i have a 1998 dakota r/t. i just noticed that on the back....there isnt a rotor or brake pad, or atleast thats the way it looks?? any info would help, cuz im confused..


edit: didnt want to make new thread


how are the fender flares connected? just by 3m tape or is it bolted on also?

 

do you have a drum brake setup in the back?

 

IIRC rear disc brakes didn't make an appearance on Dakotas until 2003.

 

I had rear disc on both my 03 SXT and now my 04 SLT does anyone know why they had them on the 03/04's and not the older Gen2's?

 

Chrysler didn't find it a worthwhile upgrade until 2003 apparently. Who knows why. The good news is that it shouldn't be too hard to find a junkyard 03/04 axle and swap it under older trucks.

If I've got too much money floating around I may do that, find a 3.92 limited slip with disc brakes and swap the entire axle out. Then it's just a matter of making sure the master cylinder is appropriate. Drums require much less volume than discs do, so it might be a different part.

 

i hope you are no longer confused. you have drum brakes on the back, not disc brakes. i know they make a swap for the rear end on the dakota, i have looked into it myself, but get ready to spend some money! the drum brakes are fine and will get the job done. in fact, i have never had a problem with them over the 5 years i have owned my dakota. that was what i had to think about when i was going to replace them with discs. i had to ask myself "why?" and i couldnt come up with a good answer besides wanting to see disc brakes in the back!

 

haha exactly. i figured maybe the v6 model dakota's would come with drums, but never thought the r/t's would. my first time to actually own a vehicle with drum brakes. oh well...lol

 

look on the bright side, you wont have to change the brakes in the back for a very very long time!

 

the other bonus is that drums seem to make better emergency brakes.

 

my '03 has the combo disc/drum setup, drum being the e-brakes.. Just had to work on them, the pivot had gotten so rusty the e-brakes never released correctly causing delamination of the lining from the shoe.. Not a hard fix but a sidenote, dealer said $125 for replacement shoes and advance auto got them for me for $23.00... [:-]