8.8" rear brake conversion

[lcoutback]

I'm finally on the backside of converting my '89 Pioneer 2x4 to 4x4.  I went with the Ford 8.8" rear differential, SOA with an overall effective lift just over 6" on 33" tires.  Yesterday I bought new calipers and rotors, and still need to re-plumb the rear axle brake lines from the load valve back.  In the perfect world, I would like to have this look 'stock' to the untrained eye instead of running braided stainless lines that are available in the universal kits.  I found NAPA brake lines (p/n  683655 &  683654) a perfect bolt-on solution for my front brake lines with a D30., as they were nearly 5" longer than the stock hoses, and hope to do the same for the rear axle.

 

I don't like how the stock Ford brake hose needs to stretch from the caliper to the axle. (I still need to fab mounts/tabs)  I assume that since the '97 Explorer this diff came out of had coil suspension that these hoses didn't need to reach beyond any obstructions like they do with a leaf spring.  The stock lines are only 11" over all length.  I would prefer 13"-15".  I also need a 24" source hose (from steel line down to the axle).  So far what I'm finding stops just over 22".

 

I've spent an hour or so on-line trying to find options, but I'm not savvy enough with brake systems to know just what I'm looking for.  Any insight or thoughts would be much appreciated. 

[Pete M]

I guess I'm not certain what you mean for the little ones.  are you routing the soft lines past the leaf springs? or the hard lines past the leafs?

 

[bad_idea]

Use two passenger side hoses for the calipers routed to the stock hose going from axle to body.  There are options to use stock brake hoses from other vehicles for the Cherokees.  I forget what were the options, but should be easy to do a google search for 'junkyard lift parts xj'.  I'm fairly sure a rear hose that fits an XJ should fit an MJ.

[Pete M]

dodge, chevy, and ford trucks probably all have longer rear lines with the same fittings.  

[lcoutback]

On ‎9‎/‎10‎/‎2018 at 6:46 AM, Pete M said:

I guess I'm not certain what you mean for the little ones.  are you routing the soft lines past the leaf springs? or the hard lines past the leafs?

 

Pete, you just showed me the err in my ways!    I was going to route the soft line past the leaf springs, but your picture just opened my eyes.  It is much more logical to route the hard line past the leaf springs.  

[lcoutback]

On ‎9‎/‎10‎/‎2018 at 4:49 PM, bad_idea said:

Use two passenger side hoses for the calipers routed to the stock hose going from axle to body.  There are options to use stock brake hoses from other vehicles for the Cherokees.  I forget what were the options, but should be easy to do a google search for 'junkyard lift parts xj'.  I'm fairly sure a rear hose that fits an XJ should fit an MJ.

 I looked through all my Jeep stuff, but the banjo fitting for the Ford caliper is a bit different.

[bad_idea]

Use two Explorer passenger rear brake hoses.  Then you can plumb it just like your old axle.  You end up with three hoses on the rear axle.  One for each caliper to the axle housing, then one from the axle to the frame.

 

When I bought my 8.8 from my local Pick n Pull I assembled my ideal axle from several vehicles.  Found the ratio I wanted with a LSD, pulled fresh brakes from one, another passenger hose from another, and a driveshaft flange from a Ranger.  Left the parking brake cable assembled on the axle too, was able to hook them up to my stock Cherokee lever.

[lcoutback]

5 hours ago, bad_idea said:

Use two Explorer passenger rear brake hoses.  Then you can plumb it just like your old axle.  You end up with three hoses on the rear axle.  One for each caliper to the axle housing, then one from the axle to the frame.

 

When I bought my 8.8 from my local Pick n Pull I assembled my ideal axle from several vehicles.  Found the ratio I wanted with a LSD, pulled fresh brakes from one, another passenger hose from another, and a driveshaft flange from a Ranger.  Left the parking brake cable assembled on the axle too, was able to hook them up to my stock Cherokee lever.

Nice.  I need to find a longer axle to frame hose and  'T'.  Sadly, there is no pick n pull here. (hard to believe, huh?) The E Brake cables were both cut when I picked up this 8.8, so I may have to cough up a chunk a of change to buy new cables.  I've seen some posts about how these can interface with the MJ ebrake cable coming from the pedal, but don't remember where.  Did you have to do anything special?

[bad_idea]

I saw these on a thread recently on Cherokeeforum.com.  Not sure if you can make them work with the 8.8 and your MJ.

 

When I did mine (in my 90 XJ) I used the Explorer parking brake cables on the axle and the box that mounts to the frame rail that they mount to.  I used the parking brake lever from a 97-01 XJ because I swapped in a late model center console for the cup holders.  Very minor mods needed at that point to make it all hook up.

[rosco11]

On 9/10/2018 at 8:46 AM, Pete M said:

I guess I'm not certain what you mean for the little ones.  are you routing the soft lines past the leaf springs? or the hard lines past the leafs?

 

Hey Pete M!  Do you have a part number or maybe a link to the vent bolt that is holding your vent tube and T for the brake lines?  I'm working on my 8.8 swap and even though that's a minor detail, I still need to figure it out.  Did you plug the original vent on the passenger side?  I'm assuming yours is an 8.8 too?  Did you tap the hole in the axle tube?

[Pete M]

that pic is just a generic internet pic.   my truck got a 9".  But if you go to autozone's website and plug in a '99 Explorer you should be able to search for that part.

 

oh, and never plug a vent.  they are important.