better brakes on cj3

for bolt on you can get 11 inchers. You can get them from 72-75 cj5s, they bolt right up. You can also do disc brakes with chevy brackets, calipers and later CJ thick rotors. sometimes you may have an issue with the MC not being able to push them, but it seems to be on a case by case basis.
 
you have several diffent things you can do and it depends only on your mechanical aptitude as to which way you go.This is what I did on my M38(military cj3).

I changed my brakes out from the old style 9 inch to 11 inch drums from a early 70s cj5.That helped out alot.Then I went to "Herm the overdrive guy" and picked up a dual reservoir master cylinder mount and got rid of that single res. All new brake lines and such and she will stop on a dime. It's work but very doable.
http://www.earlycj5.com/technical/brakes/early-cj-dual-mc-retrofit-from-herm/
http://www.earlycj5.com/technical/brakes/early-cj-11-drum-swap/
 
I did the 11" brake converstion on my Dad's 3B. Night and day difference over the 9" drums. His is running 31" tires FWIW.
 
DanStew said:
The 9 inch brakes have 2 manual adjusting cam bolts to tighten up the brakes. You have to jack the tire up, and spin and turn the bolts to get it to drag.
Click to expand...
Yup. If you don't adjust the cams, you can have anything from a drum that won't go on to no braking at all.
 
nope,the mass you are trying to stop on all four corners is your problem.That braking system wasn't designed for that.
 
look and see if the drums have a slit cut in them.That is there so you can stick a feeler guage in and check the shoe to drum clearance.
 
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