As many of you know, last year, I got a rear disc conversion kit. Over the weekend, I finally had enough time to install the kit. After driving with it on a normal routine, my thoughts.
The Trac feels different. I mean, under normal braking, you know they are there. The Trac stops smoother and quicker. It made that much of a difference. To be honest, I didn't think it would be that dramatic, but it is. I don't know why Ford even put drums on the back for two years. They must have either had some lying around they needed to use up, or they realized that they rear drums really needed to be replaced with discs.
Suprisingly enough, the rear discs used on all Explorers, 1996 to 2001 (4 door and Sport) 2001 to 2003 Sport, and 2003 to present Sport Trac have the same rear brakes. Same calipers, same rotors, and pads. I climbed under a new 2005 Trac today to compare some things.
My thoughts. If you are faint of heart, do not attempt to do the job yourself. It is not a simple job. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't labor intensive or anything. The job is straight foreward. If pulling the differential cover off, removing the center pin then removing the c-clip to pull the axle scares you, do not try it. You have to remove the axle to get the old hardware off to install the new hardware.
I have a few more things I need to do before the job is truly complete. One if which is the parking brake cables. I ordered them today. They should be here by thursday. No dealer in the area had them in stock and they are coming from a warehouse in Dearborn. I could only get the cables from the dealership. Suprisingly enough, they arent that expensive. Like $21.00 for the left rear and $35.00 for the right rear cable. Since my girlfriend works at a Ford dealership, I get her employee discount, which will be less then the price listed above.
As for looks, whenever I walk up to my Trac, I have to look at the rear wheels. I love it. The red calipers look really nice behind the wheels. In the next week or two, I will pull the front calipers off, sandblast and paint them. I may even rebuild them just to be on the safe side. I might as well if I go through all the work of removing them and all. A rebuild is only a few bucks. Only takes a few minutes to put a new seal in and adjust everything.
If anyone is interested, I can make a project of rebuilding the front calipers.
I do recomend Speedbleeders. They made the job of bleeding the brakes much easier. None of that, Pump the brakes then cracking the bleeder screw loose to let fluid out. With the Speedbleeders, I just loosen the bleeder screw, pump until no more air comes out, then tighten them back up. All of my vehicles will be getting those.
The only regret is that I did not do it sooner. Unfortunatly, it took that long to get the time to do them. I was expecting the job to take a day and a half to complete. I was able to do it in a day. I just have som odds and ends to tie up.
On a lighter note, when removing the swaybar, I managed to destroy the endlinks. My brother is going to design some improved ones with urathane fittings on it. After those are complete and they work, I might offer them to members here. If we can figure out how to make them a quick disconnect design, it might be an option for those that take thier Trac off-roading and are afraid the EE bar limits articulation. It is just some ideas we are coming up with.
He has a 1999 Explorer. We installed the Warrior Shackles and did the TT front lift. He is running 255/70-16 tires on Trac wheels. It made his Explorer look really nice. he put a slight rake on it, but it is still lifted. Looks really sharp. I just need to send my Edelbrock shocks in for replacement and he gets those. Next time I see him, I will have to get some pictures of it.
Tom
The Trac feels different. I mean, under normal braking, you know they are there. The Trac stops smoother and quicker. It made that much of a difference. To be honest, I didn't think it would be that dramatic, but it is. I don't know why Ford even put drums on the back for two years. They must have either had some lying around they needed to use up, or they realized that they rear drums really needed to be replaced with discs.
Suprisingly enough, the rear discs used on all Explorers, 1996 to 2001 (4 door and Sport) 2001 to 2003 Sport, and 2003 to present Sport Trac have the same rear brakes. Same calipers, same rotors, and pads. I climbed under a new 2005 Trac today to compare some things.
My thoughts. If you are faint of heart, do not attempt to do the job yourself. It is not a simple job. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't labor intensive or anything. The job is straight foreward. If pulling the differential cover off, removing the center pin then removing the c-clip to pull the axle scares you, do not try it. You have to remove the axle to get the old hardware off to install the new hardware.
I have a few more things I need to do before the job is truly complete. One if which is the parking brake cables. I ordered them today. They should be here by thursday. No dealer in the area had them in stock and they are coming from a warehouse in Dearborn. I could only get the cables from the dealership. Suprisingly enough, they arent that expensive. Like $21.00 for the left rear and $35.00 for the right rear cable. Since my girlfriend works at a Ford dealership, I get her employee discount, which will be less then the price listed above.
As for looks, whenever I walk up to my Trac, I have to look at the rear wheels. I love it. The red calipers look really nice behind the wheels. In the next week or two, I will pull the front calipers off, sandblast and paint them. I may even rebuild them just to be on the safe side. I might as well if I go through all the work of removing them and all. A rebuild is only a few bucks. Only takes a few minutes to put a new seal in and adjust everything.
If anyone is interested, I can make a project of rebuilding the front calipers.
I do recomend Speedbleeders. They made the job of bleeding the brakes much easier. None of that, Pump the brakes then cracking the bleeder screw loose to let fluid out. With the Speedbleeders, I just loosen the bleeder screw, pump until no more air comes out, then tighten them back up. All of my vehicles will be getting those.
The only regret is that I did not do it sooner. Unfortunatly, it took that long to get the time to do them. I was expecting the job to take a day and a half to complete. I was able to do it in a day. I just have som odds and ends to tie up.
On a lighter note, when removing the swaybar, I managed to destroy the endlinks. My brother is going to design some improved ones with urathane fittings on it. After those are complete and they work, I might offer them to members here. If we can figure out how to make them a quick disconnect design, it might be an option for those that take thier Trac off-roading and are afraid the EE bar limits articulation. It is just some ideas we are coming up with.
He has a 1999 Explorer. We installed the Warrior Shackles and did the TT front lift. He is running 255/70-16 tires on Trac wheels. It made his Explorer look really nice. he put a slight rake on it, but it is still lifted. Looks really sharp. I just need to send my Edelbrock shocks in for replacement and he gets those. Next time I see him, I will have to get some pictures of it.
Tom
Let me know what you think.
