swapping 9 to 10 in rear brakes

[RB7 Ranger]

Does anyone know if i can bolt on a 10 inch backing plate and buy all the 10 inch shoes and hardware and ditch my 9 inch brakes? Its a 97 truck with a 91 8.8, I wanted the 95 and later 10x2.5 rear brakes....can this be done? if so where can i get the 95 later back plates...thanks guys

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

So… yes and no…

I‘ve never seen an 8.8 with 9” brakes, that was a 7.5” thing I believe. If it really is an 8.8, I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t, but… you will need the spreader bar and wheel cylinder “pins” from a junkyard truck because they’re made of unobtainium. I’m not sure how available the backing plate is. You do have to pull the axle shafts to change the backing plate.

 

[JoshT]

If you're going to all that work, it might be worth considering a disc swap. Using Mustang parts it can be just as easy, maybe easier, than swapping to the 10" drums.

Not telling you to do it, just that it might be something worth considering.

 

[19Walt93]

I suspect they'd bolt right on, my truck runs my spare Mustang II 8 inch with custom 5 lug axles and the Ranger 10 inch brakes fit like they were made for it. I've seen Mustangs with 8.8's and 9 inch brakes many times. For a drag truck where they'll have time to cool between runs, I think the drum brakes will work fine- and they have less drag than disc brakes.

 

[RB7 Ranger]

So… yes and no…

I‘ve never seen an 8.8 with 9” brakes, that was a 7.5” thing I believe. If it really is an 8.8, I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t, but… you will need the spreader bar and wheel cylinder “pins” from a junkyard truck because they’re made of unobtainium. I’m not sure how available the backing plate is. You do have to pull the axle shafts to change the backing plate.

Thanks lil blue ford.. I bought a 90-92 8.8 because it is narrower than the 93 and up. My truck was a 7.5/9in 4 cyl originally, so i just bolted my 9 inch brakes to the 90-92 housing i bought. I didnt know what brakes were on it. All's I know is what I would like to do. It has a spool, and 35 spline axles now so no c clips to remove. it comes apart like a ford 8 or 9 inch

 

[RB7 Ranger]

If you're going to all that work, it might be worth considering a disc swap. Using Mustang parts it can be just as easy, maybe easier, than swapping to the 10" drums.

Not telling you to do it, just that it might be something worth considering.

I thought about that and am still on the fence, the 98 Orange/white,and blue prerunner truck has the conversion. Idid it when switching to an 8.8 from a 7.5 ,Just not sure the discs would hold the starting line as well as drum for a foot brake bracket drag truck

 

[don4331]

Do you need rear brakes at all (other then for passing tech) for a drag truck?

We set the rear brakes as loose as we could get away with for tech; holding at the line was 100% front brakes.