2010 axle vs 2004 differences

this may take a while,, in the meantime this was at the Gilmore Museum about 8 years ago.

comparing 2 axles, one from a 2010 big bearing 28 spline from a 2wd reg cab 2.3 auto,,the other 2004 4x4 small bearing, 28 spline.
both are open diffs. the 2010 diff does not have a tone ring at the ring gear.
For 2010, if you find a big bearing, it isn't necessarily a 31 spline. I don't know what a 2010 4wd has.


ok, I'm on a roll now, a slow roll though. above is 2004 short shaft at 27-3/16"


above setting the shafts even to measure total width


above spacers in center to replicate diff pins for total width


above 2004 measures 58", 2010 (with tone ring) measures 57-1/2"
the 2010 is 1/2" narrower than the 2004, that is corrected by the disks.


2010 shaft with tone ring, 2004 plain


above the center thickness of the disks is freakin' huge at 3/8". they are approx 1/4" thicker than drums.
so,, put the thick disks on the narrow 2010 ,that equals the 2004 with drums so the wheels are in the same spot.


above rear 2010 disks are 11-9/16" dia, 3/4" thick and vented. that's a lot of brake power for a reg cab 2wd.


above 2 diffs. 2004 has ABS sensor on diff, 2010 has a tone ring at each wheel. the unused hole
in the 2010 does not line up where a tone ring would be.


above 2010 outside of flanges side to side, subtract 1/8" for opposite bar, get about 52-7/16"


above 2010 on top, note the end flange is rotated 90 degrees, narrow top & bottom, long front & back.
they are also not the same distances as the 2004 flanges.


above, the other ends were even. this shows the 2010 is shorter by about 3/16"


above how I measured the shafts


above 2010 again, about 52-1/2 flange -flange


above 2004 subtract 1/8" get about 53-1/16". this is about 1/2" to 9/16" wider than the 2010.
the tube extensions where the seals go are equal on both axles, so the 2010 is narrower over-all by about 1/2" or so.


above long shaft 2004 at 30-1/16" its about 1/4" longer than the 2010 at 29-13/16"


above 2004 long shaft


above 2004 again


above ends again


above the most important pic. the blue squares are where the bearings ride, measurements are
from the end of the axle to the bearing.
if I put in a 31 spline carrier and the longer 31 spline 95-01 Explorer shafts the bearing surface may be out past the
bearings in the housing. I may have to get the EX shafts shortened to fit this housing.
the offset for the brakes I can handle.


above shafts


above 2010 short shaft at 26-15/16"

above 2010 flanges again





and lastly, anybody from Michigan should know exactly where this picture was taken.

yep, that's me and the 'ol lady.

Good information Seems there hasn't been a lot of detail made available about the '10-'11 disc Ranger axles yet... Appreciate you taking time to post this.

pjtoledo said:

For 2010, if you find a big bearing, it isn't necessarily a 31 spline. I don't know what a 2010 4wd has.

Click to expand...

I've yet to see anything to suggest they aren't still the same 28 spline, 2WD or 4WD (historically they've always been the same, excepting for the 31-spline FX4 variant).

Thanks.

When I bought it I thought the big bearings meant it had the 31 spline shafts/diff.
Not so, its only 28, and I would not have bought it if I had known.

Interesting though, it came from a 2010 reg cab 2wd 2.3 /auto. The weight and brake capacities are far beyond what that truck needed.

They went to disc brakes for stability control, that might require bigger than normal brakes to function correctly.

@pjtoledo this somehow slipped past me. Do you still have the photos? What is the width difference between the 2010-2011 Ford Ranger 8.8-Inch axle and the 2009 8.8-Inch axle?

So are the 2010-2011 Ford 7.5 & 8.8 axles 57.50 inches wide?

What are the right and left axle shaft lengths?

I'll look for the photos. still have both the axles mentioned,,,but, they are about 3 years back into the garage.

the width difference from wheel mount to wheel mount is the same. the disks have a thicker center section, so the axles were shortened
to keep the mount width the same.

Jim Oaks said:

@pjtoledo this somehow slipped past me. Do you still have the photos? What is the width difference between the 2010-2011 Ford Ranger 8.8-Inch axle and the 2009 8.8-Inch axle?

So are the 2010-2011 Ford 7.5 & 8.8 axles 57.50 inches wide?

What are the right and left axle shaft lengths?

Click to expand...

the 2010 axle was out of a 2wd reg cab 2.3 auto, minimal options.
it's an 8.8 with wheel speed sensors at each wheel. presumably for roll stability control.
I have no idea if 7.5 was even offered with RSC models.

OK, pics time.
comparing a 2004 8.8 28 spline small bearing drum vs 2010 8.8 28 spline big bearing disk.
note the ends are very different, and the 2010 has no hole for ring gear tone ring.
the 2010 is 1/2"narrower. 57-1/2" flange to flange. put the disks on and it's 58-1/4" between wheel mount surfaces.



center of disk 2010, 3/8" thick



how I measured overall width, pin is inserted between shafts




comparing the widths,,,the blue tape is where the bearing rides, that's the 2010 axle


2010 short side


2004 short side



2010 long side



2004 long side

Just saw this. Need to replace my carrier in my 2011, so looking for axle info. Noticed @pjtoledo had info on 2wd, so I'll post what I have on 4wd.

Had my diff open the other night. Forgot to count splines. But, someone may see something that I do not. Will disassemble and post photos in the near future to see if the same as 2wd rear at 28 spline, or if heavier 31 spline.

Will say explorer axle swap u bolts and spring plates fit, though. Earlier hardware off a 2005 does not.

check the diff pin too. mine is 3/4"