Brake backing plate for Torsen rear diff

[Rimjam]

The Torsen adventure continues...... bought a damaged Torsen equipped rear diff from an '04 FX-4 Level II. Bought a new axle, found a good 10" brake drum, now I discover that the left (driver's) brake backing plate is apparently special. It's way too damaged to straighten. What are my options? Only Level II?, all FX-4 Rangers?, Explorers '91-'94 with drum brakes & 5.0 engines?

 

[sgtsandman]

As far as I know, there is no difference in the brake backing plates as long as you stick with the drum size you currently have.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I could be wrong here... but I thought the 32 spline axles in an 8.8 also had larger diameter axle tubes.

If I'm right... that would be the difference in backing plates... larger mounting flange.

@Shran @85_Ranger4x4 @adsm08

 

[rubydist]

The backing plate for the Torsen axle is unique, as the large bearing 8.8 has a larger mounting pattern for the backing plate.

I would get the M2300G2 disk brake kit. This is listed as a 9" brake kit, but it also fits the Torsen rear axle because it uses the same backing plate mounting pattern and has the same axle overhang.

 

[Rimjam]

Thanks for replies.
Torsen 31 spline axle tube is definitely larger than 28 spline so yes, brake flange bolt hole spacing is different. It appears that F-150 flange holes are the same as Torsen but of course the backing plate is larger. I'm told that '91 - '94 Explorers with the 5.0 engine and drum brakes got 31 spline axles but haven't found one to measure. I'm also hoping someone with an FX-4 Ranger would know because Level II Rangers are practically nonexistent in Alabama. I really would like to keep this rear original.

As a last resort: rubydist - who makes the M2300G2 disc brake kit?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I could be wrong here... but I thought the 32 spline axles in an 8.8 also had larger diameter axle tubes.

If I'm right... that would be the difference in backing plates... larger mounting flange.

@Shran @85_Ranger4x4 @adsm08

Yup, no idea how the FX4 compares to Explorer though as far as backing plates and brake hardware.

Thanks for replies.
Torsen 31 spline axle tube is definitely larger than 28 spline so yes, brake flange bolt hole spacing is different. It appears that F-150 flange holes are the same as Torsen but of course the backing plate is larger. I'm told that '91 - '94 Explorers with the 5.0 engine and drum brakes got 31 spline axles but haven't found one to measure. I'm also hoping someone with an FX-4 Ranger would know because Level II Rangers are practically nonexistent in Alabama. I really would like to keep this rear original.

You are going to have a hard time finding a factory drum brake 91-94 V8 Explorer...

5.0 came out in 96, Explorer went to disk brakes in '95.

If possible I would try to use Explorer disk brake parts if possible. Any parts store can get you replacement parts and right now yards are full of donors.

 

[Rimjam]

So, no such thing as a '91 - '94 Explore with 5.0, thanks for clearing that up. OK, how about the 4 litre Explorer - 31 spline axles (4x4 maybe)? Agree that disc brake Explorers are much easier to find than 30-year-old drum models. How about FX-4 models, didn't they come with 31 spline axles whether Torsen or Trac Loc?
I'm attaching a photo of the right side brake assy in hopes someone might have a rear with axle out & easy to measure. Center-to-center mounting holes are 3 9/16", top and bottom.

 

[adsm08]

All Explorers had 31 spline 8.8s, regardless of other options such as engine, or 4x4.

I imagine that the backing plate from any Explorer will work. Worst case scenario is that you end up having to buy brakes for an Explorer instead of a Ranger, and since drum brakes can last upwards of 100K miles, the rear brakes may outlast the rest of the truck.

 

[rubydist]

Sorry for not being clear, the M2300G2 kit is from Ford Performance. The Explorer rear brakes will also bolt right on, but the parking brake cables will need a little rework to make that attach to the Ranger. The reason I like the M2300G2 kit better is that I am not a fan of the Explorer drum parking brake on the rear disk brakes, and the kit I mentioned uses the regular caliper as the parking brake, applying it via the cable. However, one can score the Explorer parts from the jy for under $100, whereas the M2300G2 kit is around $350.

 

[adsm08]

Sorry for not being clear, the M2300G2 kit is from Ford Performance. The Explorer rear brakes will also bolt right on, but the parking brake cables will need a little rework to make that attach to the Ranger. The reason I like the M2300G2 kit better is that I am not a fan of the Explorer drum parking brake on the rear disk brakes, and the kit I mentioned uses the regular caliper as the parking brake, applying it via the cable. However, one can score the Explorer parts from the jy for under $100, whereas the M2300G2 kit is around $350.

1) The if you remove the factory equalizer/cable adjuster from the Ranger and use the equalizer from an Expedition that's all the "re-work" it needs.

2) Integrated parking brake calipers are one of the biggest PITAs Ford, or anyone else, ever came up with. I would much rather deal with a drum parking brake, and I hate drum brakes.

 

[MikeG]

All Explorers had 31 spline 8.8s, regardless of other options such as engine, or 4x4.

I imagine that the backing plate from any Explorer will work. Worst case scenario is that you end up having to buy brakes for an Explorer instead of a Ranger, and since drum brakes can last upwards of 100K miles, the rear brakes may outlast the rest of the truck.

I thought that Explorers with drum brakes had 28 spline axleshafts?

 

[adsm08]

I thought that Explorers with drum brakes had 28 spline axleshafts?

I've never actually opened a drum one up and counted, but I've always read they had the 31-spline from day one.

 

[MikeG]

I haven't either, but I read that somewhere. Anyway.....

Edit: I got on the Rock Auto web site, and they only show 31 spline axleshafts for 91-94 explorers, so that's probably right. Dunno why you can read other sources on the 'web claiming 28 spline shafts. Maybe folks are confusing Ranger and Explorer 8.8s.

 

[Uncle Gump]

To go along with this...

Still today most parts catalogs will say the 8.8 rear end uses the seal for a 31 spine axle. Which won't work on the 28 spline 8.8.

Also I believe the 7.5 and the 28 spline 8.8 uses the same axle seal.

I went through that some time ago. I left the parts store with the 8.8 seal and it wouldn't fit in the housing... parts guy sent me back with the 7.5 seal and it fit.

 

[Otis413]

.........Also I believe the 7.5 and the 28 spline 8.8 uses the same axle seal.....

Yes, the same bearing and seal up to 2009(?), (1563) also the 31 spline FX4 axle used the Explorer bearing/seal set. (1559/8835S)
I went through that same thing too with my 2004 Ranger..

I found this somewhere, can't vouch 100% for its accuracy, I know the Ranger rear axle changed in 2009 but I don't know how much..
And anytime I'v bought axle bearings they've came with the seal...

Ford Ranger 7.5 & 8.8-Inch 28-spline axle bearing ID= 1.399", OD= 2.25" (1563 bearing)
Ford Ranger FX4 8.8-Inch 31-spline axle bearing ID= 1.618", OD= 2.533" (1559 bearing)
Ford Explorer 8.8-Inch 31-spline axle bearing ID= 1.618", OD= 2.533" (1559 bearing)
Ford F-150 / Bronco 8.8-Inch 31-spline axle bearing ID= 1.618", OD= 2.533" (1559 bearing)
Timken seal for 1563 bearing (28 spline axle); 8660S
Timken seal for 1559 bearing (31 spline axle); 8835S

----EDIT----
NOTE:
1559 replaces 6408 (Gen 1)
1563 replaces 5707 (Gen 1)
Gen 1 bearings have a "cage" Gen 2/later bearings have no cage.