Fixing Brakes on a 1974 IH 200 - Fix Original Stuff or Replace with Modern??

[RTR]

I've asked this over on Binder Planet Forums, but since I frequent here the most I thought I would ask yall's input.

I'm ready to fix my 74 IH 200 4x4 up and I need to replace the gas tank, find a tailgate, find a dash pad, and fix the brakes. On the brakes, it has factory IH Disk Brakes up front and drum brakes on the rear with a power brake booster. I'm not trying to do any sort of major upgrades but I just want to have brakes so I can drive it. Should I fix/replace the old parts , or should I take it all off and install parts that will swap onto it that are more readily available? What is the most popular and most cost effective option?? I will probably be ordering from RockAuto if I don't go with the original IH stuff. Going to be replacing it all - master cylinder , power brake booster , brake shoes, wheel cylinders, brake pads, etc. Since many of you have dealt with this before, Help me decide which route to go and where to get the parts.

 

[NY 986]

My amateur opinion is to use original parts if only operating in a parade situation. People standing back and reduced speed by other drivers. If planning to drive spur of the moment on a highway and interacting with less than capable drivers I would update the truck. The more effective brakes might keep you out of a serious incident.

 

[NY 986]

My amateur opinion is to use original parts if only operating in a parade situation. People standing back and reduced speed by other drivers. If planning to drive spur of the moment on a highway and interacting with less than capable drivers I would update the truck. The more effective brakes might keep you out of a serious incident.

 

[Vito]

Swap out and go with readily available wound my choice.

Vito

 

[Hobo,NC]

It uses Ford brakes of that era I don't see any reason not to go back with what it already has. I did a quick check from one of my parts suppliers they did not list rotors, brake drums, master cylinder are booster. . They only had one wheel cylinder they did not list front brake hoses. Everything else I could order right now @ 9:11 PM and have it tomorrow. Rubber brake hoses over time swell on the inside and start restricting fluid flow they have lived their useful life.

I am going to edit this I am not sure what the front brakes cross over to. I thought it used D50 pads it does not it shows D149 I don't know what they would cross over to. How about posting what you found about swapping it over.

 

[RTR]

I keep hearing over on the other forum to swap the front axle to a chevy axle. Not sure why that will help and it won't keep it original. Can you not use chevy brake parts or parts from another brand truck that is easier to find?? Do they not make universal brake parts ??

 

[NY 986]

I keep hearing over on the other forum to swap the front axle to a chevy axle. Not sure why that will help and it won't keep it original. Can you not use chevy brake parts or parts from another brand truck that is easier to find?? Do they not make universal brake parts ??

If I had to guess the handling on the road is improved. I'd bet that the average vehicle operator has no idea as to how a 1970's vehicle performs on the road and has no idea when it comes to unpredictable situations. Most 1970's vehicles' front ends were solid axle versus independent left and right suspension. A lot of curves around here are posted well under 55 MPH and when the highway engineers develop those ratings solid axles were the norm and vulnerable to accidents on curves at 55 MPH. Pretty easy to take a curve today 10 or 20 MPH above the rating as the independent front ends barely knows the curves are there.

 

[Gambles]

I could see you going either way either way your suggestions. And to me, it all depends on who will be driving it. Going to have an inexperienced teen driver? What about a woman who is used to modern suspension and steering? Just you driving it at low speeds and back roads? Just a few things to think about.
If I owned it (and I don’t), it would probably stay stock. But I would make SURE all your replacement parts are in your hands before starting on it. A quick check at RockAuto shows a lot of parts still available. But no rotors. Perhaps they can be purchased locally or a few passes on a lathe will clean them up and still be in spec.
FYI, I’m not against any upgrades. I have upgraded a ‘60 Ford panel van and a ‘59 Chevy van that have been switched to front disc brakes purchased from Speedway motors.

 

[used red MN]

I keep hearing over on the other forum to swap the front axle to a chevy axle. Not sure why that will help and it won't keep it original. Can you not use chevy brake parts or parts from another brand truck that is easier to find?? Do they not make universal brake parts ??

On the farm growing up we had an IH Scout, I think it was a 1967, not sure what brand of front axle it had under it. The outer end drive u-joints were in an oil filled ball shaped enclosure. For the equivalent of “king pins” a normal straight axle would have the bottom pivoted on a small tapered roller bearing and the upper pivoted on a brass piece with a taper on it that essentially mirrored the cone and roller portion of a tapered roller bearing. This was a poor design that wore out easily and did not hold alignment well at all. I wondered if the front axle on the IH pickups used this same design? If so I can see why there is a lot of suggestions to swap it out for a Chevy axle with open drive u-joints and ball joints to pivot on, moocho better. And you get far more readily available brake parts as well.
However, all that aside if this is going to be a show/play truck that you don’t plan on stacking a bunch of miles on finding the original brake parts and installing them this time they will probably not get worn out to require replacement again.

 

[504]

The brakes are Bendix brand. Parts should be easy to find(think ford)

 

[Twisted_Steel]

I'd upgrade to newer parts. You'll have an easier time with an upgrade kit vs piecing it together one part at a time. You'd have to source everything piece by piece on a brand that is no longer made.
Just my 2¢

 

[MM-TX]

I keep hearing over on the other forum to swap the front axle to a chevy axle. Not sure why that will help and it won't keep it original. Can you not use chevy brake parts or parts from another brand truck that is easier to find?? Do they not make universal brake parts ??

An axle swap is a pretty significant project depending of course on your skill set and tools. If you want to run it like a new truck maybe it’s not the best. For a cool around town truck I’d just fix what’s there if I could.

Does it need rotors? Or just pads & hydraulics?

 

[Absent Minded Farmer]

I've asked this over on Binder Planet Forums, but since I frequent here the most I thought I would ask yall's input.

I'm ready to fix my 74 IH 200 4x4 up and I need to replace the gas tank, find a tailgate, find a dash pad, and fix the brakes. On the brakes, it has factory IH Disk Brakes up front and drum brakes on the rear with a power brake booster. I'm not trying to do any sort of major upgrades but I just want to have brakes so I can drive it. Should I fix/replace the old parts , or should I take it all off and install parts that will swap onto it that are more readily available? What is the most popular and most cost effective option?? I will probably be ordering from RockAuto if I don't go with the original IH stuff. Going to be replacing it all - master cylinder , power brake booster , brake shoes, wheel cylinders, brake pads, etc. Since many of you have dealt with this before, Help me decide which route to go and where to get the parts.

View attachment 156687

NAPA had all the brake parts for my 1500D, except the 14 1/2" brake shoes. They even had the parts, should it have been ordered with air.

If your local NAPA is staffed by boneheads, give the one in West Bend a call. Was just there today & they are still on their stuff.

Mike

 

[Twisted_Steel]

NAPA had all the brake parts for my 1500D, except the 14 1/2" brake shoes. They even had the parts, should it have been ordered with air.

If your local NAPA is staffed by boneheads, give the one in West Bend a call. Was just there today & they are still on their stuff.

Mike

We know what you mean by the "boneheads" staffing auto parts stores. I went to get a set of points and condenser for my tractor. I was asked what air conditioning system I needed the condenser for.

 

[the tractior vet]

I've asked this over on Binder Planet Forums, but since I frequent here the most I thought I would ask yall's input.

I'm ready to fix my 74 IH 200 4x4 up and I need to replace the gas tank, find a tailgate, find a dash pad, and fix the brakes. On the brakes, it has factory IH Disk Brakes up front and drum brakes on the rear with a power brake booster. I'm not trying to do any sort of major upgrades but I just want to have brakes so I can drive it. Should I fix/replace the old parts , or should I take it all off and install parts that will swap onto it that are more readily available? What is the most popular and most cost effective option?? I will probably be ordering from RockAuto if I don't go with the original IH stuff. Going to be replacing it all - master cylinder , power brake booster , brake shoes, wheel cylinders, brake pads, etc. Since many of you have dealt with this before, Help me decide which route to go and where to get the parts.

View attachment 156687

Welp them old brakes worked well back then and ya fix them back to new they will still stop ya just as well as when new . same as that solid ft. axle , now not sure what ft axle they used on the I H BUT IT MORE THEN LIKELY A dANN

I've asked this over on Binder Planet Forums, but since I frequent here the most I thought I would ask yall's input.

I'm ready to fix my 74 IH 200 4x4 up and I need to replace the gas tank, find a tailgate, find a dash pad, and fix the brakes. On the brakes, it has factory IH Disk Brakes up front and drum brakes on the rear with a power brake booster. I'm not trying to do any sort of major upgrades but I just want to have brakes so I can drive it. Should I fix/replace the old parts , or should I take it all off and install parts that will swap onto it that are more readily available? What is the most popular and most cost effective option?? I will probably be ordering from RockAuto if I don't go with the original IH stuff. Going to be replacing it all - master cylinder , power brake booster , brake shoes, wheel cylinders, brake pads, etc. Since many of you have dealt with this before, Help me decide which route to go and where to get the paThe

 

[the tractior vet]

The Org brakes that come on it when fixed properly will still do the job just fine . As they did when new . As to the ft axle that is more then likely a Danna 44 or even a Dana 60 as that is the ft. axle that went under every 4x4 3/4 ton made back them .only difference was if the PIG was o the left or right side of the diff. . Most gear ratio were 4.10 to 4.56 back in the day . Back in the 73 year model they had the BALL socket on the ends and they used a heavy gear gear grease that ran out like water past the leather whipper seal and if ya did not stay up on maintenance ya paid the price . . The here i am not sure of the date they changed to and open yoke this set up gave you a new learning experience as te outer axle stub sat in needle bearings and when ya plowed snow or went playen in the mud those needles got washed out and then ya got to pay the price as i found out on my less then a year old 78 F 250 Snow Patrol as by April after buying that truck along with the many issues i had to BUY two new outer axles , new needle bearing and seals after a rough winter of snow plowing . The only way those bearings got grease was from YOUR FINGERS after tearing th ft. end apart and cleaning and greasing them with your pinkies . Tear apart before snow season or after playen in the mud and do it all over again when the thaw came . Yup we know old four wheel drives since we broke everything at least three times.

 

[TerryfromSWIowa]

Try Rockauto, they had brake parts for a 1952 Ford F2 with a Timken 51524 axle.

 

[Duner Wi]

I would stick with factory front disk brakes. What I see is sourcing front rotors could be problematic. All the other parts seem fairly available.

 

[EFV]

IH 200 4X4 was built with Dana 44 front end. Why would rotors be different than other brands ?
Seems axle ends could be swapped without changing entire front axle. Pictures ?

 

[Duner Wi]

IH 200 4X4 was built with Dana 44 front end. Why would rotors be different than other brands ?
Seems axle ends could be swapped without changing entire front axle. Pictures ?

This talks about it.

https://www.pirate4x4.com/threads/1974-1975-ih-200-truck-4x4-axles-dana-44hd-dana-60ff.697072/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic