Drivetrain Tech General discussion of drivetrain for the Ford Ranger.

Mustang Rear disks onto an 85 Ranger

Old May 1, 2007
  #1  
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Mustang Rear disks onto an 85 Ranger

Looking to upgrade the rear brakes from drum to disc? It's really not to bad. I bought a 95 Mustang rear end for $75.00 and swapped the parts. I had to modify the backing plate mounts to fit for space reasons. The Mustang has a 3/4 inch more of spacing, so you have to change the plates to make the calipers fit. I simply cut the bottoms off of the brakets so I could slide them over the back side of the axle mount plate. I also made a plate to put on them for strength reasons. The Mustang also has reinforcement brackets for the calipers. I had to shorten them 3/4" to fit. You can do this with out welding. But a welder does make it easier.

Before I started.


Here you can see the Mustang mount plate, and my add-on.


Here is another angle.


This shows the mount welded on for the brake hose.


A picture of the caliper mounted, and the bracket for the caliper shortened slightly.


Those old useless drum brakes.
 

Last edited by dlibson; Feb 23, 2008 at 08:20 AM.
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Old May 1, 2007
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sweet,now you got some stopping power....crappy drums....looks good.
 
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Old May 2, 2007
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nice work!
i had seen this done once before, but didnt have any pics to explain it better when tryin to describe how to place the mustang brackets on the ranger axle flanges.
 
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Old May 4, 2007
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Awesome to see some ingenuity. Great job.
 
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Old May 4, 2007
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What year Ranger/Mustang is this limited to?

How much time did the modding and fabbing take ( not including install?)

Depending on your access to stang rear-ends, you could make a kit and make some money off of it. Everyone wants rear discs but the only options right now are a 600 dollar conversion kit, or swapping full rea-rends which can also be costly
 
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Old May 4, 2007
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Icon14 What?

Originally Posted by KARPE
What year Ranger/Mustang is this limited to?
How much time did the modding and fabbing take ( not including install?)
Depending on your access to stang rear-ends, you could make a kit and make some money off of it. Everyone wants rear discs but the only options right now are a 600 dollar conversion kit, or swapping full rea-rends which can also be costly
=============================================
I'm lookin to do the same thing, but I'm gonna use Crownvic rotors, calipers, & brackets on my 8.8, $100 ready for me to pick up................X-cop cars are pretty plentiful around here in the boneyards........

Just my O2!
 
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Old Feb 23, 2008
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Originally Posted by KARPE
What year Ranger/Mustang is this limited to?

How much time did the modding and fabbing take ( not including install?)

Depending on your access to stang rear-ends, you could make a kit and make some money off of it. Everyone wants rear discs but the only options right now are a 600 dollar conversion kit, or swapping full rea-rends which can also be costly


It is easiest with the SN95 Mustangs, but Fox body stangs work as well. Any Ranger 7.5 will work. It was about an hours worth of work.

If there is interest, I can make kits. It wouldn't cost to much.
 
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Old Feb 24, 2008
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I'm TOTALLY interested!
 
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Old Feb 28, 2008
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You tell me how you want them made. I can send them ready to go, or just the basic brakets.
 
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Old Feb 29, 2008
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Ranger Axle into my Volvo?

Greatings all, Sorry to but into your forum, but I'm looking for a cheap, quick fix for my '72 Volvo 1800 with out of round welded-up and redrilled hubs and axles the machine shop ruined 25 years ago.

I am looking for a rear axle that is beteen 54.5" to 56" wide wheel to wheel. I believe the rangers had this width rear end?

Can anybody educate me on what to look for in the junk yard (slim pickings up hear in North Dakota)?

This car now has a Dana 30 rear end w/ a pinion flanged u-joint attachment with 3" Chevy pick-up U-joints and 3.31 R&P (need 3.73's).

With the right rear end and these mustang disk brakes, and Mopar B-spindles bolted up to my front control arms, I might be able to drive this thing after 16 years of waiting for a solution.

Thanks for any knowledge I can learnName:  jamescars005.jpg
Views: 135
Size:  69.0 KB[/IMG]
 
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Old Feb 29, 2008
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you are going to need to shorten the ranger axle. not sure of the early pre93 ranger width but 93+ they are all around 58~59" WMS
 
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Old Feb 29, 2008
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Here is a site I found comparing the various axles, but there are no widths given. I suppose I could always make bigger flares. http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Axles.htm

And here is my vidio. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKn-LTNa4rc
 

Last edited by VolvoHeretic; Feb 29, 2008 at 11:42 AM.
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Old Feb 29, 2008
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pre 93 is 1.5 narrower than the 93+ which is at 59.5" WMS, explorer 8.8s are another 1.5" wider than the 93+ rangers which is 61" WMS

so

pre 93 is 58"
93+ 59.5"
all explorers 61"

all measurements are wheel mount surface to wheel mount surface

there are several shops that can narrow the 8.8 for you.

Moser Engineering will I know for sure.
 
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Old Feb 29, 2008
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did two threads get merged somehow???

anyways, what do you do about a parking brake. I might be interested but really wouldn't want to give up the PK.
 
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Old Feb 29, 2008
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Thanks Zabeard, so I guess I'm looking for an 8.8 from a '90-'92 4.0 4x4 w/ 3.73's & limited slip, cut off the spring perches, build some bolt on control arm brackets, and addapt on the mustang disk brakes w/ included E-brakes. Still have to be cheaper then redoing my axle or using a 1" addapter and changing gear ratios and puting in an LSD. Plus with the mopar 12" front disks, much better braking then the 9" disks I have now.

Still have to figure out the chevy to ford u-joint thing.

Eventually this might get a turbo and about 250 hp in a 2600# car.
 
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Old Feb 29, 2008
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if it was me i would get an explorer axle, take it to an axle shop, narrow it and bolt on the explorer brakes. so its the exact width you need.

explorer axle is 31 spline and has bigger bearings and axle tubes.
 
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Old Feb 29, 2008
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Zabeard, should I also be looking at Mustang axles then? I suppose non of them came with 3.73 gears.
 
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Old Feb 29, 2008
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most explorers had 3.73 if not they are cheap to get.

i am not sure what mustangs width or what they had under them
 
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Old Feb 29, 2008
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Thanks Zabeard, I don't know of any machine shops in ND, but I just looked at Currie's web site and they won't shorten C-clip axles.

Mosser's says they respline but doesn't mention which axles.

I will keep reserching.
 
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Old Feb 29, 2008
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Mosser should do it, they are only about 45 min from my house. I am pretty sure they shorten axle tubes.
 
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Old Feb 29, 2008
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I'd be interested in well if you make a kit for the 8.8, would this keep the ABS intact? I'm guessing not.
 
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Old Feb 29, 2008
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Originally Posted by 04blackedge
I'd be interested in well if you make a kit for the 8.8, would this keep the ABS intact? I'm guessing not.
in the rear ABS is controlled at the diff with that sensor and the little ring mounted to the ring gear. Rear disks on a stock rear axle will not effect abs
 
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Old Feb 29, 2008
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Oh I didn't know that, makes it even easier then.
 
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Old Mar 1, 2008
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Originally Posted by 99RangerXLT
did two threads get merged somehow???

anyways, what do you do about a parking brake. I might be interested but really wouldn't want to give up the PK.
You would just get the mustang cables and add them in.
 
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Old Mar 2, 2008
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Sorry again, I realize that this web page probably doesn't belong with this rear disk brake swap, but in researching ford rear ends for a swap into my Volvo, I found this interesting artical on installing 9" axle housing ends onto the 8.8" rear. I hope it helps someone.

http://www.mustang50magazine.com/tec...end/index.html

http://www.moserengineering.com/Page...usingends.html

http://www.moserengineering.com/Page...stomalloy.html
 

Last edited by VolvoHeretic; Mar 2, 2008 at 08:09 PM.
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