Need Help Ordering New Rotors

[Chris_94]

If you want to cut right to it:
Do I need DIFFERENT brake rotors for an ABS vehicle?
1994 XLT - 4 door - V6 - automatic - 4 wheel drive

The main thing I'm concerned about is weather or not I need a DIFFERENT rotor for an ABS vehicle.



Now, for those of you with a longer attention span......


Okay, the wife stood on her brake pedal and warped the snot out of her rotors.......... again......... for like the 5th time. I've turned this set of rotors twice - so they are too thin to turn again. She thinks it's a sports car and drives right up to the stop lights before she decides to let her foot off the gas pedal and SLAM on the brakes - bringing this 5k pound vehicle to a stop 45mph - 0mph in 15 feet. :frustrate You guys know how it is - it's frustrating as hell, but at some point you just pick your battles. I've decided not to fight this battle anymore because my constant yelling about how hard she drives the truck is useless and only causes problems elsewhere in the marriage. So - I just deal with it.

I'm going to order all new rotors, calipers and pads. I was thinking about ordering from Summit Racing. I want to get something thats vented or drilled - something to improve over the stock rotors and calipers.

It's got ABS brakes. I have no idea if all the Explorers use the same rotors or not. I thought I read somewhere that the ABS rotors were different.

Is there someplace that makes BIGGER rotors and calipers that will bolt to the stock spindles? I understand that a larger rotor will require a different caliper so it will clear. Does this setup exist?

Can I get a 'better than stock' set of rotors and calipers from Summit Racing?

For those of you who stuck with me, Thank you.

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

Nothing larger will bolt up (as far as I'm aware). You'll want to search for Spdrcer34 and his big brake modifications. I do recalls Tbars doing research into Ranger (two piston calipers) being a "bolt on" (but you have to switch over to Ranger spindles to run it).

I believe the only difference in ABS rotors versus non-ABS rotors is a gear/sprocket mounted to the backside for the ABS sensors to "sense".

As a full-time parts specialist with a big irish sounding brand name parts company, I would recommend investing into a good set of rotors (bosch quietcast perform very well) and Performance Friction Pads.

 

[Anime]

91-92 Explorers only had REAR ABS, and 93-94 Explorers had 4-wheel ABS, so the main thing with rotors is that rotors for a 91-92 will not work on a 93-94.

You also need to get the rotors for a 4WD, they are heavier and stronger than the 2WD rotors.

So yes, you need 'different' rotors for the 94 Explorer with ABS, with the rotors that have the exciter ring for the front ABS sensor to sense.


As for improvements, there are Powerslot rotors, and even slotted and cross-drilled rotors available for 93-94 4WD Explorers. But they are expensive. Also as mentioned, you can swap the spindles/rotors/calipers from a 93-97 Ranger, which have two-piston calipers and provide more stopping power. A rear axle from a 95+ Explorer also provides rear disc brakes, giving even more stopping power.

But all of this does not improve on what you're after, which is apparently durability. Even the most expensive pads and rotors will not hold up when abused. They'll just cost a whole lot more to replace.

If you want to save money, my suggestion would be to find the auto parts store with a lifetime warranty on their highest end brake parts, and take them up on the offer. Napa used to do this, but I hear that's no longer the case. Lots of stores still offer a lifetime warranty on their best brake pads/shoes, but you may have to ask around about who has rotors with a lifetime warranty that covers warping and wear-out.

I would also go this route since I would consider it almost dangerous to upgrade the vehicle with MORE stopping power if it is abused as you say. The upgraded brake parts put MORE stress and strain on the vehicle and other brake system components. If abused the same as the stock parts, or, more likely, if they are abused even MORE, which I would guess would happen since the stopping ability would FEEL even better and likely cause an abusive driver to become even more overconfident in the vehicles stopping ability, cut their stopping distance even more, and at some point, cause something on the vehicle to fail, and do so in spectacular fashion, causing injury or death.

Sticking with the stock-ish stopping ability with the slight improvement of lifetime warranty aftermarket replacement parts would be my suggestion. You save money, the braking system only gets the stress from the driver stopping too quick, and you get replacement parts for free from now on.

 

[Jason94sport]

What he said....
Although I had power slots & good ceramic pads with 31's & they took everything I could throw at them. Not cheap though.

 

[Chris_94]

Thanks guys

 

[huntman58]

Ummm sorry but a rotor from a 91 0r 92 will work on a 93 and 94. you will not have ABS because they do not have the tone ring and that is the only deference. It is what I am running right now and have been for about 3 years now. I just pulled the relay for the ABS and also pulled the dash light for it also. The Rotors I have are cross drilled by power stop and I love them!!!! On the wife’s 2001 Taurus I used the same brand but put cross drilled and slotted on it and all I can say is there what the X gets next time around!

I do not turn rotors and never have same with drums. the cost of new just is not that much more and I like having the rotors as thick as I can get them. I have warped two sets of OEM's on my ex and the wife warped a set in a week on the car. Talk about ticked off!

The ones on both now have had worse hits on them as in stops and abuse then the OEM's and they are as true to day as the day I put them on. In fact I was surprised on the X as I had a front brake hanging up for a bit and the rotor got so hot you could not touch it. Later the other side I lost a wheel bearing and we all know how good that can be for front brakes but it did nothing to the rotors so I am sold on them believe me not the brand per say but the drilled and slotted. I know I know many say the drilled will crack or check on you easier but I have never had that happen and so I can only base things on what I personally have gone threw and forced my brakes to live with.

Any hoot to be fully honest also my rotors are also for a 91 Ranger simply they were a ton cheaper and in stock and I needed then like the day before! the X and the Bull were down at the same time never a good thing in a family of only two autos and 5 people with 3 going to collage! any way thats my 2 cents for what its worth.

 

[Jason94sport]

Ummm sorry but a rotor from a 91 0r 92 will work on a 93 and 94. you will not have ABS because they do not have the tone ring and that is the only deference.

Well yeah....I think most here would like to have a properly functional vehicle though.

 

[huntman58]

Well yeah....I think most here would like to have a properly functional vehicle though.

The point I was making is that they can be used and will work but that you will not have ABS because of the missing tone rings I said this after some incorrect information had been posted stating they would not work. .

91-92 Explorers only had REAR ABS, and 93-94 Explorers had 4-wheel ABS, so the main thing with rotors is that rotors for a 91-92 will not work on a 93-94.

Anime did explain the deference’s in his post just not that they can in fact be used if one wanted to. Now to do as I have done that is a personal call and is why I have never suggested it to any one as a Mod or a to do item.

Now on a trail only rig I would not want nor would I have ABS at all but turn that around and on a street only X I would want ABS with out a hesitation! My thought also is Yes on the street for ABS and then to by pass it when off road with a switch or by pulling the relay for it. But that is a personal call that each driver / own has to make for them self’s just the same as to use a none ABS tone ringed rotor or not.

 

[Anime]

Given the original poster's inquiry, discussion of intentionally disabling ABS is likely irrelevant and would add confusion.

They are looking for the correct part for an ABS-equipped vehicle, presumably to keep the ABS functional, per the information about how the braking system is being overtaxed and abused.

Putting non-ABS 91-92 rotors on a vehicle being driven in such a manner, or disabling the ABS in any way would likely cause some serious damage and perhaps even injury or death, as the driver would expect the previous braking ability (with ABS) and wouldn't get it.

 

[huntman58]

Anime not disagree with you at all. As I said it’s why I do not suggest nor normally post any thing about it. It is also why I stipulated that for a street driven truck I would have ABS! I also said how you had explained it in your post well also. I just feel it dose a disservice to say a part dose not work when it will, but I also believe if that part will change aspects of the OEM set up that also needs to be pointed out. It’s also why I did just that in saying doing so you would not have ABS. most of the things I post as in replies I post with a lean of two ways. The OP and any future readers that may have a similar question. It was to that end that I said any thing to start with. For me there is nothing left to say as you and I agree on street there is no reason not to have the ABS system working! Off road that’s a new topic best left off here as it is not a part of this as it was not asked about at all. Hope you understand were I was coming from with this as it was not disagreeing with you except that they will work but not as intended. Not suggesting any one do this and any one that dose so takes the respectability for doing so on them selfs as it is like all mods out side of OEM specs do at your own risk..

 

[Anime]

Off road that’s a new topic best left off here as it is not a part of this as it was not asked about at all.

I agree.