2010+ complete rear axle swap (with discs) into earlier ranger???

[veefer800canuck]

So, my E-brake must have screwed up yesterday, because the LR brake was dragging after using the e-brake, I was out of town, and no tools to speak of.



The pedal released fully, but something inside the one drum didn't. By the time I got home, it was smoking hot.

I'll pop the drum off as soon as I can and check the shoes, but it's really got me thinking of a disc brake conversion, Vs repairing the drums. Besides, I hate drums.

Right rear drum was cool as a cucumber.


I read up on the Mustang rear disc brake swap, but I've got a line on a complete 2010+ Ranger rear axle with factory discs. If I can get it cheap enough, it just might work.

It's a 3:55 ratio, I currently have a 3:08. Both are 8.8" rear ends. So that would be a 15% reduction in gear ratio.

I normally run about 2,000 RPM on the highway, this would raise it to 2300. Wonder if the speedo gear drive from the newer truck would fix the speedo reading?
(mine is a 5 speed) Or if it would even fit?

So what is stopping me from doing this? Anything with the traction control or ABS on the newer axle? I assume I would just not connect the electronic doo-dads for the fancy items and cut them off or remove them if possible.


I figured I could drive it for awhile, see if I like the 3:55 gears, and what happens to my fuel economy, and if I don't like it, I could always swap my 3:08s in, from what I've read, they're swappable.

Anyone got any ideas? Besides "you're nuts"?

 

[Earl43P]

I believe it'll have seperate brake lines to each caliper for traction control (they pulse the ABS when wheel spin is detected). You'll need a splitter to combine the lines.

It will NOT be a limited slip either, but that opens up the locker option, so consider that.

You can "correct" the speedo with a different colored gear on your trans VSS, or install different size tires to compensate.

 

[veefer800canuck]

Didn`t get a chance to pop my drum off today, too busy, but I did loosen off the auto adjuster a turn or so with a couple of screwdrivers through the little inspection port, and the brake isn`t dragging anymore. Hopefully I didn`t cook it too bad.

I`m thinking now that my 14`` winter wheels and tires won`t fit over the newer axle`s brakes. I`ll have to go look at my father in laws ranger, I think it`s a 2010, so I`ll see how much room there is there.

Might look at the Mustang swap after all, if the 14`s won`t fit. I`ve got 4 new studded winter grips on those rims, and don`t want to ditch them because of an axle swap.

The 16`s I run in the summer will clear no problem, that`s a fact.