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Larger rear wheel cylinder discussion


squealingtires

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The brake upgrade article in the tech section was a big help in directing me towards some improved braking options on my '93 4x4 Ranger.

article: http://www.therangerstation.com/how-to/wheels_and_brakes/ford-ranger-brake-upgrades/

So far my upgrades include
  • 1995+ TTB calipers/knuckles
  • Hawk LTS pads (green box)
  • Centric StopTech slotted rotors
  • Ford OEM Aerostar finned 10" drums
  • Ford OEM rear shoes (p/n: F77Z-2200-DA)

I'm looking for any more low-hanging fruit and I'm wondering if it were possible and advisable to increase the size of the rear wheel cylinder for the 10" drum brakes. Standard equipment units have a 15/16" bore and it looks like the F-150's had a 1" inch wheel cylinder with what looks to accept the same fittings and installation size though the brake lines would be plumbed a little different. I'd need to check on the bore centers to ensure the actuation rods aren't cocked as this would be a deal breaker requiring work on the backing plates to get the shoe supports properly aligned.

My back of the napkin calculation tells me I can get an extra 200lbs of force on the pad at 2000psi (guessing this value). Has anyone done this upgrade? How did it perform? I think the rear will have a slight actuation delay do to the larger bore but would come in harder under severe braking. I don't pull much in my truck but I do run 33x12.50 mudders which I want to overcome the loss of brake performance from the big heavy tires. Like I said, just looking for anything left that offers a slight improvement without making the truck unpredictable (easily locking up the rear under empty bed conditions)

Love to hear your thoughts on pumping some life back into this old truck.
 
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don4331

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Drum brake pressures are probably more in line with 600psi; but better way to look at it is, you have increased force by 10%. Same, more/less as going from 9" to 10" drums.

If you have RABS, no issues (I'm more familiar with '98+ and they either have RABS or ABS). Switching to larger drums makes RABS kick-in, so I would be leery about doing it without.
 

squealingtires

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Drum brake pressures are probably more in line with 600psi; but better way to look at it is, you have increased force by 10%. Same, more/less as going from 9" to 10" drums.

If you have RABS, no issues (I'm more familiar with '98+ and they either have RABS or ABS). Switching to larger drums makes RABS kick-in, so I would be leery about doing it without.
I think I'm following you. My truck has the RABS and was an original 10" drum setup. Honestly since I've owned it, the RABS has probably only activated maybe a dozen times and that was when things were wet/snowy. It activates so infrequently, even under hard braking, that it drives me to believe there is still a lot which can be done. I figure if I can get closer to the point where RABS is more active then I'll have gotten all I can out of the rear brakes. That's my logic anyways. Did you have any thoughts on the pros/cons of a larger wheel cylinder? If the rears see 600psi then the larger F-150 cylinder. That extra 1/16" in the cylinder is worth about 60lbs at 600psi. Doesn't seem iike a big jump but the way drum shoes "self energize" it think it might be more than expected.
 

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