bolt pattern questions

[Brian_B]

Hi all,

Firs let me state that I have no clue where to ask these questions. They could fit into several places. They will all pertain to my eventual swap on the 56 though, so I will start in here.

Let me explain what will happen (I hope) and then ask the questions. It will eventually have an aerostar IFS and a ford 9" rear axle (trading for one now). The front will then have the small ford bolt pattern (5 X 4.5) and the rear will have the truck pattern (5 X 5.5).


Question 1. The aerostar brake disk is the same part number as the 2WD ranger (for that year). Is there an upgrade for the ranger disk that uses the larger bolt pattern?

Question 2. The guys that are doing the SAS swap on the explorers now have the same problem only reversed with the front being the large ford and the rear (8.8) being the small. How are they solving this problem....or are they?

Question 3. Anyone have an idea of the cost to redrill the rear axles, install new studs, and drill the drums on a 9"?

I know that if your fortunate enough to be able to strip a couple of old car 9" axles from certin models you can swap parts around and get it to work. Thats a real long shot around here.

Any other ideas? Preferebly inexpensive ones.

Thanks,
Brian

 

[james t]

1- I dunno

2- Most guys are going with the 9" rear to get the bigger pattern, or getting aftermarket shafts for the 8.8 already set up for 5 on 5.5, then re-drilling the stock rotors

3- You can redrill your own 5 on 4.5 pattern on the 9" pretty easy. Pull a shaft out of the 9", knock the studs out, and lay a rear Explorer rotor on it (or front for that matter). Carefully mark your holes with an alignment punch (dont know the technical name for this tool) and redrill the pattern on a drill press. Go slow and use plenty of cutting oil... it will take a while. Once drilled to 5 on 4.5, you can add disc brakes easy with junkyard metric GM calipers, $12 weld on race car brackets, and rear Explorer rotors. You could have discs on the rear for less than $100.

 

[Brian_B]

3- You can redrill your own 5 on 4.5 pattern on the 9" pretty easy. Pull a shaft out of the 9", knock the studs out, and lay a rear Explorer rotor on it (or front for that matter). Carefully mark your holes with an alignment punch (dont know the technical name for this tool) and redrill the pattern on a drill press. Go slow and use plenty of cutting oil... it will take a while. Once drilled to 5 on 4.5, you can add disc brakes easy with junkyard metric GM calipers, $12 weld on race car brackets, and rear Explorer rotors. You could have discs on the rear for less than $100.

The holes are just drilled...as in round holes? I assumed they were splined or something technical. I have access to a huge drill press. Once I get the axle in my possesion, I will harass you for more info on the swap parts.

Thanks James.

Brian

 

[RockRanger]

1. I belive Moser engineering will redrill brake rotors for new patterns. Not sure though if there is enough space in teh rotor to allow that though. I have never looked so there could be.

2. New axle shafts or wheel spacers. Explorer rear axle shafts dont have enough meat on them to be redrilled with a larger pattern. I went the wheel spacer route. If you added spacers to your front axle it would make the scrub radius all screwed up and on a street truck eing built to look nice would look kind of ugly. The spacers usually need to be 1.25" thick minimum on each side to change lug patterns.

3. No idea but I bet moser or a local machine shop or you could do it as well. Just make sure especally on the lug holes you get them exactly centered on the shaft or rotor. Could make for interesting handling if the tire doesnt spin off teh center of the axle.

 

[Stic-o]

This is easy

trade someone on the board your 9" for a 95+ 8.8. Then you will have 5x4.5 all the way around and 4 wheel discs

 

[Brian_B]

I am not receiving replies again. This always happens on threads I start.

This is easy

trade someone on the board your 9" for a 95+ 8.8. Then you will have 5x4.5 all the way around and 4 wheel discs

Yes and no. Yes....the trade would be easy (just the shipping cost $$$$). NO...the 8.8 is not a direct bolt in.

The 9" is slightly stronger and basically free. This is an older one, so its the correct width. Its a direct bolt in. Changing the bolt pattern can wait if necessary.


I would need to move spring perches on an 8.8 to the top in order make it work. I could just buy/trade for an 8.8 if I were going that route and had the cash. I would not be getting a 9". (really bad time of year).

Besides, saying it has a 9" just sounds so cool!

I like James' idea if I can find out what the brackets are. So far I have not found anything. I know about the GM calipers.


Thanks for the ideas guys.

EDIT: I have not found brackets per say. I think these are similar to what he is talking about. This "kit" is $240 + shipping and is not the E-brake calipers. They are $150 more for the set.

Anyone have info on the cheap brackets?

Nothing will be purchased for a while anyway, but I like to research the parts and get costs laid out in advance for each step.

EDIT 2: More sets

1. Currie for cobra (clockable). $140

2. Currie for their set. $140

3. Brackets for GM calipers. $120