Link Pin Disc Brake Setup Question - Newbie Here

[racecougar]

First off, I've been perusing the site heavily for the last few weeks, and I absolutely appreciate the wealth of info here. I just picked up my first sand rail, and I'm looking to add front brakes.

It already has a new set of drilled rotors installed by the previous owner, but no calipers or brackets. It's a link pin setup.

Is the EMPI 22-2880 kit my best path forward? Buying the individual parts that I need (calipers, brackets, and pads) from that kit is actually more costly than buying the complete kit and ending up with spare parts.
https://www.jbugs.com/product/22-2880.html


Is the AC Industries 498420 the better path? https://socalautoparts.com/product/no-h ... -spindles/

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As mentioned, I'm a total noob here, so I'm looking for any guidance I can get. The rail already has a dual master cylinder, and I'll produce the lines and hoses.

Thanks!


One gratuitous pic of the rail:

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[Ol'fogasaurus]

What are you going to be traveling on, dirt, sand both or on roads/streets?

Turning brakes or not. If so, single handle or double handle and how the handles are mounted can make a difference in hookup and bleeding.

I forgot to ask about e-brakes or not.

Lee

If you don't know:

Rear "disc brakes" can have dual slave cylinders on each wheel but no parking brake. I had some help bleeding them last time and the upper chamber on one side was missed so the foot pedal assy and turning brake handles were way-off (soft) and didn't work much. Found the problem during a re-bleed where I did the bleeding and someone else did the foot pedals, so things are now OK. One just has to remember the difference.

Single handle turning brakes are push-pull (you push for one rear brake and pull for the other brake) types which is up to you on how you set them up. I have seen them mounted in so many ways even on the overhead ( ) tubes. One handle is for one rear brake and the other is for the other side. Don't try to use them on the front brakes: shock:

Dual handle brakes you pull only plus they have a third advantage as you pull both handles more softly you can lock the differential giving you the ability to have something like a posi-traction-differential locking device, then letting go and the diff goes back to normal. Those of us who ride on soft materials do use this and use it often.

Lee

[racecougar]

Thanks for the reply, Lee.

I'm setting this up mostly for the street.

I have an old Neal turning brake setup (single handle), but I don't plan on installing it at this time.

It currently has rear discs with non-e-brake calipers installed.


Digging further into my options for front calipers/brackets, it looks like these brackets and calipers may be the way to go:

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calipers.JPG

[racecougar]

Here is a shot of the current rear setup:

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And the current master cylinder arrangement. I will be re-plumbing and re-wiring this rail.

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[AdminSteve]

You will need to make modifications to the caliper brackets as they were made for stock link pin spindles.

AdminSteve

[racecougar]

You will need to make modifications to the caliper brackets as they were made for stock link pin spindles.

AdminSteve

Thanks for the reply, Steve. Serious question: what isn't stock about my spindles? I was operating under the impression that they were stock. Is there additional material welded onto the steering arms? Truly just asking these questions to learn, and I appreciate any guidance to avoid buying parts that won't fit.

Thanks!

[AdminSteve]

They have welded gussets on them.

AdminSteve

[racecougar]

Gotcha. The half moon gusset on the front side of each will interfere with the brackets, so I'll have to create clearance. Thanks! I had missed that.

[racecougar]

To bring closure to this thread, and to help out anyone who searches this topic in the future:

The brakes are installed. I used a pair of EMPI 22-2880-B brackets, calipers and pads for a '79 Rabbit, and I turned a set of caliper slide pins for a '15 Jeep Grand Cherokee down to fit. The brackets did not interfere with the gussets on the spindles.








The machining of the EMPI brackets left a lot to be desired, particularly the cuts for the pad slides that weren't finished. I had to pull both brackets back off the spindles to correct this:

[slayer61]

Congratulations Sir. You have front brakes on your rail AND have learned the "EMPI" lesson.

[racecougar]

Yep. I knew from reading ahead that many EMPI parts are less than stellar. At least the issue in this circumstance was easily remedied.