The wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface measurement of a 1995 Explorer 8.8 rear with disc brakes is 59.5 inches - which is the exact same as the stock 1940 Ford car. The Explorer has a 5 x 4 1/2 in bolt pattern. The 40 Ford bolt patter in 5 x 5 1/2in. Is there enough "meat' on the explorer axles to redrill them to a 5 x 5 1/2 in. bolt pattern so I don't have to buy new rims? I think the emergency brake for an Explorer is inside the rotor. All idea welcome as to best way to solve this problem. Thanks.
Brickster: Thanks for your reply. I don't know that measurement as I have not yet gone to the salvage yards. Research has been limited to the computer and I haven't been able to find out yet. Maybe a HAMBER will know.
No...I bought adapters (now insert the comments about how spacers are no good) Don't listen to them buy bi**et spacers and you will be all set.
my 40 runs a 8.8 rear.. I AM guessing you want to retain the stock wheel caps and rings I think an easier way would be to buy 2 wheels for the rear of the car.. I believe wheel vintiques makes just what you need.. in the smaller bolt pattern that will accept the ford caps.. in my opinion this would be better than redrilling the axle.. likely cheaper as well. I am running aluminum wheels on the rear of this.. because they were with teh rear when I got it.. but you would have never known...
No. Not enough meat to redrill. As has been said adapters. Good ones, not shit cheap ones. Will add 1"-1.25" per side depending on manufacturer. If you go this route get them from Maximum Motorsports. They are a Mustang suspension specialist parts house. Quality shit.
could get different axles , explorer rear should be the same as a 94-95 mustang with the abs. explorer axles are 31 spline from the factory i think. i have a 91 gt that has a built 8.8 with strange axles. try superior axles , they are relatively cheap (i had a set of 28 splines before i got the different splined strange)and they may be able to make you a set with the correct bolt pattern. just an idea. if you need me to measure anything or pull my wheels off to measure anything pm me.
I'm pretty sure the mustang axles are not the same as the explorer. I think they're narrower, use different brakes, and are 28 spline. Your best bet is probably new aftermarket axles or adapters. Early bronco axles are 58 wide and are 5x5.5.. Fwiw
You are correct. They are not the same. I don't think early Bronco's were 5x5.5", but not positive. The early bronco 9" is/was a popular bolt in for early Mustangs as they are exactly the same width as early Shelby Mustangs. I don't recall ever hearing they had to be redrilled for wheel fitment. The flanges on the explorer axles are made in such a way that they do not have any extra meat where you would add new holes for different patterns. In fact they have less material between the studs than where the studs are.
yea the 66-77 ford bronco was a 5 on 5 and a half i have one but you need to find a 76-77 for the 8.8 rear most old broncos had a 9'' for rear as for the size i think that it is right
Ive been through this, and in australia at least, changing the wheels is cheaper than changing the axles, and you can sell the old wheels to cover some of the cost..assuming you just want a ford 40-48 solid steel wheel. as mentioned above, wheel vintiques makes em with a 4 1/2 " pattern.
I just sold a 8.8 rear from a 2000 explorer with 3.73 gears posi and disc brakes to a friend of mine to use in his 1970 Chevy pickup one of the big reasons he was interested was because the wheel bolt pattern was 5 on 5 like his truck, look around in the junk yards and you may find one with those 5 on 5 axles in it.
I but a 8.8 under my 55 chevy from a 92 exploder. Had the axles drilled to the standard 5 x 4.75. Would not go wider. BTW, it's a great rear. 3:73 posi w/31 spline axles.
Never heard of Ford running a 5 on 5 pattern in the newer cars. I have a 99 Explorer rear under my car and it's 5x4.5 and I'm 99% sure that they didn't change rears until after 2001.
Looking at car-part.com it appears that a 2000 exploder rear axle assembly is the same as the 95 rear I'm using. Definitely 5 x 4.5" bolt circle.
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