow but at a lower pressure. So you would need more pedal pressure for the same amout of stopping power. With the 96 booster it applies more brake pressure with less pedal pressure, because it's a dual diapharm booster. But if you want to try the ford mc first there only about $25 at Autozone. And if it doesn't work your not out much $$$ just some labor.
Keith

 

[family XJ]

What are the chances of the e250 MC matching up with the 96 booster? I am gonna try to find a used booster at my friends Junkyard and buy a new MC. Anyone with the conversion know?

thanks again
DuG

 

[basalt51]

You will likely get no benefit from the E350 MC on stock brakes. You'll have a really hard pedal and no braking. The E350 swap is for 3/4 ton brakes. Even some people that have gone to 1/2 tone brakes and done the E350 swap didn't like it. Go with the newer booster upgrade.

 

[Danno]

you want really good brakes then go the dual diaphram route and then put discs on the rear. I can really lock mine up with that.

 

[xj92]

Any mods required when swapping to the later dual-diaphragm booster? Other than pull one and put the other one in?

 

[keith haw]

Yes there are, it's not just a bolt in.. Need to modify the push rod and brake lines..Here's a fairly good writeup..Booster upgrade Just click on brakes on the top.

Hope this helps...It did wonders for my 87.
Keith