Cobra brakes on FX4 w/8.8 rear?
 

I took my AWD '99 5.0 Ranger to the scales to get it weighed.

It was 3800lbs and it is a short cab short bed!

I plan to turn it into a Syclone of sorts.

I already picked up some 18" Mach replica wheels w/ 255 rubber.

Monday I'm picking up an STX bumper.

I'm gathering parts for a Kenne Bell install. I have a small kit now but it needs a few things to make it "right" for this truck. A modified plate, a shorter drive, a flowzilla with a bypass, a 2.1 if I can find it.

I need to do something with the 4 speed auto trans. I hate it more than..... IDK communism. It acts like the fluid is dirty, and it shudders and upshifts too soon.

Right now I am wanting to start gathering parts for a big brake setup.

I like the GT500's huge brakes but I'll probably cheap out and go with Cobra brakes which will help with rim sizes.

I know I've seen lots of 2WD Cobra brake swaps and quite a few rear disc swaps on 7.5 rears.

I have not seen anyone swap big brakes on 4WD knuckles or an 8.8 rear.

I don't imagine the rear is too much different. Do you guys bend the brake line up and hook the brake hose to it or replace the rear line with a shorter one?

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that the front brake adaptors that allow 2WD guys to run Cobra brakes should fit a 4WD truck but when I tried to order the kit I was told it isn't for a 4WD.

What is holding us back from completing this? I'm not afraid to modify stuff to make it work. My last brake project was a little CRX with NSX brakes on it.

If I could get this truck to stop and turn better, I'd be happier when I make it go better.

rear brakes are easy, if you have a 28 spline 8.8 axle cobra's will bolt on per the how to on the how too section. if you have a 31 spline 8.8 some companies make axle brackets to bolt on cobra brake or expo brakes are a direct swap. let me know what you find out about the front cobras that would be something I would be interested in as well.

For the front:

If you scroll down in this link:
https://www.ranger-forums.com/f59/ho...version-98833/

You'll see pictures of cobra front brakes on a 4x4 knuckle. If you can machine out an adapter, it won't be too hard at all to do.

I thought about buying a smaller mill from harbour freight (i've seen some good work done on these), and making a few sets of adapters. It wouldn't take too long to make my money back. unfortunately, school and work have taken higher priority.

Oh, and the gt500 brakes are AMAZING. if anything, i would go with those (if you can afford it, lul).

oh, and how the hell do you have an fx4 in 99?

lul.

Read this for the rear brakes:
https://www.ranger-forums.com/f59/ho...ear-end-95557/

The swap is mostly done on 8.8s btw.

i want to see pictures of this truck

x2





GB :)

I don't have an on line photo sharing account. I can email them to you. It is a 99 truck rebuilt with 03 Edge parts. It has body colored bumpers and flares with the integral mud flaps (I've only seen them on level2 FX4s, don't like the flaps they scrape now that it is down a little) torsion front, 8.8 rear, 03 front end and interior, 97 Explorer AWD swap, no chrome all blacked out. The bars are cranked down and the lift blocks removed in the rear. It was on eBay this summer.

I don't think I said it was an FX4. It has the FX4 rear end and it is 4wd.

Bird what does "GB :)" mean?

His initials

Danger thanks for the links. I'd never seen the front 4x4 one before.

I bet I can figure something out. I bought one of the Enco lathes but not the mill. I have a drill press with an X Y table on it. It is crude but once it is set up and locked in I can make decent pieces with it. I need to buy a house so I have a place to keep a real mill and a rotary table. This months project is a square receiver hitch that will sit on the step bumper and mount to the tow ball hole. I won't tow cars with it but I picked up one of those Spitz lifts like on Truck U since as I get older my projects get bigger and heavier. It mounts to a square receiver and I don't have one on my truck right now. The goal is to get a roll pan and a fold down plate so I can put in a hidden hitch but I am afraid of what brand roll pan to buy.

How do I tell if I have the 28 or 31 8.8 without opening the pumpkin?

Is the axle tube bigger on the 31?

expo sport tracs will direct swap. not sure what years though.