Who did what in the where now?

If you have an FX4 LII 31 spline axle you can put the disk break stuff from an Exploder on it.

If you get an Exploder axle it already has disk breaks.

You can NOT put the disk break parts on the 28 spline 8.8 or 7.5.

All axles will have the tone ring for the ABS.

If your truck is equiped with ABS (which almost all of the 98+ are) the master cylander and ABS unit are the same between the Ranger and Explorer.

Why in the world would you change from disk to drum?

 

I contacted a guy over ORR the link was somewhere in the thread.

He has a 31 spline with disc already which I think is out of an explorer.

So is it a direct fit either way or does my truck need to have ABS ?

I was thinking if for some reason the axel would not fit/work with my truck for some reason could it be converted to drums as a last resort.

 

The breaks aren't the issue. If you have ABS (I'd be 99% certain you do) then you are good there.

The issue is the width, the axle being spring under, the perches being the wrong width, the sway bar mounts on the axle (unless you dont have one and arn't putting one on) and the shock tabs.

Explorer = Not bolt on
Ranger = Bolt on

 

How do i make sure I have ABS ? What if I don't ?

Any pics of what and where the perches and shock tabs have to be welded ?

 

If you have a 2003, you got ABS.

 

oh ok, so whats the deal with the spring perches and shock mount any pics ?

 

The spring perches on the Ex axle are on the bottom but on your Ranger they are on the top. The shock mounts on the Ex are part of the spring plates and angled toward the center of the vehicle; on a Ranger, they are welded to the axle tubes and point front and rear. Unless you're building a lowered truck, the topside perches and the shock brackets would need to be added to the Ex axle to use it on a Ranger.