Finally I'm doing it!!! My 2000 Ford Ranger explorer 5.0 V-8 build thread with pics!

[--weezl--]

the other thing i thought that was weird, and i only noticed it since i changed the pads to the ceramic... though it could have been doing it before hand, and i didn't notice it... when i'm moderately applying brakes, like for a late red light, not a panic stop, but close, it will grab fairly well, but once i get down to about half speed, they really start to grab, there's like a click and i get thrown farther into my seatbelt...

it's not the gradual increase in stopping power, which you would expect from pads that work well hot, but not cold...

 

[Jwad00]

Not to dis your choice, and I know all the kids want those, but slotted and drilled rotors are not meant for anything but race vehicles.
You'll be changing those long before you would a set of stock rotors.

Quite wrong sir. Just like RangerSVT has said they disperse heat very well and have improved stopping power with the right pads. It is definitely a nice upgrade. Trust me I have been researching these for literally years now always wondering if they were worth it and after tons and tons of reading and researching I have heard nothing but good from them. I don't just go into buying things without knowing all I can about them first.

 

[Jwad00]

I highly recommend the upgrade. How much were your rotors?? I"ll be upgrading axles soon and I need to get another set of these....
SVT

I got them from Autoanything.com for $151 shipped with ceramic pads. They were on sale.

 

[Jwad00]

New rotors and pads:

Wiper arms repainted gloss black:

Rear sway bar and traction bars painted:

Rotors on the axle:

Cleaned up, and painted calipers

Shortened the antenna and painted black:

More to come!

 

[RangerSVT]

I forget what I paid for my rotors, but at the time they were cheaper than AutoZone's replacement rotor prices, so I went with the cross drilled and slotted since I needed rotors anyways. I also got the carbon metallic Z-rated pads along with new bearings...
SVT

 

[Jwad00]

After I get this rear end in the truck I am moving onto the front and will be redoing the bearings and installing some 2" DJM drop coils since my last ranger with the 4/5 was just too low lol. Will also be ordering some S/D rotors for the front and painting the front calipers red and the sway bar silver as the rear one is. Wheels should be on the way very soon hopefully. Trying to piece together the right size tires right now.

 

[RangerSVT]

What's your gear ratio and tire size now, how much lift you have??
SVT

 

[--weezl--]

yay! pics

 

[RangerSVT]

installing some 2" DJM drop coils since my last ranger with the 4/5 was just too low lol...

You might want to get the drop spindles instead of the springs, this way you won't have to do an alignment twice once the springs settle
SVT

 

[Jwad00]

They don't make drop spindles for rangers SVT. At least they never have so I am assuming they still don't lol. I am going to put in the coils but the truck won't be driven or aligned till after the motor is in. Going to get that in and wait a couple days for the springs to settle down then take it in for the alignment.

To answer your first question, the truck has 7.5 open diff with 3:73's and the new axle is the 8.8 with 3:73's as well. I will be running a 255/45/18 tire.

 

[Jwad00]

Explorer rear end 85% complete!:

 

[--weezl--]

could get the 2wd lift spindles, and put them upside down on the wrong sides

 

[Jwad00]

could get the 2wd lift spindles, and put them upside down on the wrong sides

ROFL you're crazy! Hahaha

 

[RangerSVT]

Then its the drop control arms I'm thinking of...I don't remember what year they made the switch...And as far as the rear gearing goes with that tire, I'd run a 3.55 or 3.27 for the best fuel mileage, if you can get your hands on a set, 3.08 would be even better...The 5.0L has the torque to turn those gears and still give you plenty of power and mpg...
SVT

 

[Jwad00]

Thought about 3.55 but this will have to do lol