31 spline 8.8 - do all disc brakes have an "internal" parking brake?

[94firstranger]

All,

I recently deviated from Rangers and bought a CJ7 to tinker with. The PO installed an 8.8 from an explorer. He welded the tubes and had Mitchell Differential build new axle shafts with a 5x5.5 bolt pattern to match the D44 in the front.

The axle has rotors drilled for this and I believe it has factory calipers, but I am a newb and am still learning so I may be wrong. The parking brake cable is not connected, and I see a spot for the tabs on the back of the brake, but the tabs are absent.

It may be a while until I can get into the brakes with a buddy. My question is this - do all 8.8 disc brakes have parking brakes shoes? I assume its possible to remove the shoes and still use the brakes normally, correct? I am trying to determine how much work is needed to get the parking brake working. Hopefully, I just need to add the tabs and connect the cables.

Not sure if pics would help, but here's a couple:

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Yeah, they all had them. It might already be gutted, I thought about it when I swapped mine and am now glad I didn't. I need to get around to figuring out how to hook them up.

 

[Shran]

The brakes function fine with the parking brake components removed. I gutted mine and I do regret it. Looks like you have an automatic so it's not a big deal for you but parking brakes are real handy for us manual trans guys. Someday I'm gonna track down all the pieces to make them functional... it's not difficult, it was just easier at the time to remove it all.

 

[lvwill]

As long as you have all the bits and pieces it's actually pretty easy to get it working. I needed it to work at the alignment shop and we used a small hose clamp. Lol

 

[lvwill]

Hose clamp was used to tie the cables together with the ranger bracket still in place. To do it properly the bracket needs to go rearward a couple of inches.

 

[adsm08]

Yeah, they all had them. It might already be gutted, I thought about it when I swapped mine and am now glad I didn't. I need to get around to figuring out how to hook them up.

On a first gen I was able to use the stock Explorer cables, run to the factory equalizer, this style:

NEW OEM PARKING BRAKE CABLE EQUALIZER FORD for sale | eBay

Find great deals on eBay for NEW OEM PARKING BRAKE CABLE EQUALIZER FORD. Shop with confidence.

www.ebay.ca

Then hook the longer one to the Ranger front cable with this:

Advance Auto Parts - Down for Maintenance

Just use the top one.

Adjustments made at the wheels.

This worked well on my super cab, your truck is a little shorter, so your results may vary.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

On a first gen I was able to use the stock Explorer cables, run to the factory equalizer, this style:

NEW OEM PARKING BRAKE CABLE EQUALIZER FORD for sale | eBay

Find great deals on eBay for NEW OEM PARKING BRAKE CABLE EQUALIZER FORD. Shop with confidence.

www.ebay.ca

Then hook the longer one to the Ranger front cable with this:

Advance Auto Parts - Down for Maintenance

Just use the top one.

Adjustments made at the wheels.

This worked well on my super cab, your truck is a little shorter, so your results may vary.

Do you know what the application is for the equalizer on ebay?

I have cables now so we are making headway...

 

[adsm08]

Do you know what the application is for the equalizer on ebay?

I have cables now so we are making headway...

It was in lots of stuff. 97-03 F-150 and Expedition is the easiest.