Search the Community

Anybody ever notice how all the weight on a Comanche is on the driver's side? How the driver, the fuel tank, the drop axle, the front DS, and the Tcase are all on the driver's side? This is all theoretical, but for performance, and ease on our trucks, you could have the gas tank and the exhaust trade places (including moving the tank filler to the other side of the bed), which would distribute weight better, and if you have enough of a lift to omit the over-axle-bend, would enable you to have an exhaust system that was quite straight except for the exhaust drop-bend. Then I believe you'd have room to have either passenger OR driver's side drop axle and corresponding Tcase. Have I gone overboard? Does this make sense to anyone else? (Keep in mind I haven't taken any measurements, this is all theoretical).

So here's something I've been mulling over in my head for a bit here. I have an 89 comanche with a drum brake 35 in the rear. I have an XJ balance valve installed and one line running to the rear brakes, instead of the funky factory level prop valve setup. The rear brakes have been nothing but trouble. They grab and lock the rear tires occasionally when they are damp, or during hard braking. And now the brake light has started to come on when I step on the brakes hard, indicating that the rear brakes are leaking or need adjustment (balance is out between front and rear). So, given the crappiness of the rear drums and the crappiness of the rear model 35, I'm planning on finding an explorer 8.8 with discs to put in the back. That part I have covered, fabrication-wise... the actual disc conversion is easy My question is, if you were doing this, and wanted to mimic a factory setup as close as possible, how would you do it? Obviously the master cylinder and balance valve on the XJ/MJ was not designed to have rear discs. I've heard people talk about the rear brakes over powering the front brakes during hard stops after disc brake swaps. This is absolutely the worst scenario, especially for winter driving, with a lightweight rig like the comanche. So, there's talk of installing an adjustable proportioning valve for the rear brakes... maybe a residual valve (I am uncertain of how this part actually works or what it's purpose is)... should I put it back to the dual line height based prop valve that came factory? Should I replace the entire balance valve assembly and/or master cylinder with one from a rig that came factory with disc brakes? If so, which rig would work the best? Maybe Jeep Liberty or JK? I want this to be a safe, good performing setup that works like it would have came that way from the factory. Any input?