8.8 rear disk swap

[88mudder]

i have a 28 spline Ranger 8.8 with Drums, and want to disc brake swap it. Can I get all the parts off a Explorer 31 spline rear end and bolt them onto mine?

 

[4x4junkie]

No the backing plate mounts are different, as are the center pilot hubs on the axleshafts.

 

[88mudder]

is the disk brake conversion possible? What donor car or "kit" do i need? If its a pain in the ass ill rebuild the drums.

 

[AKBroncoII]

Did they have different bearing sizes on the 28 splined axles also. I took disk brake backing plates from a car 8.8 along with all the hardware that has the same bolt pattern as the explorer.

 

[Ranger44]

http://www.therangerstation.com/Mag...g_your_Ranger_8.8_to_Explorer_disc_brakes.htm

I think most of the cars are 28 spline. That may work.

 

[88mudder]

thx Ranger44 that was the link i was looking for

 

[AKBroncoII]

Sorry, by same bolt pattern I mean same bearing hole pattern. Did they have large bearing 28 spline housings? I've done multiple measurements and every time it comes out the same.

 

[4x4junkie]

I'm not aware of any 28 spline ones having the bigger bearings. I do seem to remember someone else reporting a certain car 8.8 had backing plates like the Ex's too (Town Car maybe?). Ranger plates are smaller though.

It is possible however to fit up the Ex discs on a Ranger axle, but will require some fabrication. IIRC, JoelH modified his to fit by relocating the holes on the backing plate mounts.

 

[AKBroncoII]

Now that I remember back I think you are right about them coming off of a Lincoln town car. That does bring something to my memory.

 

[AllanD]

The Towncar/CrownVic/Marquis did indeed use the "small" bearings but had the large bolt flange.

I'm got a set of the Vic/Towncar backing plates and they WILL NOT bolt to a ranger housing without the same work that would be required to mount up '95-up Explorer parts.

The "easy" way to swap discs onto a ranger is mount those explorer backing plates
back onto the explorer axle housing from whence they came and do the necissary welding to install the entire axle assembly.

that way you get the fatter axle shafts and bigger bearings along wiht the brakes.

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