All of a sudden my brakes went to the floor. I looked expecting to see a blown wheel cylinder but the backing plate had spun 180°. It seems that it rusted where it mounts to the axle. I thought "no problem I'll just buy another backing plate" . Turns out NOBODY sells them. People on Craigslist that are selling Parts don't want to go through the effort I've taken one off. Where the hell do I get one?
1993 Dakota 4x4

 

Car-part.com can't find it by the year, but if you tell it non-interchange 1987-1996, it turns up SCADS of backing plates, most seem to be about $45.

I'd start there.

BIG hint: Verify the size of the drum FIRST, then call or email and verify the backing plate mentioned IS the proper one.

Second - check the parts listing in the FAQ, pull the part number, then hit PartsVoice.COM and RearCounter.COM (as two good sources) to see if anyone has a NOS one on the shelf. EDIT: My copy of the 1990-1993 parts list (downloaded from the FAQ) shows the 9" plate as 4313776, the 10" plate as 3699601 .

Third - REPLACE BOTH. And while the axle's out, do the axle bearings. Might as well do a complete brake job also, all new hardware and wheel cylinders along with new drums and shoes.

RwP

 

One of the regulars on here had the same problem. He wrote it up. He went up to the 10 inch plate. I do not remember if he had to change the size of drum and shoes/parts or not.

 

Twas me who had the same problem! See my thread here. https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...ng-plates.html

The short of it is that the 10" backing plate (also 11" I think) from MANY MANY Mopars bolt right up to the Dakota 8.25 axle. There is nothing special you have to do. Buy the hardware kit and shoes and drums for the 10" brakes that came optional on the Dakota, bolt on the new plates, and install everything.

Now that I think about it, I MAY have also had to change the rear parking brake cables. Can't recall.

ANyway, it's all off the shelf stuff.

 

They list 10", 11", and 12" for the vans, all interchangeable backing plates ( 3699601 10", 3699603 11", and 2955664-5 12") ; however, the main problem would be finding a drum that fits the axle and the stud pattern. THAT could be solved also, I think - which would enable 12" drums back on the rear of our trucks (!!!) I got those numbers from https://www.vanning.com/threads/ubbt...dodge-b250-318 . (For those not used to it - that last set, the 2655664-5, means there's a different number right and left; one side ends in "4", the other in "5").

If we find a drum 6x4.5 or 5x4.5 for the 12", that would be sweet in the back.

EDIT: Or even better, at the bottom of the linked page:

Later 1st Gens would need to either change bolt pattern to 5x front and back, or we'd have to find rotors and have them drilled ... but that's something ELSE to keep in mind!

RwP

 

12" brakes would be sweet, I don't think they would fit in my wheels!

To OP, here's an example basically identical to those I used: $180/pair with all hardware and shoes included, with some life left. Not too bad. Forgot to say, 8.75 axles never came in the Dakota, just the 8.25, BUT backing plates for 8.75 and 8.25 axles are the same
https://www.ebay.com/itm/10-x-2-5-BRAKE-BACKING-PLATES-REAR-DRUM-MOPAR-DODGE-8-3-4-8-75-1965-1973-A-B-E/283299941500?hash=item41f5fe0c7c:gP4AAOSwYTtcECW Q:rk:1f:1&frcectupt=true

 

What did you do for drums?

 

You can order new 10" drums from, well, almost anywhere they SELL brake drums.

AutoZone, Amazon, RockAuto, Pep Boys, etc.

Also wheel cylinders and hardware and shoes.

Again, if it's in that bad a shape, I'd do both sides, and use all new hardware.

(I'd also highly recommend a media blasting and full powder coating for longer life ... )

RwP

 

10" drums for a 1st gen Dakota 6x4.5 lug, such as ACDelco part number 18B252. 10" brakes was an option on the Dakota, and the innards are essentially the same as the previous 3 decades or so.