10" Drum Upgrade worth it?

[ratdude747]

Made an oops with ordering brake parts.

Had a wheel cylinder blow up... and considering that I haven't serviced the rear brakes since I bought the truck about 4 years ago, figured I might as well give it the works.

Since I have a 1995 4.0, assumed that since I had the standard (for the 4.0) 4WABS and an 8.8" rear end, that I'd also have 10" brakes and ordered the shoes, hardware (self-adjust hardware too), wheel cylinders, and rear parking brake cables (one side is bad)... only to dig in today and find 9" drums. Should have known since I've had the wheels off many times... but apparently, I'm an idiot.

Question is, do I return all the stuff I bought to RA and try again, or do I see about getting new (or used) backing plates and drums (Aerostar, of course) and upgrade to 10"?

Also, do the axleshafts need pulled to replace the backing plates, or can I slip them over the hub? Didn't look close enough to tell.

Edit- If I have to pull axleshafts... I might have to put this in it too:

Ford 8.8 LSD Posi Ranger Limited Slip Traction Lok 28 Spline Carrier Inspected | eBay

<p dir="ltr">Ford 8.8 LSD Posi Ranger Limited Slip Traction Lok 28 Spline Carrier. Condition is "Used".</p> <p dir="ltr">Track lok came out of 01 ford ranger, it should fit 93-09 ford rangers, Mazda b-series trucks equipped with 8.8 differential. Item has been inspected, clutches have little...

www.ebay.com

Tempting...

 

[Uncle Gump]

Defiantly pulling axles to swap backing plates. Bigger brakes are always better.

 

[Shran]

You do indeed need to pull the shafts to get the backing plates off.

I'd be pretty tempted to upgrade. Bigger brakes are not really ever a bad thing. I have Explorer 10" drums on my 8.8, I think I can tell a pretty major difference between that and my other trucks that have 9" drums. I have noticed that it's pretty easy to lock up the brakes in that truck though. Not sure why, the front is basically unchanged, and it may just be an issue with my hodgepodge of parts that you won't run into.

 

[ratdude747]

Ah.

Not having luck finding backing plates... all I'm finding are 9" plates, and they're wicked expensive.

Might be a JY only item?

 

[19Walt93]

Made an oops with ordering brake parts.

Had a wheel cylinder blow up... and considering that I haven't serviced the rear brakes since I bought the truck about 4 years ago, figured I might as well give it the works.

Since I have a 1995 4.0, assumed that since I had the standard (for the 4.0) 4WABS and an 8.8" rear end, that I'd also have 10" brakes and ordered the shoes, hardware (self-adjust hardware too), wheel cylinders, and rear parking brake cables (one side is bad)... only to dig in today and find 9" drums. Should have known since I've had the wheels off many times... but apparently, I'm an idiot.

Question is, do I return all the stuff I bought to RA and try again, or do I see about getting new (or used) backing plates and drums (Aerostar, of course) and upgrade to 10"?

Also, do the axleshafts need pulled to replace the backing plates, or can I slip them over the hub? Didn't look close enough to tell.

Edit- If I have to pull axleshafts... I might have to put this in it too:

Ford 8.8 LSD Posi Ranger Limited Slip Traction Lok 28 Spline Carrier Inspected | eBay

<p dir="ltr">Ford 8.8 LSD Posi Ranger Limited Slip Traction Lok 28 Spline Carrier. Condition is "Used".</p> <p dir="ltr">Track lok came out of 01 ford ranger, it should fit 93-09 ford rangers, Mazda b-series trucks equipped with 8.8 differential. Item has been inspected, clutches have little...

www.ebay.com

Tempting...

Yes you have to pull the axles to replace backing plates. If you've been satisfied with the braking I wouldn't spend the extra money to replace your 9 inchers. My Mustang has 9 inch rear drums and 9 1/4" front rotors, I replaced about everything in August of 1990 when I dragged it out of a barn and they still have over 50% left. For 20 years they slowed me down from 100mph at the end of the drag strip. I also wouldn't buy a used limited slip differential, especially from an idiot that calls it a posi. The metal clutch plates look discolored so I'd question the overall condition.

 

[gaz]

Ratdude,

I put an 89 Ranger 7.5 axle on my 87 Ranger in 94(ish). I didn't realize that the 89 had 10" drums until I had them next to each other. It turned out to be a very welcome braking improvement. That axle only set me back $75; though I did go through it and replace all the bearings and brake components, that all was prudent and one of the few times I really did something correct.

In summary, perhaps you can purchase a whole axle, brake to brake and either use it or cannabilize the parts you want and scrap the rest, for less

 

[ratdude747]

Yes you have to pull the axles to replace backing plates. If you've been satisfied with the braking I wouldn't spend the extra money to replace your 9 inchers. My Mustang has 9 inch rear drums and 9 1/4" front rotors, I replaced about everything in August of 1990 when I dragged it out of a barn and they still have over 50% left. For 20 years they slowed me down from 100mph at the end of the drag strip. I also wouldn't buy a used limited slip differential, especially from an idiot that calls it a posi. The metal clutch plates look discolored so I'd question the overall condition.

I think I agree... the braking never was an issue when working correctly (not puking fluid everywhere), so I'll probably return all the 10" specfic parts (pretty much everything) and try again with the correct 9" parts.

The original buyer of the truck ordered this one custom (a rare long bed regular cab with a fully optioned interior)... perhaps that's how it ended up with 9" brakes instead of the standard 10"? I thought 10" was standard on 4.0's (like 4WABS and an 8.8, both of which I do have)???

 

[MikeG]

I'd expect your truck to be RABS (rear only ABS). Think my 97 is as well.

Are you sure it's an 8.8 rear end?

 

[ratdude747]

I'd expect your truck to be RABS (rear only ABS). Think my 97 is as well.

Are you sure it's an 8.8 rear end?

It's an 8.8 all right. 2.80 Open.

And it is 4WABS. Absolutely. Front wheel sensors and hydraulic unit by the battery in all.

Edit- Returning the 10" parts and already ordered 9" replacements. If I ever put an LSD in it, I'll revisit it (maybe upgrade to discs?). But for now, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[19Walt93]

I've never seen 2.80 gears in a Ranger but 2 wheel drive trucks are uncommon here. We hadn't stocked a 2wd F150 for years and the very few 2wd Ranger were 4 cylinder strippers that businesses would use for delivery vehicles. If 10" drums aren't worth doing I'd never put rear disc brakes on it, if you're braking hard enough to get any benefit from rear discs, all the weight is on the front.

 

[franklin2]

Here's all the axle options for a 1995 ranger according to car-part.com. That might have been a typo, they did offer a 3.08 ratio.


7.5" ring gear, 10" brakes, 3.08 ratio
7.5" ring gear, 10" brakes, 3.27 ratio
7.5" ring gear, 10" brakes, 3.45 ratio
7.5" ring gear, 10" brakes, 3.73 ratio
7.5" ring gear, 10" brakes, 4.10 ratio
7.5" ring gear, 9" brakes, 3.08 ratio
7.5" ring gear, 9" brakes, 3.27 ratio
7.5" ring gear, 9" brakes, 3.45 ratio
7.5" ring gear, 9" brakes, 3.73 ratio
7.5" ring gear, 9" brakes, 4.10 ratio
8.8" ring gear, 10" brakes, 3.08 ratio
8.8" ring gear, 10" brakes, 3.27 ratio
8.8" ring gear, 10" brakes, 3.55 ratio
8.8" ring gear, 10" brakes, 3.73 ratio
8.8" ring gear, 10" brakes, 4.10 ratio
8.8" ring gear, 9" brakes, 3.08 ratio
8.8" ring gear, 9" brakes, 3.27 ratio
8.8" ring gear, 9" brakes, 3.45 ratio
8.8" ring gear, 9" brakes, 3.73 ratio
8.8" ring gear, 9" brakes, 4.10 ratio

 

[MikeG]

Interesting, for my 4.0 97 extended cab/auto, the two choices for axle ratios were 3.27, or 3.55 with a payload/towing package.

Maybe 4 wheel ABS was an option that I didn't get.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I didn't think 4 wheel ABS came in until they went IRS... but according to @adsm08 and 4x4junkie it happened in 1995. It may have been optional... not sure.

 

[ratdude747]

I'll recheck the tag when I'm home after work... wouldn't be the first time I misread a diff tag.

All I know is it's very shallow... and it is an 8.8 (plastic cover with a magnet and all).

I've read (on this site no less) that 4WABS came out in 1990 and was paired with the 4.0 as a standard feature (like the 8.8 and supposedly 10" brakes). 1997 was oddball as RABS 4.0's were a specific option "to give the customer more options", presumably to make the 4.0 less costly?

I'm attaching some pics from when I first bought it showing the 4WABS module and the diff (or part of it). Sadly, I don't have a pic of the diff tag in the collection. Oh well.

 

[MikeG]

My BII had a plastic diff cover, FYI, so I don't think that being plastic makes it an 8.8 for sure.

Edit: grabbed the owner's manual, it shows 3.08 gears with 4.0 and standard cab if I'm reading it right.

Can't believe Ford would go to the trouble of making two different drum brake sizes, all that would seem to accomplish would be to make the supply chain more complicated. Who knows......

Mine is definitely RABS, listed on the window sticker