**HELP!** CAN’T LOCATE CORRECT BACKING PLATES!!!

[Mike Tonon]

We don’t agree with what happened. Let’s leave it in the past.

 

[Curious Hound]

Junk yards?

 

[Mike Tonon]

They tend to want to sell an entire axle, the junk yards near me.

 

[Mike Tonon]

I’m thinking maybe I can make good of this and find a 31-spline axle, with disc brakes.

 

[SenorNoob]

All over in Explorers. Not so much Rangers, but; maybe you'll get lucky. The Explorer swap isn't hard if you wanna do it tho. I bought the Ruff Stuff simple swap kit But, just a new pair spring perches and u-bolts will do. You can even use the Explorer spring under plates for the shock mounts if you want.

 

[Mike Tonon]

Ok! I was able to track down two new backing plates, just like my originals. If all goes well in couple days, when I install the new ones, I’ll give the old ones to anyone on here to try to refurbish, if anyone wants. They’re a little rough, but I think they can be made pretty good, still. Maybe someone on here has a machine to do it in. I don’t.

I’m in Connecticut. You either have to pick them up or pay for shipping.

 

[Mike Tonon]

I could only find 2 driver side backing plates. So I converted one into a passenger side. Just had to move the parking brake cable hole, I had my friend weld the old hole shut. I drilled one new parking brake cable hole and I added one extra shoe inspection hole to both plates. There should be two in each plate, one for each shoe. Originally they only have one. Just had to keep two of the old rubber plugs to reuse. The new brake kit came with new plugs. Came out looking better than factory.

 

[Uncle Gump]

That's using your nugget...

I believe the original shoe "inspection hole" was really a window to check brake shoe adjustment... and adequate enough. These truck brakes are affected with water intrusion issues.. be sure you always have the plugs in place.

Brake shoe inspection can really only be performed with the drums off.

Glad you're back up and running...