A donor vehicle for rear disc brakes question

[74bronk]

Which vehicle is best for rear disc brakes set up? I have a bead on a 97 ford explorer will that work? If so what all do I have to remove and what do I need to take? Will these parts bolt up to a rear dana 44? thanks any (helpful) input appreciated!

 

[spap]

If you have an early bronco you dont have a dana 44 in the back

 

[Steve83]

The closest MODERN factory rear disks I've found are these, but they require 16" rims:

.

I've swapped my rims, but I haven't found the brakes in the JY yet. These are direct-fit, but you'll never find them:

.

 

[74bronk]

Sorry your correct it is a 9" rear end

 

[Broncobowsher]

The Bronco 9" has around a half dozen different brake configurations. Between different bolt patterns on the bearing end and the axle offset past the bearing end. Those come together to the point that there isn't a simple bolt on one size fits all rear disk conversion.

But the Explorer rear disk is a very nice rear disk option. The little drum brake is a very effective park brake inside the hat. The calipers are a good size and well matched to the front disks. But installing them can be as easy as drilling the large bolt circle to the rotors. Or you could need different bearing ends on the housing and different axle shafts that are the correct offset from the bearing ends.

 

[70_Steve]

I did the Explorer disc conversion a couple months ago and am very happy with it. I chose to get the majority of the Explorer brakes from the local Pick&Pull.

I have a 1970 big bearing housing, so the axle flange bolt pattern didn't match up to the Explorer backing plate. I modified the Explorer backing plate to match. Also the brakespace was incorrect, so I bit the bullet and bought new axles from Wild Horses which were designed to fit my housing and give the correct brakespace. These axles themselves were a nice upgrade. I was running Currie 31 spline axles. These 31 spline Dutchman axles are a full 0.250 larger in diameter, besides being machined for SET20 tapered roller bearings.

I chose to eliminate the stock proportioning valve and ran a single line from the master cylinder to the front brakes. I installed a SSB adjustable proportioning valve in the brake line to the rear brakes.

I also ran into a deal on a set of Lokar emergency brake cables. They work well enough!

So far I'm pleased with the braking improvement. Not that I couldn't lock up all 4 tires before, but the feel of the braking is much improved. More... controlled.

 

[wgamble]

Not sure on an early bronco but for a jeep yj, the explorer is a direct bolt in. I would also get the rear driveshaft from the explorer and combine the 2. I would imagine you will also have to get adapters from 5x4.5 to 5x5.5.

 

[Broncobowsher]

It's not a bolt in for a Bronco. Every mounting spot is wrong. Driveshaft flange is completely different. The cost of making this downgrade work poorly (spacers will make it wider) is more than just doing the conversion correctly. Yes it can be done, so can shoving a stovebolt straight six under the hood. The lazy way out is likely to be more work and more expensive for a lesser finished product.

 

[toddz69]

The closest MODERN factory rear disks I've found are these, but they require 16" rims:

.

I've swapped my rims, but I haven't found the brakes in the JY yet. These are direct-fit, but you'll never find them:

.

Those Econoline rear discs are an interesting option. At the very least it appears the backing plates/caliper holders will require re-drilling to mount to a 9" housing end. I find it interesting that the Explorer rear discs come from an 8.8" rear end which should have a different hole pattern per the attached guide but they do bolt to the new big Ford/Torino ends without issues. Apparently not all 8.8's have the same bolt pattern?

Regarding the Versailles - yes, they've always been unobtanium from the JYs and I'm not sure they'll work on an EB rear end. A few years ago I helped a guy who was wanting to use them and based on my calcs at the time, the rotor was too small to fit over the EB axle flange and the 5x5.5 bolt circle precluded machining enough off for the rotor to fit over the flange. A similar condition exists with the 75-79 Mark V rotors, but that configuration is just enough larger that material can be turned from the flange for the rotor to fit.

Todd Z.

 

[Steve83]

Apparently not all 8.8's have the same bolt pattern?

That's an understatement. Mustangs got 4 & 5 lugs on 8.8s; Rangers/Explorers, Crown Vics/MGMs/LTCs, Marks, '83-96 Fs/Broncos, '97-04 Fs & even some Expeditions with metric 5 & 6 lug patterns.

 

[toddz69]

That's an understatement. Mustangs got 4 & 5 lugs on 8.8s; Rangers/Explorers, Crown Vics/MGMs/LTCs, Marks, '83-96 Fs/Broncos, '97-04 Fs & even some Expeditions with metric 5 & 6 lug patterns.

That too! But I was referring to the bolt pattern on the axle flange.

Todd Z.

 

[Steve83]

Yes, so was I.

 

[toddz69]

Let me re-phrase that: I was referring to the bolt pattern on the axle housing flange.

Todd Z.

 

[Steve83]

 

[Apogee]

Todd is correct, there are several housing end flange patterns for the Ford 8.8 rear end. The one linked to above by Steve83 only shows the Mustang flange, whereas the Explorer has a 2.00" x 3.56" pattern like the new-style big-bearing (Torino) housing ends. If I'm not mistaken, the full-size pickups, vans and Broncos also have a different housing end flange pattern, but I don't know what it is. I've just been told that the Explorer backing plates are not compatible.

 

[toddz69]

If I'm not mistaken, the full-size pickups, vans and Broncos also have a different housing end flange pattern, but I don't know what it is. I've just been told that the Explorer backing plates are not compatible.

Steve's post #3 and the bolt pattern shown in his Econoline discs link is what interested and caused confusion for me. I thought the Econolines were interesting because the rotor is already 5x5.5. However the bolt pattern on the axle flange is different. So pick your poison, I guess - you're going to be drilling one way or another.

Todd Z.