2003 Rear Brake Disc Conversion: Was it Worth It?

[Lefty]

Thus far, good sirs, I've received a lot of sage advice here. So I dare ask for more. Slowly but surely, my 2003 Ranger has been nicely restored, even upgraded, making it a real keeper. This weekend I'm planning to do a brake job on the front. I am about due anyway. Why not upgrade again? I plan to swap the old discs with slotted and cross drilled, thus improving my stopping distances. It shouldn't take long, maybe a couple hours.

I've got bigger tires anyway. Why not put them to work?

I need to do the back drums too, but I might wait till spring. I saw this nice little article on switching out the rear drums for Mustang discs. https://www.therangerstation.com/tech/ford-ranger-bronco-ii-rear-disc-brake-conversion/ It might be possible even with my limited skills.

The easiest way would be to buy a kit. I saw one for $440. That's a little pricey. Granted, I could maybe find a rusty Mustang version at a junkyard and pare the price down.

Either way my question is the same. Is it worth it? Have you done it? Do any of you know if your increased stopping power was worth the time and money?

 

[franklin2]

It's difficult to get increased stopping power in the rear of a unloaded pickup truck. Now if you run around loaded or have a trailer with some tongue weight, that is a different story.

The abs system restricts a lot of the braking to the rear, especially during a panic stop. The rears lock up so easily.

 

[holyford86]

Years ago I swapped my 98 short bed 4x2 from 9 to 10 inch drums, it'll drag the rear tires without issue with no weight in the bed. My 86 on 33s has 10 inch aerostar drums and it'll still drag the rear tires under hard braking. Swapping to discs may give you a better pedal feel but if your drums are in proper working order and properly adjusted the difference would be negligible.

Mind you this is my personal opinion on the matter. Many of my friends have swapped in the explorer 8.8s with disc brakes and while they stop well, the in rotor parking brake never seems to work correctly and usually freezes up due to rust.

 

[Lefty]

It's difficult to get increased stopping power in the rear of a unloaded pickup truck. Now if you run around loaded or have a trailer with some tongue weight, that is a different story.

The abs system restricts a lot of the braking to the rear, especially during a panic stop. The rears lock up so easily.

I tend to agree with you. And I do not intend to do any trailer work.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Hauling... towing... living in the mountains... I might consider rear disc conversion. If I did... it certainly wouldn't be a Ford system with brake shoes in the rotor hat. Several kits the use GM Eldorado calipers would be my choice.

A properly installed/maintained 10 inch brake drum system on a Ranger works really well. I've never seen a reason for more braking.

 

[Lefty]

Years ago I swapped my 98 short bed 4x2 from 9 to 10 inch drums, it'll drag the rear tires without issue with no weight in the bed. My 86 on 33s has 10 inch aerostar drums and it'll still drag the rear tires under hard braking. Swapping to discs may give you a better pedal feel but if your drums are in proper working order and properly adjusted the difference would be negligible.

Mind you this is my personal opinion on the matter. Many of my friends have swapped in the explorer 8.8s with disc brakes and while they stop well, the in rotor parking brake never seems to work correctly and usually freezes up due to rust.

Thank you. I tend to agree. I have been looking for those Aerostar drum too. Maybe someday!

 

[Uncle Gump]

Thank you. I tend to agree. I have been looking for those Aerostar drum too. Maybe someday!

The Aerostar drums have a smaller center hole then the 98 and newer 8.8 axle hubs. They won't just install without machine work.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Explorer axle swap on mine, didn't really notice a difference in braking.

 

[Lefty]

The Aerostar drums have a smaller center hole then the 98 and newer 8.8 axle hubs. They won't just install without machine work.

good to know. Thanks.

 

[sgtsandman]

I have a 2011 that came with OEM disc brakes. Compared to my previous vehicle and 1998 Ranger that had rear drums, I have not noticed any benefit and the parking brake is a pain to work on and keep in proper operation.

I also have had to do a lot more maintenance and replace rotors and pads much more frequently than I've ever had to do with drum brakes. Unlike drums, that are mostly sealed, rear discs catch all the road spray from the front whèels on the braking surfaces, accelrating corrosion and pad wear.

I would keep your drum brakes and maintain them at peak operating condition. If you have 9" brakes, I can see a benefit to upgrading to 10". Especially if you do a lot of towing and hauling. I would NOT recommend "upgrading" to rear disc brakes. If the 2010 - 2011 axle wasn't such a unique setup, I would ditch the rear discs and install drums instead.

Those who live outside of the rust belt may have a different experience but aside from the corrision issue and the accerated pad wear as a result, the braking ability of the disc equipped truck is not noticably better than a drum equipped model. DO NOT RECOMMEND.

 

[holyford86]

The Aerostar drums have a smaller center hole then the 98 and newer 8.8 axle hubs. They won't just install without machine work.

Correct, I purchased a pair of new old stock Motorcraft drums on ebay for 75 bucks and had the center hole opened up to fit the 98 axle in my old truck. The machine shop charged me 20 bucks, still saved money over the Chinese direct replacement 98 drums and I have higher quality parts.

 

[Lefty]

I have a 2011 that came with OEM disc brakes. Compared to my previous vehicle and 1998 Ranger that had rear drums, I have not noticed any benefit and the parking brake is a pain to work on and keep in proper operation.

I also have had to do a lot more maintenance and replace rotors and pads much more frequently than I've ever had to do with drum brakes. Unlike drums, that are mostly sealed, rear discs catch all the road spray from the front whèels on the braking surfaces, accelrating corrosion and pad wear.

I would keep your drum brakes and maintain them at peak operating condition. If you have 9" brakes, I can see a benefit to upgrading to 10". Especially if you do a lot of towing and hauling. I would NOT recommend "upgrading" to rear disc brakes. If the 2010 - 2011 axle wasn't such a unique setup, I would ditch the rear discs and install drums instead.

Those who live outside of the rust belt may have a different experience but aside from the corrision issue and the accerated pad wear as a result, the braking ability of the disc equipped truck is not noticably better than a drum equipped model. DO NOT RECOMMEND.

I'm glad I asked this question.

I would imagine that corrosion is yet one more good reason to stick with the old drums.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

On my last truck i got about 100k out of the rear rotors/pads twice. I havent touched my 85's since I swapped the axle in 13 years ago.

 

[Josh B]

I have a 2011 that came with OEM disc brakes. Compared to my previous vehicle and 1998 Ranger that had rear drums, I have not noticed any benefit and the parking brake is a pain to work on and keep in proper operation.

I also have had to do a lot more maintenance and replace rotors and pads much more frequently than I've ever had to do with drum brakes. Unlike drums, that are mostly sealed, rear discs catch all the road spray from the front whèels on the braking surfaces, accelrating corrosion and pad wear.

I would keep your drum brakes and maintain them at peak operating condition. If you have 9" brakes, I can see a benefit to upgrading to 10". Especially if you do a lot of towing and hauling. I would NOT recommend "upgrading" to rear disc brakes. If the 2010 - 2011 axle wasn't such a unique setup, I would ditch the rear discs and install drums instead.

Those who live outside of the rust belt may have a different experience but aside from the corrision issue and the accerated pad wear as a result, the braking ability of the disc equipped truck is not noticably better than a drum equipped model. DO NOT RECOMMEND.

Well, this thread just blew every possible reason I had for thinking my 96 Explorer rear axle could be easy put to good use

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Well, this thread just blew every possible reason I had for thinking my 96 Explorer rear axle could be easy put to good use

Come on in, the water is fine.

I have no regrets swapping a '96 Explorer axle into mine.