I am going to be pulling some parts off a dodge diplomat at my local yard tomorrow, wondering if any of the brake parts or rear end parts will fit into my 73 duster? Currently my duster has manual drum brakes, 5 on4.

The calipers, rotors, hubs, and spindles will work and they should fit with your existing control arms if I'm not mistaken. Grab everything between the controls arms on both sides and don't forget the master cylinder and proportioning valve.

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David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

Take a cheap/harbor freight caliper with you, it will save you a few bux if the rotors are under spec, then just leave them (so far I've seen lots of sets in the junkyards that are scored/have a deep wear pattern to them and they can't be turned... which will save you $$ and from lugging the scrap metal to the counter).

-D.idiot

thanks for the advice, I actually did not get there yet, but i will be going later in the week. How sure are you about the control arms? I was under the impression i needed different control arms from a duster/dart that originally had disc brakes.

A-body upper control arms come in 2 types. The early ones up through '72 had a smaller ball joint and if they had disk brakes it was the 4-piston Kelsey-Hayes type with the 5 on 4" bolt pattern. Starting in '73 they went to a larger size ball joint and if I'm not mistaken, they were the same on drums and disk brakes for those years. To put later model disks on an earlier car you must have the upper control arms with the large ball joint from the later model car. Since your car is a '73 the UCAs should fit fine. In any case the Diplomat UCAs will not fit.

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David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

I knew the UPA from the diplomat would not fit, but i thought i had to find upa's from a dart or duster that had pdb, it would be great if they would just fit the current upa's

I'm sure your existing arms will work fine, unless someone else has information to the contrary.

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David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

Unless someone's swapped on '72 or earlier UCAs for no good reason, the spindles should fit on your existing control arms. They're taller, but that is not necessarily a bad thing.

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"Mad Scientist" Matt Cramer
'66 Dart - turbocharged 225
My blog - Mad Scientist Matt's Lair

If you can find a set of early Viper calipers you can just use your existing drum knuckles. Slide a set of 11.75 inch B body rotors onto your drum knuckles and then bolt on the Viper calipers using an adapter kit.

As a customer of Andy's, I can vouch for that being a good solution.

If only my rear disc brakes worked as well as my front.... I am thinking of doing something different in the rear.

that sounds cool, but the car is right down the street from me waiting for me to take what i need! My car is a v8, do you think i need to use the power brake booster, or should i go and buy a rebuilt manual master cylinder and run them manual?

Personally I prefer the feel of manual brakes, but that's me, not necessarily "right." I would avoid a rebuilt master cylinder and instead opt for a new one, you're much more likely to get a good one that will last for a while.

_________________
David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

well,
i went to the junkyard today and ALMOST got them off! i got everything disconnected except for the lower ball joints. I beat them, i used a pickle fork, i banged and banged and those things just hung on. I am going back tomorrow to try some more. My arms were just dead tired, and i was covered in mud. I vow to get them off, one way or the other!

Just leave the lower ball joints there. Unbolt the two bolts and you're out of there.

The upper ball joint pops free with a pickle fork but then you'll most likely have to sand the top of the knuckle a bit to get rid of the grooves that the fork leaves.

You can do that for sure and just get new ball joints, which you'll probably need anyway, but be sure to hang on to the bolts. It'll save you a trip to the hardware store and you'll know you've got the right thing.

_________________
David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.