My rear brake shoes are probably going to need to be replaced soon I was thinking about switching to disc brakes. does anybody know of a conversion kit? or should I just keep the drums?

 

I think it is going to be more work than it is worth. you would be better off keeping the drums.

 

Dirt and gravel roads are really hard on rear disc brakes. I would stay with the drums. Drum brakes can't be all bad, semi trucks use them.

 

not sure the milage on your truck but brother has 170k on his 00 and back brakes been manualy ajusted up every 30k and still has shoe left (dont think they have enuff back brake bias) but in late 01 and 02s had disc so for a converion kit ?i havent a clue you might be able to buy all the parts and put it together or find a rearend out of a 01.5 or 02 but i cant complain on the way my 2 01 3500s have stoped or any other ctd that ive drove just my 2 cents

 

I've read several threads on the diesel truck forums and the conclusion has been that disc brakes aren't worth it for the minimal gain that you see.

The consensus is to keep the drums.

Do this mod...
http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/d...5&pagenumber=3

And save your money for something that would give you greater gains, like a performance mod. [8D]

I did it to my 3/4 ton and I couldn't believe the difference in braking.

*EDIT*

BTW, I can provide links to around 10 other threads about the wheel cylinder mod if you want more reading

 

We use drums on semi trucks because of surface area. You can get alot more friction surface on a drum than a rotor. Also the drum has a large suface area to disipate heat. I don't know about the gravel roads being hard on disk brakes though. I have never had any problems with disks. Had some problems with drums getting gravel/mud/sand packed into my drum brakes when I went wheelin. I'm sure there is a conversion kit somewhere. I got disks on the back of my 02 3500 and it could stop a frieght train.