I finally found the axle in the local pick-n-pull. It is a Corporate 9 1/4 like my current one with the disc brakes. The plan was to take the brackets off the disc axle and ditch my current drums. I have both of them on my workbench and have been dissecting and studying them. The first problem is that the bolt pattern for the brake brackets are upside down on my 01. I haven't tried installing it on the other side yet, will try that tomorrow. The axle shafts are identical except for the lug bolts being longer for the '02. The other problem is the mounting flange for the brakes seems to be closer to the differential. But they both still have too much stuff in them for accurate measurements. Any thoughts?

 

The mounting flange is your biggest hurdle because the backing plate of a drum brake is thinner than the caliper bracket. They moved the flange inwards for a total of about 3/4" more. You can't bolt it together as is. I did something similar in my Durango but I used a hole saw to cut the flange loose from the tube and then re-weld it further inward so everything bolted up. I was also able to orient the flange in the same way.

Honestly, the easiest way I think would be for you to swap the entire axle. I'm wanting four wheel discs on my Ram now that I did it to my Durango, and I think I am just going to get and swap a whole axle.

BTW - What wheel diameter do you have on your truck right now? I think I've seen other people with the problem that 16" wheels do not clear the rear discs and you need a 17" or bigger wheel diameter.

 

Yup, I see that now. I found a few sites that sell new spring perches and shock mounts. I think that will be the best way. But I'm having problems removing the carrier adjusters. I read you can use a torsion bar to do this, but what can I grab it from? The local junkyard has a lot of late model vehicles, but not anything older....

And it's 16" rims, but I have 17" rims I wanna put on it. This might simply accelerate it......

 

You can loosen them by using a drift punch through the round hole on either side of the diff. Stick the punch in there and catch one of the small round holes in the adjuster and tap with a hammer.
You remove them once the diff. is out if you need too.

 

Okay, I have the diff out and removed one of the adjusters. I'm gonna get a nut to fit it and make a tool to re-torque it once I go back with it..... My strategy is that one of the adjusters has not moved to aid in re-assembly

 

Why don't you want to just swap the entire housing?

 

I will, it just seemed easier to mount the brake brackets on my current axle but it won't work. So now I want to make the 02 axle fit, but the springs on an 02 are further apart than an 01. When they went to the new body style the widened the frame and put the springs further apart. I plan on getting new spring perches and making the 02 axle fit under my 01 by bringing the perches and shock mounts further in.

By the way Sooper, when you did this to your Durango, did you have any issues with the proportioning valve? Did it function correctly?

 

Yes, everything worked fine. The bias isn't the same exactly, but regardless of if there is a drum or disc in the rear there is still a front bias.

I might suggest you also replace the soft line that connects the frame hard line to the distribution block that sits on top of the rear diff. That rubber line can go bad and trap pressure in the rear which will add drag. Sometimes it's harder to notice with bad drum brakes and once discs are installed there's an issue.

 

Okay, the spring perches and shock tabs are on their way. My plan is to cut one perch off and clamp the axle down, then level the old one. By leveling the new one and welding it, then using the new one to place the second one I should keep the pinion angle correct.

 

Okay, latest update. The spring perches and shock tabs are welded. It was a bear because my Diesel stick welder kept surging and stalling...... My final phase is to weld tabs on here and there to retain the brake lines (the old perches had threaded holes for mounting them). Stay posted!!