rear disk conversion kit

[PlumCrazy]

And you are still stuck with an inferior axle compared to the Explorer axle swap.

It all depends on what you want to do, Mustang brakes probably have more upgrades available, but 31 spline 8.8's have more limited slips/lockers available. My little drums stop the truck fine (most of the stopping power of anything comes from the front anyway) but if I am goin to pick over polishing my 7.5 with disc brakes or dropping in an Ex 8.8 with limited slip that has disc brakes... the 7.5 is going away pretty quick.

I am at about $200 so far, maybe a tad over, and I am upgrading pretty much the entire rear drivetrain behind the driveshaft and below the frame with Explorer stuff... not just the brakes. Once I get the 302 in the driveshaft will also be upgraded to take the larger (for me) U-joints that the Explorer uses as well. Newer trucks already use them though so it isn't an issue for them.

The only bad part about the Exploder disc setup is the parking brake setup. If you have an automatic and never use it, dont bother putting the shoes on, because they will rust and the wear surface will fall off. If you have a manual and rely on the p brake like me, it will be fine as long as you put in new shoes and hardware kit, and make sure the cables and levers are lubed up and free. If you use it enough it will stay freed up and wont get stuck or fall apart when you try to use it.

When I did the swap I cleaned all the rust off of the levers and slides then coated them in never seize, I was fortunate enough to find some almost brand new parking brake cables at JY when I pulled the axle. Actually I was pretty lucky with the whole purchase, I went around to all the Exploders in the yard and pulled parts to make a perfect axle. I found an Exploder with new rotors on it, then I found an Exploder with calipers that didnt even have surface rust on them yet with new Wagner pads in them and new rubber lines, then I found one with new looking p brake cables. I took all the good brake components and put them on the 31 spline axle w/ less the 100k that I pulled and bought the unit for 100 total.And since I saved so much cash by lucking out on the brake parts I was able to buy new fluid & friction modifier, p brake shoes & hardware, and new bearings & seals. so I was able to rebuild the axle with money I saved.

-plumcrazy

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The only bad part about the Exploder disc setup is the parking brake setup. If you have an automatic and never use it, dont bother putting the shoes on, because they will rust and the wear surface will fall off. If you have a manual and rely on the p brake like me, it will be fine as long as you put in new shoes and hardware kit, and make sure the cables and levers are lubed up and free. If you use it enough it will stay freed up and wont get stuck or fall apart when you try to use it.

When I did the swap I cleaned all the rust off of the levers and slides then coated them in never seize, I was fortunate enough to find some almost brand new parking brake cables at JY when I pulled the axle. Actually I was pretty lucky with the whole purchase, I went around to all the Exploders in the yard and pulled parts to make a perfect axle. I found an Exploder with new rotors on it, then I found an Exploder with calipers that didnt even have surface rust on them yet with new Wagner pads in them and new rubber lines, then I found one with new looking p brake cables. I took all the good brake components and put them on the 31 spline axle w/ less the 100k that I pulled and bought the unit for 100 total.And since I saved so much cash by lucking out on the brake parts I was able to buy new fluid & friction modifier, p brake shoes & hardware, and new bearings & seals. so I was able to rebuild the axle with money I saved.

-plumcrazy

That is the only real downside, but if you don't use it then you won't really care, and if you do use it often it will work fine. An added plus is you have a completely mechanical brake should you have a problem with the main ones.

 

[PlumCrazy]

And if your dad drives 10 miles with it on he wont burn up your expensive pads.

-plumcrazy

 

[Fx4wannabe01]

And you're still stuck with an inferior brake system to the stang set up...



show me pics of a blown up 28spline... when I asked a few years back, NOBODY posted anything.

alot of people who go crazy over the 31splines don't actually need 'em. They're their DD's. I know here is mostly wheelers, but the slammed guys or the DD guys who upgrade to an expo...idk...I still don't really see why. Yeah they're 30% stronger than the 28's or whatever. Take note: this is coming from a guy who was stupid and installed a Ranger Fx4 31spline axle in his....shoulda went expo so I can get replacement shafts for cheap if needed.

 

[rat_ranger]

I have a 2.3 duratec in my ranger, and I have 4 wheel disk brakes, all upgraded at that. the rear I used brackets from a company called northracecars, completely bolt on to use with the cobra 12in rotor. and from RPS I got the hubs and caliper spacers from racin' ranger to get cobra brakes up front. total spent on ALL new parts, which includes the overpriced 10th ann calipers was a little under $1100. Yes my 7.5 isnt as strong as an 8.8 31sp, but here is the thing, my buddy has a mustang with a 8.8 28sp which has the same shafts as my ranger and he has well over 500hp and never broken one. so as far as I am concerned the axles dont need an upgrade for what I do. and IMO having the COBRA brakes all the way around just looks better. run what you want, just look at the options and what you need and where you can get parts.

 

[PlumCrazy]

And you're still stuck with an inferior brake system to the stang set up...



show me pics of a blown up 28spline... when I asked a few years back, NOBODY posted anything.

alot of people who go crazy over the 31splines don't actually need 'em. They're their DD's. I know here is mostly wheelers, but the slammed guys or the DD guys who upgrade to an expo...idk...I still don't really see why. Yeah they're 30% stronger than the 28's or whatever. Take note: this is coming from a guy who was stupid and installed a Ranger Fx4 31spline axle in his....shoulda went expo so I can get replacement shafts for cheap if needed.

I agree 100% with you. I dont need to have a 31 spline, but they are the only RBV axles that came with disc. And yes, the stang calipers and pads are a lot bigger and more powerful than the expo's. Not to mention there are more aftermarket performance upgrades for the stangs. I went with expo disc setup because: a) it was cheaper in the first place b) replacement parts are cheaper c) I dont plan to upgrade the rear brakes any further d) my master cylinder would handle the expo calipers w/ no prob e) I wanted keep all the parts in RBV family f) front brakes do more work in the first place.

-plumcrazy

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

And you're still stuck with an inferior brake system to the stang set up...



show me pics of a blown up 28spline... when I asked a few years back, NOBODY posted anything.

alot of people who go crazy over the 31splines don't actually need 'em. They're their DD's. I know here is mostly wheelers, but the slammed guys or the DD guys who upgrade to an expo...idk...I still don't really see why. Yeah they're 30% stronger than the 28's or whatever. Take note: this is coming from a guy who was stupid and installed a Ranger Fx4 31spline axle in his....shoulda went expo so I can get replacement shafts for cheap if needed.

I have no problems at all with the drums on my truck, they stop it just fine. With a dying 2.8 I don't race it or anything but for just driving around I have never had a problem.

My F-150 has the same style of setup as the Explorer, never had an ounce of trouble with it either... and it has done a lot more stuff than my Ranger has.

It is a package deal, with the 31 spline 8.8 you get a stronger axle (similar to a stock 9"), with disc brakes, that matches your front wheelbase all in one package that comes out of a very common SUV for a usually cheap price. I mainly called about mine just for the springs (because mine are shot) but figured I would go ahead and check on the axle to see if it was a trac-loc and it was, and the gearing matched up too so I couldn't really turn it down.

The newer Cobras have 31 spline axles from the factory, the later SN-95 Cobra's with IRS and the current GT-500 family... so with the 320hp+ that they have Ford must have had doubts about the 28 spline's ability to hold together. They actually changed them in the middle of the SN-95 Cobra's production run so they must have been getting negative feedback on it. Same goes for the butt heavy Explorer... if they thought they could have gotten by with a 28 spline they would have.

Why do people with street trucks do it? It is probably a very cheap way to get both disc brakes and lower gearing (3.73's and 4.10 where common) in one package. Figure up how much it would cost to put on your Mustang brakes AND to have a new gearset set up and compare.

 

[rat_ranger]

there are alot of variables with which set up to run. you can get brackets to run the 31sp 8.8 with cobra brakes. or you can run explorer brakes. it all depends on what you want, looks and "high" performance brakes, or just disk brakes for cheap.

I personally did the cobras because of looks. I had the parts to install the 13in cobra brakes in the front and with 20s I wanted brakes that would look god in the back too. It all depends on what you want and how much you want to spend.

 

[PlumCrazy]

Why do people with street trucks do it? It is probably a very cheap way to get both disc brakes and lower gearing (3.73's and 4.10 where common) in one package. Figure up how much it would cost to put on your Mustang brakes AND to have a new gearset set up and compare.

Not to mention if you are planning to lower a Ranger with an axle flip, the Exploder axle is already axle over spring.

 

[Fx4wannabe01]

Yeah...tons of different variables...I just like the ease of maintenence and working on the stang brakes more. I've got Expo brakes to put on my Ranger 31spline, but after doing the Cobra 13" rotors up front and Cobra 12" rotors on my little brothers '01, I'm in love with the ease of working on it and getting the job done. I'm going cobra with the currie 31spline bracket.


I thought ALL 91+ explorers are 31spline?? Doesn't GVW determine what axle goes into what? Also taking into account engine power? Maybe Ford just wanted to upgrade across the board because everything else is 31spline 8.8(f150, bronco, explorer, etc)...maybe making it simpler for parts? idk...we can speculate all day long about the reasons for their decisions. I think we all can agree, 500hp is alot for a 28spline, DUH ford threw in the 31spline in the GT500's. Another thing we can all agree with, is there's a few things that come into play when it comes to axles....amount of power being sent to them, amount of load they can handle(tow/load/vehicle weight), and amount of stress they can handle(locker+big sticky tires)...everything can be taken into consideration as to why a certain axle was chosen for a certain vehicle with certain options.


Why is it that people flame folks for throwing in a 8.8 28spline when the truck came stock with a 7.5?? That IS a very good upgrade...not everyone needs a 31spline 8.8. Remember, the 8.8-28 is just a tick weaker than a GM12bolt and ya'll should know that's the axle of choice in muscle cars/trucks, and the 8.8-31 is as strong as the GM12bolt. I'm blahblahblahing now. I'm quitting. lol.

 

[rat_ranger]

Yeah the cobra brakes are really simple to work on. I like them, and they look nice, and with tires sticky enough to take advantage of the added brake force they stop the ranger FAST. its all preference.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I thought ALL 91+ explorers are 31spline?? Doesn't GVW determine what axle goes into what? Also taking into account engine power? Maybe Ford just wanted to upgrade across the board because everything else is 31spline 8.8(f150, bronco, explorer, etc)...maybe making it simpler for parts?

Yeah, all Explorers have the 31 spline 8.8 to some degree in the rear.

Sometimes Ford really doesn't make a whole lot of sense, like the D28/35 hybrid thing. Which is really kind of what the 28 spline 8.8 is, a hybrid between a 7.5 and the original 31 spline 8.8. Most RWD Ford cars and the 4.0 Ranger are 28 spline, and I think the lighter duty Rangers are the only thing to still use the 7.5. If they want to simplify inventory, they have a long way to go...

Nobody can see my brakes thru my rims so I don't really care all that much what they look like.

 

[dbrutherford]

My axle seals are leaking again so I am forced to finally do this swap (Explorer rear end under my 1995 4x4 4.0L Ranger). I replaced them some time back with AutoZone junk. My factory Ranger diff has fingers broke off the clutch pack. I have waited for it to completely break for a while now and it hasn't. But I too have the ebrake blues with factory drums. If I don't use them, the cable sticks and drags the brake. Maybe I over heated the brakes/seal or maybe it was the cold weather but my seal is leaking like a sive. I am not goign through the whole brake replacement only to put drums back on!

My main questions are where can you get the shock mounts? I bought some spring perches from Jeggs and they look like the factory ones and fit the 8.8 28 sopline Ranger housing pretty well. Not sure how well they fit the Explorer housing since it is supposedly bigger. I know I can cut/weld some up but that seems more time consuming. I just want some easily bought ones. Most I have seen online don't look like a good fit.

The second question is about the ebrake cables. I have read different things here and there. Can I just use stock Ranger cables with the Stock Explorer mini drum parking brake?

Anyone do this swap and mount the leaf springs like a stock Explorer? Just curious if it was a good idea or not. I have some Sky jacker 4" lif leafs I was going to put on my Ranger. But I was going to ditch the factory blocks so that I only got a little bit of lift instead of the full 4". (I also have +2" Sky Jacker front coils that need to be installed.) I am a little worried about pinion angle but i think that can be fixed with using the propper shims on the leafs or by where i weld the spring perches.