Dodge Diplomat disk brakes

[Wollfen]

Hi
     I was wondering if the disk brake assy, spindles and disks from a dodge diplomat would bolt into the front end of the dodge challenger to replace the drum assy's? I have access to an early eighties dodge diplomat, cheers mates!,
Gary
 

[brads70]

I have heard of members using them, but I don't have any experiance with them?
Maybe this will help if you haven't read it?
http://www.moparaction.com/Tech/archive/disc-main.html

[72bluNblu]

Yes, they'll fit. 

The spindles are 3/8's of an inch taller, but the change in geometry isn't actually a bad one. The moparaction article makes it sound like a really bad idea, but in some situations its actually pretty beneficial. Anyway, here's another article. It explains things a little better, and the Moparaction article, while being a good resource for brake swaps, has received a lot of negative press because of their stand on the later spindles.

http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/techarticles/suspension/mopp_0503_swapping_a_and_b_disc_brake_spindles/index.html

If the Diplomat has the larger 11 3/4" disks its a great upgrade too. You'll need spindles, rotors, caliper mounting brackets, and the calipers. And don't forget that you'll also need the master cylinder too, your drum/drum master cylinder will not work with a disk front end.  But since you've got drums now you'll probably be taking everything anyway. Even if it doesn't have the larger rotors, its a great upgrade, and if you wanted to go to the larger rotors later all you would need is the new rotors and brake caliper brackets, the calipers are the same as long as you find brackets for your type of caliper (pin or slider).

While I do not run the later spindles ( I have drop spindles on my car), I do run the 11 3/4" rotors and caliper brackets. Great stuff. I have a thread on it here, in case it helps. http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=56565.0
Good luck with the swap!

[Wollfen]

Ok cool thanks for the in depth information in that last reply, I had heard of the increased height and knowing what the original assy looks like and how it actuates in use I can see this being an advantage definitely. The larger rotors are a must by modern standards too I would think. You can never have enough stopping power, well, as long as the tyres are up to it eh? Ill be using a power booster and master cylinder assy from a disk brake car too, I might even go with one of those alloy master cylinders Rick Ehrenberg sells with the non angled reservoir. I have one on a C body here in australia and it works great. Mind you $105 for a new power booster and master cylinder assy is hard to pass up. Thanks for the info guys, my plans are firming up! Gday from down under!

Gary
 

[cudazappa]

The Diplomat will have the 10.87" brakes.  Still much better than drums any day of the week.

[Chryco Psycho]

the 12" brake caliper adapters will bolt onto the Diplomat spindles so you can run the larger discs from the Cordoba