1993 F350 Sterling Drum to Disc Brake Conversion

u2slow

bilge rat
Joined
May 8, 2007
Posts
1,817
Reaction score
814
Location
PNW
TSM has been around a long time.

Swapping a diff has never seemed like a huge job to me. Perch spacing on F-series pickups has been the same from mid-'77 till 2010+.
 

jrollf

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2008
Posts
285
Reaction score
226
Location
Houston, TX
It's more of a time issue for me... finding an axle in a junk yard, pulling it, then bringing it home and probably will still need to go through it before swapping it. Not to mention the F-Superduty axles where 10 lug so I would have to change wheels too, the newer F-350 dualy disc brake axels also have a different 8 lug pattern than the older OBS F-350s. Not beyond my abilities... just beyond my time right now :). Buy the time I paid for the axle, replaced all the seals and brake components, got new wheels... I probably wouldn't save any money, especially if the ring and pinion gears needed to be replaced.

I bet I could have the conversion kit installed in an afternoon, and I know my ring, pinion and seals are in great shape.
 

93didually

Registered User
Joined
Jul 18, 2020
Posts
11
Reaction score
2
Location
Michigan
Hello, new here, I used the e350 van set up on my 93. All parts from a u pick yard, a bit of work but worth it. Also modified the booster for the 99 up master cylinder
 

lotzagoodstuff

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
May 19, 2007
Posts
2,726
Reaction score
668
Location
Carmel, IN
I have seen a really nice installation of the E350 disk brakes on a sterling truck axle. I’ll see if I can find the details, I believe there was a little welding involved to mount the piece that the caliper bracket bolts to, and it cones off of the van axle, but don’t quote me as it’s been a while.
 

93didually

Registered User
Joined
Jul 18, 2020
Posts
11
Reaction score
2
Location
Michigan
All E250/350 are the same pattern, also Dana 60, E450 Dana 70 or 80 not sure, it has a 4 inch axle tube. Didn't measure spring perch difference as the chassis is wider. Mine is a dually, I had some machine work on the hubs and put a three inch wheel spacer behind the hub to push the rotor back. I think the 08 up use a lager rotor then 07 down.
 

u2slow

bilge rat
Joined
May 8, 2007
Posts
1,817
Reaction score
814
Location
PNW
INot to mention the F-Superduty axles where 10 lug so I would have to change wheels too...

The 88-97 F-Superduty diff won't fit a pickup. There isn't enough space between the brakes to land the pickup's leaf springs.

If time is an issue, I'd simply rebuild the drum brakes.

EDIT: The E-series DRW diff is a decent candidate to keep 8x6.5". The width is right - just needs the perches moved.
 
Last edited:

jrollf

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2008
Posts
285
Reaction score
226
Location
Houston, TX
The 88-97 F-Superduty diff won't fit a pickup. There isn't enough space between the brakes to land the pickup's leaf springs.

If time is an issue, I'd simply rebuild the drum brakes.

EDIT: The E-series DRW diff is a decent candidate to keep 8x6.5". The width is right - just needs the perches moved.

Thanks for the info... my rear drum brakes are fine right now... I just hate drum brakes :) so I'm looking down the road for when I do need to rebuilt them.
 
Top