I got started working on the rear disc brakes today and have suffered a minor setback. It seems that the Ranger front brake rotors don't fit over the wheel flange on the rear axle. I thought I tested this on my truck previously (and tried on John's old axle today) but it wouldn't fit today so once again, I need to find a rotor that will fit. I'm trying to find a boneyard with a rear disc Explorer that I can borrow a rotor from otherwise I will have to look for non-ford donors. I believe I already checked the Crown Vic rotors and either the bolt pattern or hat diameter was incorrect.

So, I'm back to square one. Hopefully, I'll have some good news today or tomorrow.

 

The Crown Vic bolt pattern is the same, I don't know about the hat size.

What vehicle are you planning on sourcing the calipers from?

 

The calipers are from a Lincoln Towncar and have the parking brake built in. I'm trying to fabricate the caliper mounting brackets but can't until I know what rotors to use.

 

Well, let us know how is works....and it's more of the hat depth...that helps determine how to fab the caliper bracket and retaining the proper backspacing of the wheels.

Once you get it set up would you be willing to make more for other people? Just curious

J

 

My issue right now is actually the hat diameter as I have been unable to find a rotor that will fit over the wheel mounting flange. I have decided to take the hat depth out of the picture by making my own brackets rather than using the ones I salvaged from an old T-bird turbo coupe.

If I had the right rotors, I could simply bolt the T-bird brackets and calipers on and be ready to go but finding anything even close to the right rotor has been difficult.

 

Always gotta do it the hard way....

 

How about Jeep XJ's, YJ's, WJ's, and TJ's? Not sure about the new WK's. They all have front disc and the same bolt pattern as the Ranger. They have bigger hubs, so it's possible they might have a bigger hat area (or nor) -- but it's one other possibility.

Old CJ's and maybe Wagoneers too have a different bolt pattern.

 

It's funny because the brackets they sell on fleabay for $100 a set say to use the Lincoln rotors. I'll find something that works, I'm sure of it.

 

I forgot ZJ's -- Jeep's going to have to get a bigger alphabet...

 

Can't wait till they come out with the BJ

 

Or the PB & J!

 

Hahaha

 

Or the special overnight sleep-over edition: the PJ.

 

The musical edition, the DJ
The pedophile edition, the MJ
Garden edition, NJ
Livejournal.com edition, LJ

I'm spent...J

 

Well spent! That's more than I would have come up with!

 

NICE!

 

For the record, if Jeep chooses to use any of those I'll expect 1 MEELLION dollars *puts pinky to mouth with odd smirk a-la Austin Powers' Dr. Evil*