Drivetrain Tech General discussion of drivetrain for the Ford Ranger.

rear disc brake conversion?

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Old Dec 19, 2007
  #1  
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rear disc brake conversion?

I am getting sick of my rear drum brakes. I had them turned last winter when they started grabbing and sticking and they are at it again. Is there and kit or something similar to one where I can replace my drum brakes with disc brakes?
Oh and I'm not loaded so little money is an issue when it comes to high prices.
 
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Old Dec 19, 2007
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cheapest way is to swap in an explorer axle... the rear disc conversion kit is something like 500--600 and only works with 31 spline rears
 
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Old Dec 19, 2007
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Still better doing the Explorer axle swap because you will get disc brakes AND 31 spline axles.
 
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Old Dec 20, 2007
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Originally Posted by D.
Umm.. wrong. SSBC's kits work with ALL 8.8 and 7.5 rear's, spline count is irrelivent.

Gimme a ring Sam.
How much is the kit?
 
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Old Dec 20, 2007
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I pm'd you D

This is the site for the SSBC kit I found:
http://www.ssbrakes.com/products/det...nger&year=2003

The kit runs at $859
 
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Old Dec 21, 2007
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$859? Yow! I could swing half that... but that's an awful lot of money for brakes.

Anyone know if you can buy explorer disc brake caliper mounts from Ford or anywhere else? Something that could just bolt onto the housing?
 
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Old Dec 21, 2007
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SCREW THAT!!! lol
 
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Old Dec 21, 2007
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Originally Posted by Gearhead61
Anyone know if you can buy explorer disc brake caliper mounts from Ford or anywhere else? Something that could just bolt onto the housing?
The Gen 2 Explorer rear calipers, rotors and backing plates are a 100% bolt on to the 31-spline LII axle like yours. The only fab work is for the brake lines and p-brake cables. There is a kit made up of the Ex parts that costs under $400 from FRPP that includes everything but the hoses and hard lines. Or you could get the parts from a boneyard.

Bill (04lvl2) and I installed them on his Level II. Look in the how-to section for more info.
 
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Old Dec 21, 2007
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Summit racing also sells that ford kit for the Lvl IIs. It's listed as a Explorer part....find the part number and do a search on their site.
 
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Old Dec 21, 2007
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http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
 
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Old Dec 21, 2007
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again for that price you could just swap axles..IMO do the axle..

running 37s with 4 wheel discs it stops AWSOME..its perfect
 
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Old Dec 21, 2007
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Originally Posted by HighRollerII
running 37s with 4 wheel discs it stops AWSOME..its perfect
Hopefully in a year I'll be saying the same thing!
 
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Old Dec 22, 2007
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Originally Posted by D.
Gimme a ring. I spoke with Mark at SSBC today for ya It won't be 850$.

Couple problems for Sam..

"mounting brackets to fit Ford 8.8 in. truck/9 in. late Ford axle housings with 2 in. x 3.56 in pattern, big 3.15 in. bearings, and attaching hardware."

Different Bearing size for a Standard 8,8 rear. He doesn't have a lvl2 or the larger 31spline axle housing. The flange pattern for the caliper brackets won't be right.

Sam COULD buy an explorer axle and Brian and I could modify it for him to sit properly on his leaf springs. He would then have to wonder the condition of the internals/axles , rotors, pads, calipers.. Those axles around here can be found for cheap ( 150$-ish ) but pulling them in the snow and mud when they are on the ground.. In NY..

His drums are presently locking up, something needs to be done.

Is the SSBC kit expensive? At 850$, yep!

The question is.. grabbing a bone yard axle thats sat in a yard in snow and muck.. then having to rebuild it.. and modify it.. Whats the final cost? 500$? maybe less.. maybe more.. Guessing game anyone?

Theres nothing wrong with his axle, just those damn drum brakes. Why risk braking something thats working?

The SSBC setup comes with EVERYTHING! They even tossed in new Parking brake lines ( Yankees will tell you southern boys that snow/salt will sieze those lines up really bad ). New braided brake lines.. If I had any questions or issues, it was all local for me. Sam doesn't live that far away.

Toss in ' Time ' as well. The SSBC kit takes all of 2 people maybe 3 hours to do ( slow pace at that ). How long would it take to fish out an axle, clean it, re-do the spring mounts, drop out the old axle and disconnect everything..

From beating on my setup, I think they are worth 850$. Granted, part of my praise goes to having SSBC in my neighborhood and having my hands on a lot of ' goodies ' from them. Ask me when the last time I bought pads or rotors was

As for the effectiveness of their product.. I bought a Wilwood setup for an 8.8 . Its on another Ranger. Its a performance setup with ' hat ' type rotors.. IT SUX! I'm glad I went the way I did.
I've been looking at this kit myself but I have one question. Since this kit uses 10.5'' rotors and my front set are 12'', do I just find a 10.5'' rotor from another vehicle with the same bolt pattern ?
 
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Old Dec 22, 2007
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Originally Posted by DSFD506
I've been looking at this kit myself but I have one question. Since this kit uses 10.5'' rotors and my front set are 12'', do I just find a 10.5'' rotor from another vehicle with the same bolt pattern ?
$850 and it doesn't come with rotors?
 
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Old Dec 22, 2007
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Originally Posted by DSFD506
I've been looking at this kit myself but I have one question. Since this kit uses 10.5'' rotors and my front set are 12'', do I just find a 10.5'' rotor from another vehicle with the same bolt pattern ?
if you're wanting to put 10.5 inch rotors on your front to match rear, think again. The bolting point of your front calipers in relation to your spindle and other front suspension components is engineered for those 12 inch rotors. Going down in size by just simply swapping rotors won't work. How do I know? It's called the RCD torsion bar to coilover conversion lift kit. From mid-model year 03+ our trucks have 12 inch rotors, prior to that they were 11.28 inch rotors. The RCD kit is manufactured for the 11.28 in front rotor. I had new brakes installed about 2 months before I lifted and I attempted to have the 11.28 inch rotors I had installed since they were redoing the brakes. The rotors fit, as they should, but due to where the brake caliper bolts onto the stock spindle the brake pads would not have sat properly on the rotor. The spindles that come with the RCD kit are drilled to "relocate" the brake caliper for use with 11.28in rotors.
 
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Old Dec 22, 2007
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Originally Posted by Lefty04LevelII
if you're wanting to put 10.5 inch rotors on your front to match rear, think again. The bolting point of your front calipers in relation to your spindle and other front suspension components is engineered for those 12 inch rotors. Going down in size by just simply swapping rotors won't work. How do I know? It's called the RCD torsion bar to coilover conversion lift kit. From mid-model year 03+ our trucks have 12 inch rotors, prior to that they were 11.28 inch rotors. The RCD kit is manufactured for the 11.28 in front rotor. I had new brakes installed about 2 months before I lifted and I attempted to have the 11.28 inch rotors I had installed since they were redoing the brakes. The rotors fit, as they should, but due to where the brake caliper bolts onto the stock spindle the brake pads would not have sat properly on the rotor. The spindles that come with the RCD kit are drilled to "relocate" the brake caliper for use with 11.28in rotors.
im fairly certain hes talking about the back since you cant get 'ranger' rear rotors
 
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Old Dec 22, 2007
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10.5in rotors arent worth the trouble of swapping over to, imo....
 
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Old Dec 22, 2007
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If this is something enough people are interested in, i may design a rear disc conversion kit since i now have a spare 8.8 28spline diff laying around...
 
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Old Dec 22, 2007
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I know this kit comes with the rotors and i'm not wanting to change the front. I was just asking when it comes time to replace the rear rotors can I buy the rotors from them or find the same specs from somewhere else ? I don't really like the idea either of having 2 different size rotors but my truck is too new to think about doing an explorer axle swap. Guess i'll just stick with the drums til the warranty goes.
 
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Old Dec 27, 2007
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I was wandering what kind of rearend 7.5 or 8.8 does the 01 ford ranger 2x4 3.0l v6 have and is the tranny in it the same as an automatic Mustang if not what kind is it and where can I get a shift kit for it, Thanks.
 
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Old Dec 27, 2007
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Nick, I'd sure be interested in a rear disc kit if the price would be reasonable!
 
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Old Dec 27, 2007
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Icon3 Crown Vic>>>

Originally Posted by sambob117
I am getting sick of my rear drum brakes. I had them turned last winter when they started grabbing and sticking and they are at it again. Is there and kit or something similar to one where I can replace my drum brakes with disc brakes?
Oh and I'm not loaded so little money is an issue when it comes to high prices.
===============================================
I have an 8.8 outta 92 Explorer (drums) and am gonna put 95 Crown Vic disc brake setup on it. Just a matter of swappin backin plates & puttin the caliper mounts on.

I'm pickin up the whole setup for $75.

I'll post some pics & details when I get to that point......

GOOD LUCK in your search!
 
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