Many older cars and trucks used drum brakes on the front and rear of the vehicle because disc brake technology was not available at the time of manufacturing. Converting the system over using a front disc brake conversion kit can have a significant impact on handling and performance. For off-road trucks and 4x4s, there are some reasons that you should consider the upgrade.
Rolling Mass And Stopping
When you are building an off-road truck or 4x4, using an older truck and converting it to something unique that you can take on outings and trips off-road can be a lot of fun. The truck will most likely need some substantial changes to be capable, and if you use a period correct axle in the front, it may still use the original drum brakes.
When the truck left the factory, these brakes did a fine job stopping the vehicle, but once you modify it and add large off-road tires, the rolling mass that you need to slow and stop changes significantly, and the drums are not going to be up to the task. A front disc brake conversion kit will replace the drums with modern disc brakes that are far more effective and easier to maintain and repair when necessary.
The size of the disc brakes you choose often changes with the tire size and the truck weight. A smaller disc and caliper may be fine on a truck with moderately sized tires and wheels, but if you add some suspension height and install large tires, you will need to consider oversized discs and performance calipers to do the job.
Performance Off-Road
Trucks and 4x4s that spend a lot of time off-road often have to deal with mud, water, and rocks getting up under the truck and potentially into the brakes. Drums brakes can hold the mud, silt, water, and other debris, causing a drop in effectiveness and sometimes failure.
Installing a front disc brake conversion kit on your truck or 4x4 reduces brake performance issues because the calipers riding over the disc clean the mud and other material, allowing it to fall away from the vehicle as you drive. It is still possible to have a rock or other small object find its way in between the caliper and the disc or a mounting point. However, this is less common with disc brake systems.
Water is also removed, allowing better braking performance when you need it. If you are deep in the backcountry, the last thing you need is a brake system failure that you could avoid with a simple upgrade. If you are also driving your truck on the asphalt, the disc brake conversion can make it easier to handle in traffic, even with oversized tires and a modified off-road suspension system.
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