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Explorer 8.8 junkyard swap


Desertrunner33

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Hi everyone. I'm going to a pick your part junkyard this weekend to get an Explorer 8.8 axle for a swap into my ranger. I have read around online about it including the page on this website about it. I'm gonna use this kit for all the new spring pads, shock mounts, u bolts etc:
http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/88SS-31.html

My main question is about the brakes. I know the 1995+ explorer axles have disc brakes so what will I have to do to hook them up to my ranger? I also know the explorer e brake hookups are different so when I pull the axle out of the junkyard I'm gonna make sure to grab the explorer e brake lines. What is the most common way of approaching this e brake issue? Thank you all in advance.

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Brakes should be as easy as replacing your current master cylinder with one from a 2002 Explorer Sport. Then you need two right rear hoses from an Explorer, and it should more or less hook up.


The parking brake cables should be able to hook up to yours. Take the cables that go to your wheels off at the splitter, and hook the Explorer cables up at the same spot. Mine is together like that and it works fine.
 
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Desertrunner33

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Brakes should be as easy as replacing your current master cylinder with one from a 2002 Explorer. Then you need two right rear hoses from an Explorer, and it should more or less hook up.


The parking brake cables should be able to hook up to yours. Take the cables that go to your wheels off at the splitter, and hook the Explorer cables up at the same spot. Mine is together like that and it works fine.
Awesome. Thanks for the response. So do I need the master cylinder specifically from a 2002 or what other years will work? I think the axle is coming out of a 1997 but I can look for a different one if need be. I have a 2003 btw

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adsm08

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The rear disc brakes of the Explorer never changed on any of the RWD years. It used the same caliper the whole way through so the year of the master doesn't need to match the year of the axle. I said 02 because it will be closest, numerically to your year, but from 99 to 01 or the 02 Sport should all be the same.
 

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The rear disc brakes of the Explorer never changed on any of the RWD years. It used the same caliper the whole way through so the year of the master doesn't need to match the year of the axle. I said 02 because it will be closest, numerically to your year, but from 99 to 01 or the 02 Sport should all be the same.
Ok thank you. I will let you all know how axle grab goes once I have everything. I will take a weekend to cut off, reweld brackets, weld the tubes, and then have it re geared and painted before it goes in.

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Desertrunner33

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Does anyone know if the e brake cables are the same length?

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The Explorer parking brake cables that came with my '99 axle are significantly shorter than the stock cables on my '94 Ranger, so the same may be case on your '03.

I made an adapter out of some threaded rod and a couple pieces of the old cable hardware to attach the Ex cables to the main cable coming from the pedal. Also a bracket will be needed just behind the leaf hanger to support the shorter cables.

Couple pics of how I did my BII:




Also FWIW, I reused the stock MC on my BII with my '99 axle swap, it seems fine (if I step on it hard enough I can get the ABS to kick in, no premature locking up, etc.). Not sure what (if anything) is different on a Ranger or on different years (in the past I read that if the truck has ABS to start, the stock MC should work with the discs).
 

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The Explorer parking brake cables that came with my '99 axle are significantly shorter than the stock cables on my '94 Ranger, so the same may be case on your '03.
I'm wondering is that has something to do with the wheel base of the donor. I know mine came out of a 4-door, and the cables on it were perfect for length. A sport would have shorter cables somewhere in the line.
 

Desertrunner33

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Ok interesting. Looks like a good way to solve the e brake cables issue if I end up with one's that are too short. I'm gonna go pull one out of a junkyard tomorrow. Hopefully they have one. So should I leave the master cylinder for now then and just hope it works or should I grab the one off of the explorer while I'm there?

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I think my axle was from a 4-door, but I guess I don't really know for sure now 12 years later. :dunno:

Seems to me most logical would be to keep as much the same as possible for cost reasons... Changing the length of the main p-brake cable to accommodate different WBs of the same vehicle would seem more logical. But then again Ford has done plenty of illogical things before. Next time I see both a Sport and a 4-door in the same yard I guess I'll have to investigate.

So should I leave the master cylinder for now then and just hope it works or should I grab the one off of the explorer while I'm there?
Up to you... Maybe grab it just so you have it in case yours does end up not working for some reason (assuming you're getting it cheap).
 

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Anyone know a part number for the e brake lines that will hook up to the explorer e brakes and be the right length for the ranger?

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Desertrunner33

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Hey guys just wanted say thanks. I know it's a little bit delayed but I finished up the swap tonight and drove it and no problems so far! I went with 4.56 gears and I definitely like it

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