Big brakes... for the rear

[Mr Mufakka]

I'm not a regular over here so I'm not sure if this is the right forum but anyways...

I've swapped in an Explorer 8.8 axle w/ discs into my Ranger and I'm looking at upgrading the brakes. Has anyone put larger rotors/calipers on back there? I was wondering if parts from a Cobra could be retrofitted.

 

[rookieshooter]

http://www.moserengineering.com/moser_interior/products.asp?CatID=4

I plan on some Moser diff. parts and maybe some brake parts for my b11. You can't go wrong with their products or the products of other companies they carry. Not cheap though.

 

[blk mk8]

The stock disc brakes in the back are more then fine.

 

[Mr Mufakka]

Rookie, I've actually got Moser axles in this narrowed Explorer housing. It's got the stock discs on it already. I'm just looking for bigger rotors/calipers.

 

[rookieshooter]

Rookie, I've actually got Moser axles in this narrowed Explorer housing. It's got the stock discs on it already. I'm just looking for bigger rotors/calipers.

Please post pics or a write up. Sounds like your doing the best of the best. I'm interested in your project.

 

[Mr Mufakka]

The Explorer axle is 3/4" wider on both sides than the Ranger axle. (8.8 vs 8.8). We narrowed the rear 1" on both sides. This has allowed us to be able to run the disc brake rear end, along with 20x10 wheels and still be able to tuck them all of the way up into the stepside bed.

During the rear end swap, we tried simply swapping the disc brake components onto the Ranger axle housing as they are both 8.8s. To our dismay, the bolt pattern on the axle flange is different. Thanks Ford!

I'm hoping that the bolt pattern is the same between the Cobra axle and the Explorer axle. This SHOULD mean that one could simply use the Cobra caliper bracket and bolt it onto the Explorer housing. Fingers crossed!

 

[CDW6212R]

I have been working on bigger front brakes(12.75-13"). The rear may be next for me, so good luck.

The rear rotors are 11", so 11.6" or so from a Cobra or Lincoln LS may not be worth the trouble. Wilwood has a couple of different 8.8 kits, but ABS operability is questionable.
I would not consider their 13" solid disc kit, or any non vented disc kit. A 12" rear rotor would be a good size, and Wilwood does make such a kit, with calipers. The rotor size and with or without calipers affects the cost. They run from $600-$1050, but the ABS sensor mounting is the biggest question.

I am not ready yet, but please do inquire about maintaining the ABS. I found a helpful brake kit vendor on the East coast in Carolina, who helped me to assemble two piece front rotors. Search and find him(Todd), he knows Wilwood well, and would help or like to know the outcome here. Good luck,

 

[Mr Mufakka]

What all was involved in your upgrading of the front brakes?

 

[CDW6212R]

Note that these big front brakes only work on 4WD/AWD 95-01 Explorers. I have not finished it yet. I just got the latest brake bracket back from a machine shop. I still need to finish the brackets, test fit, and install.

My first combination was a stock Cobra rotor, and 65-82 Corvette caliper. Unfortunately the rotor offset is far different from the Explorer(0.350" versus 1.450"), so a two piece rotor is required. Do know that all two piece rotors cost about $250 minimim each. I chose a 1.160" offset Wilwood hat, and a 12.90" x 1.25" rotor.

The good news is that my first fitting shows plenty of room inside of 16" factory rims. I have yet to learn if the calipers are the right match in brake power. They will not be too little, as any late caliper would be(Cobra(PBR)2x38mm piston). My estimate for cost is hovering between $1050 and $1100 at the moment. The calipers have to be clearanced slightly for the rotors. I will start a thread if/when I feel they are worthy. Regards,

 

[jah81592]

Contact http://www.stainlesssteelbrakes.com/ and see if they could help you with a custom setup! They don't list anything for you application but I bet they could send you in the right direction. Believe it or not the rear brakes on a cobra aren't any bigger than yours. So a retrofit to a factory cobra setup wouldn't be of any benefit. Also a lot of brake manufacturers for 'Stangs dont start upgrading the rears until you are way up into the options. They usually give larger rotors and upgrade calipers on the front but for the rears they usually offer a drilled and/or slotted rotors with a better pad compound (such as ceramic) and not much else. I run a performance side business that revolves around Mustangs and this is the most common route people take. The benefits on the street just cant be seen, but if you run a road course with your 'stang or trapping around 135-140 or more in the 1/4, I would then recommend paying for the extra options and upgrading rear size.

 

[CDW6212R]

The Cobra rear rotors are 11.6", while all Explorer 95-01 rotors are 11.0"
I will eventually do something with my rear brakes, both vehicles. I have 2003 Crown Vic 11.6" rear brakes which could be retrofitted, but a lot of work for an unknown gain...?

I have seen Wilwood rear brakes referenced for 8.8 diffs. Don't even consider their 13" single discs, only look at vented discs. Supposedly they make 12.5" kits which should be useable, but the cost is too high for most Explorer users, like $1000 and custom fitting. Regards,

 

[jah81592]

Maybe to clarify myself I am saying that such a small difference in diameter there will be no benefit as well as the parking brake is a completely different setup from the Cobra. I guess instead of saying not any bigger than yours I shouldve stated not much bigger than yours. But oh well lets split hairs. You won't have any increase braking till you step up in a much larger size. I think your current setup would be best with attention paid to the pad formulation and rotor style. If you look at the test on the Baer setups the most noticable gain was with the fronts. Adding 13.25" rotors to the rear helps significantly but test would be have to be performed to see what a rear rotor change would yield.

 

[CDW6212R]

Exactly, the front brakes need help much more than the rear.

 

[bigandbadranger]

i believe that f150s use the same mounting design as the explorer but there a 2 piston caliper. u guys might look into that.

 

[Mr Mufakka]

Wow... it's been almost a year exactly. LOL

Well, I've now have Cobra brakes on the front of my Ranger (Cobra calipers, 13" rotors.) We're now working on the rear. Turns out that the Explorer uses a "Torino style late model large bearing housing end". We're in the process of fabbing a new caliper bracket that will replace the Explorer unit and use FRONT Cobra calipers and 13" rotors. Is all this stopping power needed? Probably not. But it can be had for pretty cheap.

 

[tmsoko]

Please post some pictures of the cobra calipers in place or the adaptors used. I would love to retrofit the Shelby GT500 front brakes, but don't see it working with the side to side vs radial mounting.

As for the explorer rear, yes, it is the big bearing axle, same ends as F150 and Ranger FX4 Level ll.

 

[Mr Mufakka]

I'll be sure and post it once we get it all put together. Hopefully soon.

BTW, what do you mean by "side to side vs radial mounting"?

 

[tmsoko]

The bolts on the stock caliper are aligned with in-out or side-side direction of the vehicle. The other means of attachment are "radial", where the botls go down into an adaptor through the "top" of the caliper. In this case, the bolts go down through the caliper toward the center of the rotor.

Most production calipers are side-side bolt alignment. Many aftermarket calipers are radial, allowing easier connection to the adaptors.

 

[Mr Mufakka]

hhmmm... don't think I've ever seen a radial design. Any pics?

And you're wanting to use brakes from a GT500 which I presume are radial?

 

[CDW6212R]

I am glad to see others tackling the brakes of these trucks. Congrats on making the Cobra calipers/rotors work.

I have had the aftermarket SS Force 10 calipers on my Mountaineer for a couple of months now. I can conclude that the Corvette calipers are more than powerful enough, the stock cast iron units will stop any wheel/tire. The SS caliper that I chose is the smaller of two available, they are an excellent power match... but the pads are not up to the task of a heavy SUV.

The rear brakes aren't as critical so any decent caliper/rotor/pad will do the job. On the front the pads should be carefully thought out early on. The lifespan of the front pads will be affected greatly if they are smaller than the stock Explorer pads.

I've got great brakes in both of my combinations, but the pad life of these Force 10 calipers will be poor. They are an OEM Dodge Stealth or GT3000 part, chosen by SS for their manufactured calipers. Take note that the 2001+ Sport and Sport Trac use different calipers, smaller pads with 12" rotors.

The stock 95-01 Explorer calipers are really very good, in all respects. I will wait until I discontinue delivering mail with my Mountaineer, and see how normal pad life turns out to be. If I actually upgrade my 99 mail vehicle, it would get my first combination, pictured above. Most OEM 16" Ford wheels work with them, the Sport Trac wheels do not, I have snow tires on them now.

Do post any pictures that you feel comfortable with sharing. I would like to toss around the idea of a attempting to mount twin calipers. There are many OEM four piston calipers from common vehicles that may be right at half the power of our stock calipers. Having four pads per side would surely increase pad life. Regards,