Front brake upgrade ?s

[41Ranger]

In Sticky post on front brake upgrades a response says:

"To upgrade an '83-88 2wd requires swapping the entire I-beam
(Ford changed the balljoint setup going into 1989) with the steering knuckles etc. On an '89-94 Ranger (or '91-94 2wd Explorer) you can simply replace everything outboard of the balljoints."

What exactly changed? Was it the whole ball joint configuration, or just the size?

If it is just the balljoint itself, it may be interchangable with a newer ball joint. I'm new to the ranger thing, but on a fox body Mustang the balljoints can be swapped for a 98 and newer balljoints to mount the new style spindle with upgraded brakes. Is there any reason this same concept would not apply? Did the suspension change completely?

 

[RangerSVT]

Braking system was not drastically changed for rangers til 95, thats when they went dual piston calipers and larger pads...I'd get the beams from a 95-97 ranger...
SVT

 

[AllanD]

In Sticky post on front brake upgrades a response says:

"To upgrade an '83-88 2wd requires swapping the entire I-beam
(Ford changed the balljoint setup going into 1989) with the steering knuckles etc. On an '89-94 Ranger (or '91-94 2wd Explorer) you can simply replace everything outboard of the balljoints."

What exactly changed? Was it the whole ball joint configuration, or just the size?

If it is just the balljoint itself, it may be interchangable with a newer ball joint. I'm new to the ranger thing, but on a fox body Mustang the balljoints can be swapped for a 98 and newer balljoints to mount the new style spindle with upgraded brakes. Is there any reason this same concept would not apply? Did the suspension change completely?

Ball Joint configuiration, the '84-88 Beams have the balljoints pressed into the beams and the taper that the stud engages is in the knuckle.

In 1989 this was reversed, the balljoints are pressed into the knuckle and the taper is in the beam.

Braking system was not drastically changed for rangers til 95, thats when they went dual piston calipers and larger pads...I'd get the beams from a 95-97 ranger...
SVT

I think he got that point, I'm left thinking you really should read "the sticky" immediatly before responding to any questions about it, otherwise your answers seem "Dis co NE cTed".

The "upgrade" brakes used on the 1995-97's won't fit his beams and he's very specifically asking why.

Granted he could have phrased the question a bit better but the point is about asking why the '95-97's WILL for the '89-94 beams but NOT the earlier beams.