2nd Gen 4WD Brake Upgrades

[MISWFL]

What factory bigger front brakes fit a 2nd Gen Ranger 4x4? I guess there's 2 different factory axles, if that matters. My Ranger is a 1990 CA emissions XLT single cab.

What factory rear disc brakes fit the rear axle with minimal fabrication, if any? Will a later disc brake axle housing work with my diff and axles? I eventually want some type of limited slip or a locker in the rear for slippery roads and very limited rural dirt roads. Depending on cost an ARB would my preference vs a Torsen. I'm not sure if a Trac Loc is worth the trouble, but I'm not up on how good they are.

 

[mr_manny]

Lots of info here on TRS.
Trust me

 

[SenorNoob]

1990 *should* be Dana 35 TTB. The only brake change I'm aware of is the 95-97 dual piston. Someone did that math awhile back and the force difference was very little. I did that swap just to get away from the split bushing things and have replaceable pad slides.

There is an article on swapping Mustang rear discs onto a Ranger axle. IIRC it seemed pretty simple.

 

[mr_manny]

There's also a larger Cobra front brake upgrade, also utilizes the 95-97 Ranger D35 spindle.

4x4 Cobra front brakes - Ranger-Forums - The Ultimate Ford Ranger Resource

Suspension Tech - 4x4 Cobra front brakes - So I am working to eventually go to front and rear cobra brakes and I am wondering if the caliper mounts on the 2x4 and 4x4 are the same on both spindles? Reason being is I want to get the dimensions for the 2x4 caliper adapter and machine my own based...

www.ranger-forums.com

 

[JoshT]

There's also a larger Cobra front brake upgrade, also utilizes the 95-97 Ranger D35 spindle.

4x4 Cobra front brakes - Ranger-Forums - The Ultimate Ford Ranger Resource

Suspension Tech - 4x4 Cobra front brakes - So I am working to eventually go to front and rear cobra brakes and I am wondering if the caliper mounts on the 2x4 and 4x4 are the same on both spindles? Reason being is I want to get the dimensions for the 2x4 caliper adapter and machine my own based...

www.ranger-forums.com

That isn't a 2nd gen dana 35 spindle. That one is from a 98+ SLA truck.

Even on the 98+ I've never heard of anyone successfully pulling off Cobra brakes on a 4x4. Believe me, I would like for it to be available. It would definitely have been used on my 99 AWD Ranger project. I've had.Cobra rotors, calipers, and pads sitting on the shelf for years.

 

[mr_manny]

My mistake.
Looks like the Cobra front upgrade is only for 2WD Rangers.

 

[bobbywalter]

i suggest sooooper doodie axles. they have enough brake on them to almost make up for the extra weight.

 

[MISWFL]

i suggest sooooper doodie axles. they have enough brake on them to almost make up for the extra weight.

Is that a bolt in mod, or are custom drive shafts required? How much wider than stock are the axles? 17" wheels required?

 

[SenorNoob]

Pretty sure everything about that would be custom...

 

[JoshT]

Is that a bolt in mod, or are custom drive shafts required? How much wider than stock are the axles? 17" wheels required?

No, yes, much, and depends on the year

Given time you'll come to understand that Bobby's idea of bolt-in and fits does not align with what the rest of us consider to be bolt-in or fitting. What he considers bolt-in, most mechanically inclined people would consider fairly major fab work. Fitting generally means that he can cut enough out of the way to clear.

 

[bobbywalter]

True

 

[bobbywalter]

I could make the stock driveshafts work.

 

[bobbywalter]

Is that a bolt in mod, or are custom drive shafts required? How much wider than stock are the axles? 17" wheels required?

On a serious note...you can upgrade to an explorer axle in the rear with disks with custom shafts and 5x5.5 pattern and upgrade to d 44 outers up front or a custom wildwood type setup

There are several ways to do it.

Curt runs a hybrid crown vic setup on his d35 for the big brakes and retention of the 5x4.5 bolt pattern

He has this on the forum at some point I can get him to post up

Are you running huge tires?

He has a mid build 302 and 6r80 so there is occasional need for some big stopping power