4x4 North

So obviously I'm trying to keep weight down on my current MJ build.

And with that in mind I decided to go with 8 lug axles, because nothing says light like 8 lugs.

Anyways, I have these GM D44/12 Bolt caliper mounts/dust shields, and they're fawking heavy for what they are. Anyone think it would a be a horrible idea if I drilled a bunch of holes in them? I'd probably just do 1/2" holes to hopefully cut down on the amount of gravel that works it's way in there. Normally I wouldn't run dust shields at all, as I've always found they do more harm than good, but I don't really see a choice with this deign.

I'd have no problem hole sawing the bracket in the 9:00-3:00 range but it's still gonna be fuckin heavy for what it is.

The piston and rotor diameters on those calipers is pretty middle of the road by modern standards. If you spend an hour dicking around looking at specs on rockauto you can probably have a set of loaded calipers (maybe even aluminum ones) off some random crossover or fullsize sedan shipped to your door for under $100. Then it's just a little work with a transfer punch and a chunk of steel plate (or aluminum if you don't mind upping the thickness) to make that bolt to your spindle.

IF it were me and i wanted to save weight, i'd mill, well torch really) a bunch of triangles out of them until they looked like 5 spoke wheels, leaving the spokes about 1/2" or 3/4" wide and leaving maybe/mox 1/2" of flange around the outer ring. Basically, copy the design where it is already cut out to clearance the caliper, all the way around.

maybe cut a couple naked ladies in to it just to look neat?

Cut everything but the hub. That’s what all the Toyota guys do. Cutting them into Swiss cheese just invites more chances for a rock to get jammed in there. Especially in our northern terrain where our mud has more then it’s share of gravel content.


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Provience wrote: ↑Thu Jun 18, 2020 4:24 pm IF it were me and i wanted to save weight, i'd mill, well torch really) a bunch of triangles out of them until they looked like 5 spoke wheels, leaving the spokes about 1/2" or 3/4" wide and leaving maybe/mox 1/2" of flange around the outer ring. Basically, copy the design where it is already cut out to clearance the caliper, all the way around.

maybe cut a couple naked ladies in to it just to look neat?

You know Scott I can do all this for you just hitting buttons no need to free hand it

HMF wrote: ↑Thu Jun 18, 2020 8:21 pm

Provience wrote: ↑Thu Jun 18, 2020 4:24 pm IF it were me and i wanted to save weight, i'd mill, well torch really) a bunch of triangles out of them until they looked like 5 spoke wheels, leaving the spokes about 1/2" or 3/4" wide and leaving maybe/mox 1/2" of flange around the outer ring. Basically, copy the design where it is already cut out to clearance the caliper, all the way around.

maybe cut a couple naked ladies in to it just to look neat?

You know Scott I can do all this for you just hitting buttons no need to free hand it

That would be a lot easier.

pointsnorth wrote: ↑Thu Jun 18, 2020 5:59 pm Cut everything but the hub. That’s what all the Toyota guys do. Cutting them into Swiss cheese just invites more chances for a rock to get jammed in there. Especially in our northern terrain where our mud has more then it’s share of gravel content.


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I'd be inclined to weld some stuff to the backside if I did that.

And by "cut everything but the hub" I assume you mean also don't cut the part the caliper actually bolts to.



Is there another style of bracket that fits these things? I know my plow truck has this style too, but I seem to recall there being another one?

Guess I should read the title then look at the pic and then comment

Toss them, make brake caliper brackets


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Id cut them out into the same shape as the 14bolt disc brake bracket

HillBilt wrote: ↑Fri Jun 19, 2020 9:38 am Id cut them out into the same shape as the 14bolt disc brake bracket

That's what I thought Timber meant.

Scott Cee AKA 2drx4 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 19, 2020 9:48 am

HillBilt wrote: ↑Fri Jun 19, 2020 9:38 am Id cut them out into the same shape as the 14bolt disc brake bracket

That's what I thought Timber meant.

Hahaha. On a toy axle you can just cut the center "hub" out entirely as its needed as a spacer on the hub/spindle assembly. Id cut it so you can still bolt the calipers to it, like the shape of a rear disc mount. How thick is it .250"? should be plenty strong, or laminate some .125" plate on it for insurance. Will still be lighter than what you have.

The Jeep currently in my shop has them chopped


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HillBilt wrote: ↑Fri Jun 19, 2020 10:36 am

Scott Cee AKA 2drx4 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 19, 2020 9:48 am

HillBilt wrote: ↑Fri Jun 19, 2020 9:38 am Id cut them out into the same shape as the 14bolt disc brake bracket

That's what I thought Timber meant.

Hahaha. On a toy axle you can just cut the center "hub" out entirely as its needed as a spacer on the hub/spindle assembly. Id cut it so you can still bolt the calipers to it, like the shape of a rear disc mount. How thick is it .250"? should be plenty strong, or laminate some .125" plate on it for insurance. Will still be lighter than what you have.

Yeah, I figured that out after he corrected himself on it and I went and looked at some Toy pics.

They're .250~ (rust makes it measure out a bit thicker), so I think it should be fine. I wouldn't think there would be any reason to make them thicker, I know "caliper bracket deflection" is a big thing in some circles, but the caliper is a floating design anyways, so it can deflect back and forth as much as it wants either way.

pointsnorth wrote: ↑Fri Jun 19, 2020 11:03 am The Jeep currently in my shop has them chopped

dear god, those things are 1/4" all the way?

yeah, that's excessive I figured they were 1/8" or less based on the way they are built

edit: yeah the flange lips look thick, figured the web what much thinner though

That's why I said they were fawking heavy.