upgrade to disc rear brakes?

[jhubbs]

I have a 97 ranger with 373 gears that are worn out in the rear end thanks to the previous owner running them dry. What problems can i expect to run into if I upgrade to a rear end out of a 98 explorer that has disc brakes?

 

[mjonesjr]

Hooking up the parking brake is your only problem you will run into.

 

[Captain Ledd]

IIRC the master cylinder needs to be changed to the Explorer unit, or will work signifigantly better if it was. Disks have more volume in the piston than drums and the master cylinder might not be able to cope / pump enough fluid.

Other than that, standard explorer axle swap procedure.

*edit: yeah, and the parking brakes.

 

[mattpresley]

Hooking up the parking brake is your only problem you will run into.

If I'm not mistakin(which I may be) most 4wheel dick brake vehicles have a minidrum installed for the Parking Brake. Maybe you can find an aftermarket minidrum?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If I'm not mistakin(which I may be) most 4wheel dick brake vehicles have a minidrum installed for the Parking Brake. Maybe you can find an aftermarket minidrum?

The minidrum is made into the inside of the rotor.

The difficulty in hooking up the parking brake is because of a difference in linkages between the Ranger's set up and the Explorer's set up. It isn't impossible, but it takes some thinking. Browse around the RBV axle forum and there should be some pictures in there of different ways to do it.

I have heard if you have ABS (and a '97 should) you will be fine with your factory master cylinder.