Ranger/Bronco2/Explorer REAR brake upgrades

[Jeepman401]

First, there is NO junkyard. cheap, bolt-on disc brake upgrade for Rangers or Bronco2's.

If you have a '91-94 Explorer with drums the '95-01 Discs DO bolt directly onto the '91-94 Explorer drum brake axle.

The only two practical ways of putting discs onto a Ranger/B2 are either with a complete aftermarket kit OR swapping in a '95-01 Disc brake Explorer axle.

there are however easily accomplished upgrades that work NEARLY as well for less effort:

If your early Ranger Bronco2 has 9" drums upgrading to 10" drums is a suprisingly effective alternative. search the junkyard for either a later ranger, or even easier an Aerostar to serve as a donor.

If you already HAVE 10" drums (most '88-up supercabs, 4x4's and '91-94 explorers) improved fade resistance is as easy as replacing your "smooth"
10" drums with the heavier "finned" drums that are specified for the '93-97 Aerostar.

ONE-MORE-TIME
Other than welding or an expensive aftermarket kit there is no easy or cheap way to put discs onto a Ranger. Many have tried, all (so far) have failed.

AllanD

[kunar]

would like to add that at one time there was a write up of a late 80's (i think) mustang 7.5 disc swap onto a ranger 7.5 that involved cutting and drilling a bracket to bolt to the axle, no welding was required. if anybody has this info or could fill in the details, that would be good

[Jeepman401]

Sorry, I was looking for that one when I got banned

[Mutant Pony]

I had an '84 lincoln continental 7.5 and disc brakes. Somebody stole it before I could try it on my Ranger. It was 5x4.5. (same as Ranger)
All my old Rangers have been upgraded to 10" drums.

[BDAB]

but still the 96 explorer axle is worth the $34 it cost to have the perches flipped just to get the the better axle. Disc brakes were just a bennefit of the axle.

[VaGent]

I have a 1990 B2 that I want to put 1991 Explorer brakes on as I am told they are 10" drums/ First off, is this TRUE & if so, what is needed to do the upgrade. I've read the Explorer drums brakes are much more efficient then the B2 stock drum brakes. Any help would sure be appreciated. Thanks I am also searching for a thread that would help me in upgrading the stock electric front hubs to manual WARNER hubs that I have on a donated 1991 Explorer. Anyone know where that thread might be found? I'm NEW to this forum & still trying to find my way around. Thanks again.

[MAKG]

Are you having a problem with your Bronco II brakes?

If you can lock them up with the RABS connector disengaged, no change to your braking system can possibly improve them.

I never had a problem braking in my 1986 Bronco II. Exploders have bigger brakes (SOMEtimes) because they weigh quite a lot more than Bronco IIs and therefore have better traction on the same tires and tire pressures.

My advice is to fix ACTUAL observed problems, and do without pointless upgrades. If you have a problem, you're much better off repairing stock -- if you ever take it to a mechanic or sell it to someone else, you won't get "WTF" phone calls.

[TRUNK_MONKEY]

or care,when you increase tire size,you need to increase braking ability.whatever percentage over stock you go in tire size,you need to upgrade the same in brakes as well.11 in drums are a great start for the rear.better fronts can be done with either better components or totally swapping them for bigger better performing units.
IE 35 in tires with stock brakes--you prolly lost 30% of your braking ability.
disc is great and all,but the drum brake is just fine and alive and well.in good condition the 11's will be more than good enuff to hold your vehicle and do the rear brake chores.

[MAKG]

IF you can lock the tires, you do not need even the slightest additional braking power. It is NOT in proportion.

And no Bronco II has electric front hubs. Very few of them have axles that any Explorer hubs will fit.

[VaGent]

I've been told by my local Ford dealer that the ABS module is not serviceable. Is this true? Is there a rebuild kit available or can it be taken apart & cleaned? I have NO FLUID at all going to the distribution block mounted on the rear axle that feeds the rear brakes. And if the ABS module can be cleaned, is there any special tools needed? Will the ABS module on a 1991 Explorer work on a 1990 Bronco II? Need some advice on what to do.

[rat_ranger]

Just to throw it out there you can fairly easily put mustang disks on the back of a ranger. There are multiple places to get the bracket, like fortes or north race car. its about $150 for the bracket. bolts inplace of the backing plate, and uses the cobra 12inch rotors. rotors you can get for $50 or more depending on where you get them and calipers can be had for between $25 at a junkyard to $200 brand new. for the line, you bend it to run next to the leaf spring and bolt it to 03 cobra soft lines, that then bolt right to the caliper. the cheapest? no. Easy? yes. But I wouldnt do it unless your also planning on cobras in the front.

*EDIT* forgot to add, the parking brake is pretty easy to get hooked back up and working. I used the stock cables even. I cant get any pictures though, My truck is in storage while I am in iraq.

[ford1386]

wouldnt it be easier to swap in an FX4 level 2 rear out of a 99-07 ranger they are already disc brake and bolt right up

[engdept]

wouldnt it be easier to swap in an FX4 level 2 rear out of a 99-07 ranger they are already disc brake and bolt right up
The FX4 31 spline axles started in '02. The NEVER came with disc brakes, they had 10" drums like every other Ranger. There NEVER was a Ranger with factory disc brakes.

[04 EDGE]

heres my "cheap junk yard" disk conversion

first i found a rear axle out of a 95 crown vic.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x50/04-EDGE/0515081213a.jpg

next tear it down to get the caliper brackets off the axle flanges.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x50/04-EDGE/0515081432.jpg
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x50/04-EDGE/0515081432a.jpg
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x50/04-EDGE/0515081433.jpg

machine the rotors
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x50/04-EDGE/0516081245.jpg

this is where it gets tricky
the bolt pattern of the brackets is a tad different then the small bearing ranger axle so some grinding and welding was needed. seems the newer 28 spline small bearing crown vic axles have the matching bolt pattern, i got this 1995 axle for 100 bucks.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x50/04-EDGE/0517081520.jpg
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x50/04-EDGE/0517081520d2.jpg

finished product. i welded the four corners. i dont care if its permanent.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x50/04-EDGE/0517081520c.jpg
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x50/04-EDGE/0517081520b.jpg


i have been driving on this for about 6 months, zero problems and it no longer grabs and or feels like the rear axle is coming out when i first use the brakes after it rains or sits overnight.

[racinranger]

93 cobra/ turbo coupe rear disks work fairly well i did them on my 94 ext cab. im going to do them on my 08 fx4 soon. you use the 11.95'' rotor from the turbo coupe the turbo coupe brake soft lines and cobra calipers. the brackets will bolt right up but in my case i had to "flip them side to side and notch them both for the inside of the flange. i used the drum hardware to bult them up. i ended up having to ship the caliper mount where the pad carrier sits with a washer on both sides to make everything track perfect. lasted 25k miles with no problems. i never did work out the ebrake's tho but i had a plan

[joerjano1]

Have 02 ranger 4x4. Have 10 inch drums and looking for a way to convert to discs. I dont want to swap rear ends. I have read that there are "junkyard ways" and that there is no "junkyard way". Anybody have a definate way to do this? If not, is there a good kit out there to buy? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[rat_ranger]

get the SN95 bracket from here http://www.northracecars.com/Brakes.html , its the top row far right one. it bolts on in place of your backing plate, you justslide a mustang rotor on your axle(non cobra rotor) and bolt on mustang calipers. I used a cobra soft line to go from my factory hard line to the caliper. but you may have to change the hard line on the axle with some years. total it could be done around, $500 using all new parts, cheaper if you go to the junkyard for calipers.

* if you check out my car domain I am using the cobra bracket from them and running the 12in rotor. its a fairly simle bolt on, but you do have to take the axle shafts out to do it right.

[HndMeDnBroncoII]

Have 02 ranger 4x4. Have 10 inch drums and looking for a way to convert to discs. I dont want to swap rear ends. I have read that there are "junkyard ways" and that there is no "junkyard way". Anybody have a definate way to do this? If not, is there a good kit out there to buy? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

use a 95 crown vic rear disc setup completely bolt on my buddy paid sity bucks at the wreckers(canadian cash)for both sides but double check the axle tubes where the backig plate bolts up.
good luck

[AllanD]

The Crown Vic brakes setup DOES NOT "bolt" to a Ranger.

The Crown Vic even though it has the smaller 28-spline axle shafts
uses the LARGE (explorer) brake mounting flange

the CrownVic/Marquis/Towncar setup differs from the explorer system only in detail

Those details are:
1)The Crown Vic uses what jokingly call a "bikini" dustshield that
protects ONLY the parking brake assembly rather than the full disc
like the Explorer.

2)the Vic setup is IDENTICAL on both sides of the vehicle.
In essence it ses TWO left side assemblies, so that on the
left the caliper is behind thw axle and on the passenger side
it is in front of the axle, this creates what would be a MASSIVE
parking brake cable routing nightmare on a Ranger.

ALL of the "junkyard Easy" brake swaps that have been proposed
have one thing in common, they all require some welding,either to the flange on the axle, NEW flanges on the housing or modiication (redrilling after welding) to the backing plate.

Welding is not "Easy" for most people

"Easy" means 3/8" drive socket set and a prybar.

If you need to weld you may as well weld spring and shock mounts to a complete explorer axle and get the 31-spline axle shafts in the bargain.

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