Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ radiator

JL axle parking brake

Djames

Djames

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I know it’s not a common swap, but still worth asking. I have Jl Rubicon axles under my TJ and it’s pretty sweet. If anyone else has done the swap, have you found a combination of parts that will mate the Jl parking brake to the TJ handle? Compared to the install this a minor issue but I’m hoping to get the brake working without more fab work.

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I installed the UCF Hydraulic Parking brake bracket and Wilwood master cylinder when I swapped in JK spec Currie HD 60's. It plumbs in line with the rest of the braking system. I am pleased with the results. The hydraulic setup in my experience holds the brakes tighter than the mechanical variant. Below is a link for the bracket, and IIRC I bought the MC from Amazon or Summit Racing.

https://undercoverfab.com/misc-brac...iDrtwTadb-AyZ6ziUKn-akqd-eNNnvzvMF7ickaDd1z7D

There is potential for the MC to allow the pressure to bleed off (or an outright leaking brake component)and not hold the brakes, but have not seen that yet in my experience. This should work in your scenario if nothing else will.
 
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Can't help you with the park brake.
I'd be interested in seeing some photos of your steering. This is a mod I've thought about. Being in Australia none of our RHD TJ's had Dana 44's, also I can't use a Currie currectlink because again being RHD. Figured with the JL knuckles I could get away from the whole Y link system.
 
OutdoorEd said:
Can't help you with the park brake.
I'd be interested in seeing some photos of your steering. This is a mod I've thought about. Being in Australia none of our RHD TJ's had Dana 44's, also I can't use a Currie currectlink because again being RHD. Figured with the JL knuckles I could get away from the whole Y link system.
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why would you want to get away from y link? do the zj upgrade ?
 
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OP, what did you do for service brakes? Are you using the TJ parts? I'm in the process of a JL axle swap into my stretched TJ, because you know. "While I'm in there". My Dana 35 has gotten all the money out of me I was willing to give and I had the take offs from my girlfriend's JL Sahara, so M220 narrow in the rear and M186 for the front. Just trying to get the pile of parts together for when I have the front axle under it. I'd hate to be thinking I'm ready to go and have no brakes.
 
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DonkeyTj said:
OP, what did you do for service brakes? Are you using the TJ parts? I'm in the process of a JL axle swap into my stretched TJ, because you know. "While I'm in there". My Dana 35 has gotten all the money out of me I was willing to give and I had the take offs from my girlfriend's JL Sahara, so M220 narrow in the rear and M186 for the front. Just trying to get the pile of parts together for when I have the front axle under it. I'd hate to be thinking I'm ready to go and have no brakes.
Click to expand...

Likewise, I'm getting ready to do the JL axle swap myself. I've been looking at the brake system to see what I can find out there, so far I haven't found much.

IMG_9986.jpg
 
JEEPSTEVENANAIMO said:
why would you want to get away from y link? do the zj upgrade ?
Click to expand...

ZJ upgrade retains the y-link steering, if I'm understaning what you wrote.

@Djames the zj upgrade is basically a bolt-up steering upgrade that uses the tie rod & drag link from the V8 Grand Cherokee (ca. 2000). For the cost, it's one of the better upgrades you can do, but its designed to work on the stock axles (Dana 30 for sure, I think Dana 44 would work as well), but if you're using JL axles I believe they use crossover steering so it might not work for you.
 
Rickstar321 said:
Actually both... braking and E-brakes
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I wonder if you can't reuse your stock cables.

Assuming you'd need to extend the end of the lines between the mounting/holder and the pull hook, TF actually has an extension kit I use on the JL. It's one of those "duh" designs. I think you could do something similar with some scrap.

Here's the install instructions for that so you can see what I mean. It's two piece, one to move the mounting point that holds the sleeve, and one that extends the cable hook to the parking brake pull eye. You could just copy piece whichever you need.
 

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I Myself am going under an axle swap but with a ford 9" and this UCF mod looks like a perfect idea !!! I could make the parking brake cables work with the wilwood brakes I got but I was also looking at doing a Hydro e-brake for drifts :D ....Yes I said drifts😆, So this UCF parking brake mod using a wilwood master seems like a great idea to me 😁 I wanted a hydro e brake but I also don't want a drift handle fulltime on my daily driven LJ

Id just need to find a way to deactivate the ratcheting mechanism when i want to so it doesn't lock up when im drifting or at the strip !
 
Ended up using jk 2d cables. The JL 2dr cables were stupidly expensive, JKs were $20 each so I’d don’t feel bad hacking them up if it didn’t work I cut the fwd ends off the cables, pulled the cable out, cut down the outer jacket, reinstalled the sleeve tip, reinserted the cable, then used crimp on ferrules to mate up to the tj underfloor hardware. Works great.
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I used the tj master and proportioning valve. Works really well. Tried the ram 1500 master based on research, it felt and performed worse so I went back to the tj master.
DonkeyTj said:
OP, what did you do for service brakes? Are you using the TJ parts? I'm in the process of a JL axle swap into my stretched TJ, because you know. "While I'm in there". My Dana 35 has gotten all the money out of me I was willing to give and I had the take offs from my girlfriend's JL Sahara, so M220 narrow in the rear and M186 for the front. Just trying to get the pile of parts together for when I have the front axle under it. I'd hate to be thinking I'm ready to go and have no brake
Click to expand...
 
The zj steering is about 8” too short for the JL axles. I used the full JL oem steering and track bar. Had to ream my pitman arm for the different taper and weld on an aftermarket frame side track bar bracket. Zero bumpsteer on 14” of travel and it tracks better than the stock tj ever did.
hear said:
ZJ upgrade retains the y-link steering, if I'm understaning what you wrote.

@Djames the zj upgrade is basically a bolt-up steering upgrade that uses the tie rod & drag link from the V8 Grand Cherokee (ca. 2000). For the cost, it's one of the better upgrades you can do, but its designed to work on the stock axles (Dana 30 for sure, I think Dana 44 would work as well), but if you're using JL axles I believe they use crossover steering so it might not work for you.
Click to expand...

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IMG_3070.jpeg
 
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Djames said:
The zj steering is about 8” too short for the JL axles. I used the full JL oem steering and track bar. Had to ream my pitman arm for the different taper and weld on an aftermarket frame side track bar bracket. Zero bumpsteer on 14” of travel and it tracks better than the stock tj ever did.


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Hell yeah that's awesome man🤙🏼I bet that thing feels pretty stable with the extra track width !
I had plans of going with a JL full float axle in the rear of my Lj and a Hp44 from a 78' ford for the front (which I have) But a ford 9" will do for the moment since I kept breaking my Dana 44 rear
 
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Djames said:
The zj steering is about 8” too short for the JL axles. I used the full JL oem steering and track bar. Had to ream my pitman arm for the different taper and weld on an aftermarket frame side track bar bracket. Zero bumpsteer on 14” of travel and it tracks better than the stock tj ever did.


View attachment 666260View attachment 666261
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That is a very clean swap, what did you go with for control arms?
 
sierradmax said:
Why couldn't you use LJ cables and a bolt?

View attachment 666384
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I don’t know what axle you have there, but on the JL/gladiator Dana 44 the bracket that the cable snaps into is about 8” further from the backing plate. Dont judge the rust, I ran through a salty dry lake bed that wrecked my undercarriage
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