I was more thinking grabbing all the brake parts from the newer rear, and bolting them on to the one already in the truck.

 

That actually doesn't work. I thought the same thing when I grabbed the rear disc parts off of a 2003 Durango, to bolt to the axle under my 1998 Durango. The problem is that the flange the brake parts bolt to is further our on the tubes for drum application, and by further out, I mean 3/4". I had to actually cut the flanges off of the axle tubes, move them inward 3/4", weld them back in place, and then the disc parts would bolt up.

I assume the Ram drum to disc differences would be the same...which is why I will swap axles for a much easier install. LOL.

 

Could you just make an adapter bracket of some sort? (can you post pics of the setup on your durango?)

 

I wish I took pics of the process on the Durango. I was rushing so much, with weather rolling in and the need to get it ready so I could drive to work the next day, I just never stopped to take pics. I did get it all done in one day though.

Basically, I had to remove the diff cover, pull the clips, remove all the old drum brake hardware, pull the axles out of the tubes, cut the flanges off of the tube, slide them inward, weld them in place, put the axles back in, replace the clips, replace the cover, fill with fluid, and start bolting all the disc hardware up.

An adapter bracket wouldn't work, simply because the caliper brackets are a lot thicker than the drum back plates. If it were reversed, and the the drum backing plates were thicker than the caliper brackets, I could have simply spaced the brackets. Unfortunately I needed the whole mounting flange to move inward towards the diff.

I am pretty sure I am going to buy the axle this weekend, and I will start comparing the two main issues. I hate swapping axles because I don't have a lift and I have to work in a sloped driveway. LOL.

 

I picked up the 2002 Ram1500 disc brake axle last night. I think I got lucky on a few things. I'll know more when I have daylight and time to investigate, but it 'looks' like the spring pads and shock mounts are in the same places. In fact, the axle is almost an exact replica of the one under my 1998 Ram 1500.

The universal joint end yoke is the main difference. It switched to the flange style. I am thinking, and I may be way off base, but I might get away with removing the end yoke nut, and assuming that the splines are the same, swapping the flange style for the half cup design that is stock on my 1998.

That would allow me to not only use the stock drive shaft from my truck, but it means I can bolt the rear axle in place of mine in no time at all. The only hurdle after that is replacing the junction box since he cut the lines to remove it from the truck. I'll play with both drum and disc junction boxes and see which one fits best.

 

Well so far the good news keeps coming. As best as I can tell, the pinion spline is the same between my 1998 diff and the 2002 diff. This means I can pull the pinion yoke off of my 1998 and bolt it into the pinion of the 2002 diff. I'll be able to use my stock drive shaft.

I'll dig into this more this weekend, measuring the spring pads and shock mounts. If the weather holds this weekend, I may tackle this on Sunday and I'll start a new thread with pics and such.

The good news is that this seems like a very easy and very affordable way to make the swap from drum to disc brakes on a 2nd Gen 1500.

 

Just keep it in this thread, after all, that's what its all about. Pics, and DIY stuff can be selectively copied to the DIY section later.

Good to hear though, this opens up some options for the half-ton guys.

 

Oh, and the speed sensor is the same between the two years too, so that will bolt right on. Looking into the junction block now.

 

You got like an 02 rear axle right? I wonder if all the third gens have the same basic setup as we do or just the early ones...

 

Yeah it's a 2002 3rd Gen axle. I was actually wondering the same thing. What makes it easy is that it's the same 12 bolt diff and axle tube design, so obviously they kept the same array of bolt on designs to keep the manufacturing costs down through the body change. I know the drive shaft from the 2002 that I got my diff from was aluminum, and as I mentioned had the flange style pinion yoke.

I think the diff is a corporate, so really I guess it depends on how long that corporate casting was used under the half ton trucks to determine how far forward the interchange goes.

Oh, the 2002 I got my axle from was a 2x4, and it's still a perfect match for my 4x4.