Explorer 8.8 Q's

85_Ranger4x4 · Jan 8, 2008

I found a 8.8 for sale out of a 1996 Explorer. I really don't need the extra strength right now, but a limited slip would be nice (I am awaiting a reply if it has it or not) and I am hoping to get the springs along with it to replace the saggy ones I have in it right now. I do have a couple questions on it though.

1. 1996 should have disc brakes, I have heard both ways about how well my master cylinder will work with them, it is a 1985 so ABS is not an issue.

2. A 8.8 Mustang driveshaft flange is supposed to allow it to pretty much bolt in, correct? I would rather not dink around with my driveshaft right now as I have a V-8 swap in the works that may require some alterations to it anyway. Is the junkyard the only place to come up with one of these? I am not seeing them on either Summit or Napa's website.

3. The whole axle flip sounds kind of daunting, is there a writeup somewhere about how to do it? I imagine it isn't as tough as it sounds, just something that I have never had to do before.

4. What works for shocks?

Anything else that might be a snag (brake lines?) that I should try to grab off the donner while I am there?

85_Ranger4x4 · Jan 8, 2008

Axle code is D4 so it has 3.73's and l/s, it will be perfect for what I want to do and it will match what I already have so regearing won't be necessary.

Also, does anyone know what tools you need to drop one of these out in a hurry? I am planning on just dropping driveshaft and yanking the springs out with the axle attached and take it in one big hunk to deal with in my own garage. I guess it would just involve the four spring bolts and the four driveshaft bolts in theory. I want to get in and out if I do this.

metalmacguyver · Jan 8, 2008

torch is the easiest way. i just pulled one and it took about 2 hours. i had my craftsman tool set with me so i had plenty of sockets and stuff. i had an electric impact wrench. and the pb blaster that i sprayed every bolt with had about 5 days to work things over before i actually pulled it. you will also need a hammer and something to drive the spring bolts out of the bushings with. a knife to cut the brake line. dont forget the shocks, parking brake cable, and RABS sensor. it may also have a shock that attatches right by drive flange. i think it is supposed to help dampen axle wrap.

85_Ranger4x4 · Jan 9, 2008

The thing I don't like about it is we have to do it in his garage, without the advantage of a torch or air tools like we have in ours.

Will the shocks even work from the Explorer to my Ranger? Since I am pretty much starting from scratch in that dept I was just going to try and make new mounts to reuse my Ranger's, to make remembering what shocks I need easier later (it is starting to be quite a mix of different vehicles, and it is only going to get worse)

My truck has no ABS, so I am just planning on just unplugging what I can rather than take it with me. The master cylinder thing concerns me, the tech article says you need one for disc brakes, but I think I remember someone on here saying you don't if you don't have ABS.

I was planning on metric sockets/ratchet, a breakerbar, and a hammer and a punch, I just don't want to get halfway into it and find I am missing something unusual. Does the 8.8 have the goofy 12pt bolts holding on the driveshaft like my 7.5?

Another thing I thought of is that the newer trucks have a bigger hole in the center of the rim because the D35 has a bigger front hub, did they change the hub diameter on the 8.8 too? Mainly I just want to know if my stock white sport rims rims I have now will work on the new axle.

rickcdewitt · Jan 9, 2008

metalmacguyver said:
torch is the easiest way.

+1!

85_Ranger4x4 · Jan 10, 2008

So where is the best place to disconnect the parking brake cable from and to cut the brake line? I would hate to go thru all this and leave behind/cut something I will need to make it work on my truck. I haven't used my parking brake in years, but it would be nice to still have it functional anyway.

I grabbed 2 cans of PB Blaster and I think I have the rest of the tools lined up. I still need to know for sure about the Mustang driveshaft flange and brake booster.

I have tried to search for this stuff, but you can't search for words smaller than 3 letters, and 8.8 is a fairly vital part of the search. After reading through 13 pages of stuff I still haven't found what I need. It seems this hasn't really came up since the new site in August, I remember seeing alot of this stuff before but I figured it would always be there so I didn't save it.

We are going to do this Saturday morning, so any help would be much appreciated before then.

metalmacguyver · Jan 11, 2008

for searching try 8.8"

Mods, is there a way to make a list of terms that are exceptions to the search rules?

Sasquatch_Ryda · Jan 11, 2008

You will either need the master cylinder from a disc brake truck or a truck with Rear ABS will work.

85_Ranger4x4 · Jan 11, 2008

metalmacguyver said:
for searching try 8.8"

Mods, is there a way to make a list of terms that are exceptions to the search rules?

Clever, but it doesn't seem to count " as a letter. It was a good idea though.

Sasquatch_Ryda said:
You will either need the master cylinder from a disc brake truck or a truck with Rear ABS will work.

So would a M/C from a second gen Ranger work better than the one from the Explorer? Just out of curiosity would you happen to know what the difference is between the ABS and non ABS cylinders?

rickcdewitt · Jan 11, 2008

85_Ranger4x4 said:
So would a M/C from a second gen Ranger work better than the one from the Explorer?

i'm pretty sure rangers diden't ever come with rear disc's,the explorer is the only one.since you don't have abs the cpu can't cheat for you and let off the back brakes.you might need a proprotioning valve also to help you dial it in.i like to adjust the rear so i can get going on a slick surface and get the rear to lock up about the same as the front,maybe a little sooner.

85_Ranger4x4 · Jan 11, 2008

rickcdewitt said:
i'm pretty sure rangers diden't ever come with rear disc's,the explorer is the only one.since you don't have abs the cpu can't cheat for you and let off the back brakes.you might need a proprotioning valve also to help you dial it in.i like to adjust the rear so i can get going on a slick surface and get the rear to lock up about the same as the front, maybe a little sooner.

Rangers never had disc brakes, but in all the articles in the tech library and different threads I have found on this is about newer Rangers that had ABS stock, and their master cylinders work fine. I don't think the disc brake part has much to do with it, it seems to be more with the ABS. In their basic funtions without a computer to tell them what to do I was just wondering what the ABS cylinder does that the one I have now doesn't.

For example:

To be honest the master cylinder is not needed if you have RABS. The part numbers are the same. I did not know this until the time came around to converting it over.

http://www.therangerstation.com/Mag...g_your_Ranger_8.8_to_Explorer_disc_brakes.htm

rickcdewitt · Jan 11, 2008

you seem a little confused.let me put it like this-
1)IF YOU HAVE ABS IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT MASTER CYLINDER IT HAS

2)SINCE YOUR 85 HAS NO ABS YOU MUST PLAY AROUND WITH THE SYSTEM TO TUNE IT IN(new master,proportioning valve,etc.)

85_Ranger4x4 · Jan 11, 2008

rickcdewitt said:
you seem a little confused.let me put it like this-
1)IF YOU HAVE ABS IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT MASTER CYLINDER IT HAS

2)SINCE YOUR 85 HAS NO ABS YOU MUST PLAY AROUND WITH THE SYSTEM TO TUNE IT IN(new master,proportioning valve,etc.)

That is what I was thinking and it didn't make much sense to me, but all the write ups say if you already have it you are good to go, but not a darn thing about what to do if you don't have it.

Thanks, all I was wanting was a straight up answer one way or the other like I got. :icon_thumby:

85_Ranger4x4 · Jan 14, 2008

Well we got it out in just about exactly an hour, I had my brother there to help. The driveshaft was already off of the car but otherwise we didn't have one bolt give us any grief after a brief PB soak. We loaded the heavy little critter up and took it home to rattle the springs off with a impact to make it easier to stow/move around, and right now it is beside my Ranger in the shed waiting to get the L/S rebuilt and new mounts put on it.

BOFF · Jan 14, 2008

What did you find out about the Mustang flange?

Explorer 8.8 Q's

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Wallows in rivers

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