Pre-90 steering knuckles

[JeffK]

From 84-90 is there any difference in the steering knuckles? i.e. caliper brackets/mounting? Thanks.

[89 MJ]

I believe it’s 84-89 have windowed knuckles. 90-01 do not. Something about the windowed knuckles makes them fit bigger brakes. 

[Eagle_SX4]

9 minutes ago, 89 MJ said:

I believe it’s 84-89 have windowed knuckles. 90-01 do not. Something about the windowed knuckles makes them fit bigger brakes. 

Yeah Wildwood makes a big brake kit that fits the early knuckles but not the later ones. It is expensive.

 

https://www.wilwood.com/BrakeKits/BrakeKitSearch?year=1987&make=Jeep&model=Comanche&option=4+X+4+Only&axle=Front+Kit

 

 

 

[89 MJ]

7 minutes ago, Eagle_SX4 said:

Yeah Wildwood makes a big brake kit that fits the early knuckles but not the later ones. It is expensive.

 

https://www.wilwood.com/BrakeKits/BrakeKitSearch?year=1987&make=Jeep&model=Comanche&option=4+X+4+Only&axle=Front+Kit

 

 

 

Holy cow! Those are really expensive. 

[eaglescout526]

11 minutes ago, 89 MJ said:

Holy cow! Those are really expensive. 

More like holy schnikes. 

[Eagle_SX4]

Here is the video on the install.

 

 

[pizzaman09]

11 hours ago, 89 MJ said:

Holy cow! Those are really expensive. 

Lol, it's all about perspective.  I purchased big brake kits from Willwood for my 99 BMW M3 because the Willwood kit total, was 1/2 the cost of purchasing OEM replacement calipers. 

 

Compared to Jeep parts, this brake kit is mega expensive.  I simply purchased some Hawk high performance bake pads for the front of my Comanche for about $50 during a sale and couldn't be happier. 

[JeffK]

12 hours ago, 89 MJ said:

I believe it’s 84-89 have windowed knuckles. 90-01 do not. Something about the windowed knuckles makes them fit bigger brakes. 

 

Thanks for clarifying that. I was looking at bigger brakes, Wilwood seems to be the simplest to install, but even if you opt for their solid rotors that kit is still almost $1100.

 

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/wil-140-12576-r

[89 MJ]

59 minutes ago, pizzaman09 said:

Lol, it's all about perspective.  I purchased big brake kits from Willwood for my 99 BMW M3 because the Willwood kit total, was 1/2 the cost of purchasing OEM replacement calipers. 

 

Compared to Jeep parts, this brake kit is mega expensive.  I simply purchased some Hawk high performance bake pads for the front of my Comanche for about $50 during a sale and couldn't be happier. 

That’s pretty crazy! 

[ghetdjc320]

The 84-89 XJ 86-89 MJ and 87-89 YJ with the Dana 30 front axle all had the same knuckles that use a bolt on caliper that holds the pads. 90+ used “wings” cast into the knuckle that hold the pads and use a floating caliper design. The ability to bolt on the calipers is what lets you run bigger brakes. The Wilwood kit is very competitively priced as big brake kits go. You can build a kit yourself as well for less but with some trade offs. 

[JeffK]

37 minutes ago, ghetdjc320 said:

The 84-89 XJ 86-89 MJ and 87-89 YJ with the Dana 30 front axle all had the same knuckles that use a bolt on caliper that holds the pads. 90+ used “wings” cast into the knuckle that hold the pads and use a floating caliper design. The ability to bolt on the calipers is what lets you run bigger brakes. The Wilwood kit is very competitively priced as big brake kits go. You can build a kit yourself as well for less but with some trade offs. 

 

I looked into some of the DIY kits as well, I found this parts list on another jeep forum-

 

-Early '84-'89 knuckles with the lugs for the caliper to bolt on (not the late '90+ knuckles with the brake pad 'wings')
-Mustang GT '11-'14 Rotors 13.25" Centric 120.61098
-Calipers dual piston '11-'15 Durango or GC for 350mm rotors Centric 141.58011/12
-Pads semi-metalic Centric 30014550
-14mm grade 8 caliper bolts and washers
-14mm drill bit to drill out the knuckle caliper mounting lug hole
-Spacer machined steel- 1" thick, 1.375" diameter and 9/16" hole
 

No pics with the post though, I assume the spacers are for mounting the calipers(?) Do you know of another kit that maintains the stock steering?

[ghetdjc320]

Here is a handy guide for a DIY upgrade:

https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1Cv83Y7F7hu4QK3Grd72LKF1uSeHcZERGiwWGbjfxG3I/mobilebasic

[JeffK]

1 hour ago, ghetdjc320 said:

Here is a handy guide for a DIY upgrade:

https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1Cv83Y7F7hu4QK3Grd72LKF1uSeHcZERGiwWGbjfxG3I/mobilebasic

 

Nice, thanks.

[70barracuda]

I have the wilwood kit. It was pricey but the jeep stops incredible since I've installed it. I was going to go the DIY route but honestly for 1k I felt it was just easier to get the kit instead of tracking down so many parts. Wilwood was bolt on, maybe 2 hours 

[JeffK]

8 hours ago, 70barracuda said:

I have the wilwood kit. It was pricey but the jeep stops incredible since I've installed it. I was going to go the DIY route but honestly for 1k I felt it was just easier to get the kit instead of tracking down so many parts. Wilwood was bolt on, maybe 2 hours 

 

I agree the Wilwood kit is the simplest solution. I don't mind saving a little money though, corrosion resistant rotors, new calipers and other needed parts for the DIY 13.25" rotor kit was less than $500.