Upgrading to Disc Brakes on the Rear of a Jeep Cherokee XJ gzmorsunled.wixsite.com

From a parts perspective, the ZJ disc swap is the most straightforward. You’ll need ZJ backing plates, calipers, rotors, parking brake cables, and a proportioning valve adjustment—or better yet, a ZJ combination valve to correct front-to-rear bias. The job requires removing the axle shafts to slide off the old drum backing plates, then bolting on the disc assemblies. Many XJ owners also install a new master cylinder from a WJ Grand Cherokee or a 2004–2006 TJ Unlimited (LJ) for increased fluid volume and improved pedal modulation. The total cost, even with new components, is often under $500, making it one of the most effective safety and performance upgrades for the Cherokee.