Brake upgrade info please

[84Ranger]

Ok I'm doing a 2wd swap on my 4wd ranger. I'm using either BII or Ex beams, steering, etc. My question is what brakes can I use? I would like to use the dual piston calipers. What would I need to make those work and what to get them off of? If it's a huge hassle I'll just use older beams and the calipers I already have(I believe all the pin types are the same).

 

[TireIron]

the dual piston calipers are from 95, 96 and 97 trucks and to use them you will need the knuckles out for the correct caliper bracket setup to bolt the calipers on. so grab from the balljoints out on a 95-97 and bolt em onto the arms you want to use.

 

[84Ranger]

Are there any specific beams that those knuckles will or will not fit?

 

[MAKG]

OK, WHY are you doing a 2WD swap on a 4WD Ranger? All you need to do is remove the front driveshaft -- or, better yet, leave the transfer case in 2WD.

You'll quickly discover that the brackets are different, the beams are different, the knuckles are different, the steering is different, the FRAME is different, and so on.

Engineering Rule #1 is to do the minimum amount of modification to accomplish your task. Engineering Rule #2 is NEVER to one-off something that you can buy off the shelf. Sell your 4WD and buy a 2WD and you'll be ahead a few hundred dollars.

I hope you don't think you're going to "save weight" by pulling the differential off. You'll get more effect from a modest diet. And it's better for you.

 

[Ranger44]

I agree, selling your current 4x4 and buying a 4x2 will be loads easier.

Exploder or BII arms will fit with the use of the passenger side beam bracket...

I also thoght in order for the Dual piston calipers to be fitted to an older 2wd Ranger the whole arms had to be swapped over from a 2wd 95'-97'? The 4wd conversion was just ball joints out.

 

[84Ranger]

You know there are some people in this place that actually GIVE information and HELP you. You some of you guys are just being dicks. There is a simple swap for the front. BII or Ex beams, with passenger pivot bracket and stock brakes. I just wanted info on a brake upgrade to the twin piston calipers.

 

[Ranger44]

Hey dude, just calm down....

I just totally missed that you were using the exploder beams....

Those will work.

I just don't know about the calipers being swap friendly. I'm checking into that.

 

[84Ranger]

Not you the other guy.

 

[MAKG]

You didn't answer the question.

In order to answer what you really meant, that's necessary.

Sorry you don't like it, but in the absence of that information, your request looks like "I want a Dodge truck. How do I turn my Ford into one?" Which of course has the same answer -- sell your truck and buy the one you really want. The front of a 2WD vs. 4WD Ranger is different in quite a number of substantial ways.

Though I'm sure you don't agree with me, I AM giving you help. Telling you you're creating a big and unnecessary job for yourself may not be what you want to hear, but it's what's going on.

If you were going to build something unique, that would be one thing. But you're building something that exists in large numbers, and costs less than your truck is worth.

 

[84Ranger]

Ok, well instead of me goining over this again just check out my other posts/threads. When I get to a subject someone in a section doesn't know I switch sections hoping someone else will know it.

 

[Ranger44]

If you are using the explorer beams then you'll be fine just swapping the Ranger brakes onto the explorer beams. The ball-joint set-up is the same.

BII beams might be a different story. 88 and before will require the whole beam to be swapped in order to aquire the dual piston brakes. Defeats the purpose of using the BII beams.

I see that in your other post, 4x4junkie has already confirmed that with using the passenger side bracket, explorer 2wd beams can be fitted to a Ranger's 4x4 crossmember to convert your Ranger to 2wd.

MAKG:

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21333&highlight=explorer+beams

 

[84Ranger]

Thanks

 

[AllanD]

But philosophically why do you want to convert a 4x4 ranger into a 2wd.

you can sell your 4x4 for enpough more than the cost of a 2wd to come out ahead without getting any more dirty than possibly getting ball point pen ink on your fingers when doing the title transfer paperwork.

The '95-97 two piston steering knuckles will bolt up to either the 2wd Explorer beams or 1989-90 2wd Bronco2 beams.


BTW, your "Created" 2wd truck will still sit high like a 4x4.

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[84Ranger]

How so? 2wd beams are shorter height wise than 4wd beams. It will sit as high as any 2wd truck.

 

[AllanD]

NO, you are incorrect and obviously suffering from a mistaken impression the
2wd Bronco2 or Explorer beams still lift the truck to essentially normal 4x4
height.

THAT is just the way it is.

Mostly because the rear suspension of the 2wd Bronco2 and Explorers are identical to that used on a 4x4s.

I ask again, why if you want a 2wd truck don't you
simply GET a 2wd truck instead of hacking up a perfectly
good 4x4?

don't change the subject and answer the fookin question.

You have been asked this very reasonable question several times
and you've at best been evasive.

If you want straight answers it's polite to give them in return.

People are asking you reasonable questions to determine wWHY you
want to do what you are asking how to do something because as
often happens you are mistaken about something basic that makes
your plan flawed and we like avoiding the "awwww SHIT" that invariably
results from someone doing that.



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