8.8 Drum to Disk swap... Articles/Write ups?


dasfinc

dasfinc

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Can't find any, I feel a bit stupid.

I have a 2004 FX4 8.8/31 spline/4.10 backing up my truck, and I'm switching to 3.55's (moving down to a 26 inch tire and I am a blown V-8 truck)

Curious what it would take to swap from Drum to Disk while I have it all apart?
 
My problem is finding the Mustang GT backing plates for a good price. Went on ebay but all I could find was the cobra brake setup/upgrade but they dont work with 15 inch rims like the Gt ones will. Good thinng is though they work on 7.5 and 8.8 axles (ranger ones that is).

But here is a sight that somebody did do the swap though and more info that you are looking for, hope it helps you and anybody else out. Plan on doing this myself too....

http://www.fordrangerforum.com/engine-drivetrain-guides/5103-how-rear-disc-brake-conversion-stock-ranger-rear-end.html
 
dangerranger83 said:
My problem is finding the Mustang GT backing plates for a good price. Went on ebay but all I could find was the cobra brake setup/upgrade but they dont work with 15 inch rims like the Gt ones will. Good thinng is though they work on 7.5 and 8.8 axles (ranger ones that is).

But here is a sight that somebody did do the swap though and more info that you are looking for, hope it helps you and anybody else out. Plan on doing this myself too....

http://www.fordrangerforum.com/engine-drivetrain-guides/5103-how-rear-disc-brake-conversion-stock-ranger-rear-end.html
Click to expand...

How can I be sure if I have a 28 or 31 spline... now I'm a bit worried as that would be amazing if I could do the swap like that as I'll be running 18's
 
Dan, that rear end you swapped for has the Torsen L/S and came out of a FX4 didn't it? That would have the 31 spline. Not knowing but I would have thought the Explorer parts would have been an easy swap, just never looked into the interchanablity. Outboard bearings are the same and I beliveve the flanges. The 31 spline has the bigger dia axle tube also. Be interested in what you do find out. What's that '97' Explorer got for brakes?
Dave of the Nord
 
the REAR cobra brakes work with 15" wheels, but they are bigger than the stock front brakes... 11.6"

Your best bet on mustang gt brakes is going to the junkyard..thats what my buddy did when he swapped discs on his 7.5.
 
Well, I sure he has the 31 spline axles so the common GT swap will not work. Will the Cobra brakes work on a 31 spline? Just asking.
Dave
 
What year Cobra are we talking here? The 95-98?
 
Is there a reason you can't just gut an Explorer rear and use it's parts?
 
shane96ranger said:
What year Cobra are we talking here? The 95-98?
Click to expand...
96-2004 I believe (its somewhere in those years lol), I have Cobra discs on my '92, which has the factory 28 spline 8.8.

shane96ranger said:
Is there a reason you can't just gut an Explorer rear and use it's parts?
Click to expand...

The problem is the drum rearends have shorter axles, or longer tubes, one of the two, I've never measured. The disc axles protrude from the tubes farther so there is room for all the bracketry and hardware associated with the disc setup.

The nice thing about Mustang brakes, is the parking brake is integrated into the caliper, so you don't have all that parking brake drum bullshit inside of the rotor like on Explorers.

Mac said:
Well, I sure he has the 31 spline axles so the common GT swap will not work. Will the Cobra brakes work on a 31 spline? Just asking.
Dave
Click to expand...

Only if the bolt pattern on the flange changes, I'm not really sure.
 
Last edited:
OK, that makes sense on the Explorer question ZMan.

I thought the bracket on the 99 and up Cobra might be different because of the IRS. So they are the same then?

BTW, I meant to put 94-98 in my post rather than 95-98.
 
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