Increase Payload on the cheap

[rickcdewitt]

air bags won't effect your ride quality, stiffer springs will make it ride rougher

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

The reason that car manufacturers use disk brakes as an upgrade over drum brakes is not because of some *perception* of improvement. It's because the disk brakes are actually better. MAINLY because of their superior cooling ability. If you look at it from one stand point, you'd think the drums are superior because they have more surface area of contact between drums and shoes, but it's the fact that disks are much more efficient at dissipating heat that make them a better brake. Why do you think that the Explorers had a disk brake upgrade for the rear axle, and that people look for a disk brake setup?

Another key advantage of disk brakes is the linear application of force compared to drums. Doing a little research, you find that drum brakes have a tendency to increase their braking force without increased pedal pressure by the operator. This makes controlling drums more difficult. Disk brakes will only increase their force if you press the pedal down more.

The argument that drums are better because you can't warp the drum doesn't make sense either. The structural properties of a cylinder will by definition be better then a disk, but drums are suseptible to their own problems. In fact, I just had my drums turned three weeks ago, and there was a lot of uneven wear on the surface of the drum. Anecdotal for sure, but you ask if he ever warped a drum . . . it may not be warped but an uneven surface is an uneven surface, which means you're not getting optimal braking potential.

EDIT:

Good reference (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drum_brake)

If disks are that much better, then would you care to explain why I've never seen a 1-ton or larger truck running disk brakes on all four corners? I would think that quite a few engineers looked over things before deciding that drums were a good idea...

if you are going to take the time to put explorer springs in, you might be better off just going chevy full size springs. will hold a lot more weight. either way, your going to have some rake, so plan on lifting the front too.

one thing I'm suprised no one has mentioned, your ranger has a 7.5 inch rear. with that axle, you are not going to want to put a lot of weight in the back.

He asked for cheap solutions. Swapping in full-size chevy springs requires fab work or at the least relocating spring hangers on the frame and keeping an eye on your pinion angle and such. Explorer or modified Ranger packs will bolt in with a minimum of fuss.

True the 8.8" is stronger, but the 7.5 when properly cared for is not as weak as a lot of people seem to think. I've had over a ton in my Ranger bed over my 7.5" rear several times (wasn't going far or fast though), and I've had unknown amounts of weight (probably close to a ton or more) several times. It's not that bad of an axle.

air bags won't effect your ride quality, stiffer springs will make it ride rougher

Yes and no... he asked for cheap solutions, thus why I ruled out the suggestion of air bags for him, it would be way cheaper to build a custom spring pack than to buy air bags and the controller/compressor.

If you're careful building a spring pack that will handle more weight, it will not ride significantly stiffer either. The key is to keep the leafs as long as possible to get load carrying without loosing significant ride quality. When I built my custom leaf packs, I could not tell a difference in how it rode, if anything I thought it might have rode a little better than with the stock packs.

 

[racsan]

for about 30 bucks at autozone you can get 1,500 pound rated coil helpers that clamp to the axlehousing and the top end rests on the frame. i have about 1" clearance on my 4x4 so i still have the ride of a stock suspention, but have the extra spring rate needed when a load is applied. i recently fbbed a set under the wife's taurus, it had sagging rear strut springs and now its got a 2" lift in the back. rides harsh over speed bumps, but now the headlight aim is back to where it should be. dont have photos of my taurus build, got a photo of the ranger where it kind of shows the coils,

 

[Will]

If disks are that much better, then would you care to explain why I've never seen a 1-ton or larger truck running disk brakes on all four corners? I would think that quite a few engineers looked over things before deciding that drums were a good idea...

Dude, they do. Ford F350s have had them on the duallies for probably 10 years. My 25,5000# GVWR bus has 4-wheel discs--it's 17 years old. Air discs are on the rise too.

You could do some research but I'll start you off.

 

[racsan]

i recently saw a semi-trailer thet was running a disc-brake arrangement of some sort. most 3/4 tons are now rear disc. what puzzles me is that some honda civic's still run drums. i would have thought they would have been obsolete by now.

 

[Dishtowel]

cost
drums = cheap

disc = better

 

[Shran]

I'll agree with the disk people on this one. Drums ARE retarded. It's like throwing 1920's era tech on a brand new car - why? Cost, obviously, but damn! Disks are worth it just in the fact that they're easier to work on. Ever had a drum fill up with slush and freeze when you park and set the e-brake? It just sucks.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Ever had a drum fill up with slush and freeze when you park and set the e-brake? It just sucks.

Actually with most Ford trucks you can still get the same thrill with disc brakes... they still have a small drum brake in the hub for parking brakes.

 

[Dishtowel]

Ever had a drum fill up with slush and freeze when you park and set the e-brake? It just sucks.

Hot discs + powder snow + parked = front tires on my old car would not turn. period.

 

[metalmacguyver]

I kind of like a Ebrake/Parking brake that will stall my engine and hold on rediculous inclines but thats just me.


Does anyone have a parking brake on a disk brake axle that actually works well?

 

[Will]

This is Sam's old F350--a 2002 or 03, I forget. I see what looks like the parking brake cable at the top but I don't know where it's going. The brake line is along the axle tube.

My old Winnebago and my bus both rear discs and parking brakes on the tranny tailshaft.

 

[Bent Bolt]

This is Sam's old F350--a 2002 or 03, I forget. I see what looks like the parking brake cable at the top but I don't know where it's going. The brake line is along the axle tube.

My old Winnebago and my bus both rear discs and parking brakes on the tranny tailshaft.

It's going to the drum and shoe style park brake.

And despite popular belief , the park brakes will NOT hold back the engine, especially a diesel.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

And despite popular belief , the park brakes will NOT hold back the engine, especially a diesel.

If you use them for parking they shouldn't have to... their intent is to just keep the truck from rolling.