Hey guys, I'm looking for information on which 8.8 5 lug rear I need.. 94-98? or 99-04? I'm looking for 3.55/3.73 and the best disc brakes available.
94-98 are close to same width. 99-04 are closer to a mark 7 width.
Personally, find a junk yard that has a turbo coupe and swap brakes/axles, or the mark 7 brakes were larger then even turbo coupes, 5 lug and vented, but 3/4" or so wider per side.
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Explorer8_8.shtml
mid 90's explorer ring and pinion for 3.55-3.73 gears. you can take the whole center section if you want 31 spline axles, but then you need custom axles.
Toss it in a cougar/mustang 8.8, the match brakes with axles to give you proper width. I'm not sure if you can easily adapt the mark7 brakes without going with the wider mark 7 or 99-04 axles.
Make sure it's a 94-98 Mustang GT. V6 cars had a 7.5" rear.
what differences are there in brakes from 94-99 and 99-04?
None I know of except cobra fronts.
The brakes themselves? Nothing. Just the axles are longer. I *think* the brackets are attached via clamps (like a ler clamp) so they can be moved as needed if swapped. I may be wrong, as I've never messed with rear brakes on anything newer than a '97.
Thunderjet is correct, avoid the 7.5 unless you're just getting axles, as the axles are the only thing that is the same dimensionally between the 7.5 and 8.8..
The Mark 7 rear is doable, but you'll need to play with wheel backspacing to avoid a protrusion if using wide wheels, not sure how stock wheels (such as a 17x9) would fit with a 315 tire...probably have fender clearance issues there..
Mark 7 rear brake pads are an organic material not semi metallic. I can't remember exactly what they were called but I know it wasn't semi metallic or ceramic. They may not be the best for your high performance application.
I'm leaning toward the 5lug and the big boy brakes.. I seen a couple of 99-04's at the pull it yard last time I was there.. I should have snagged a rear it was complete and would have been $65.00. I dropped the ball I think, gonna go Saturday and see if it's still there
Swap the gear while your there. plenty of explorers are generally lying around