Gearing

[XxrangeradrianxX]

I’m going to install a 8.8 rear end on my 1983 ford ranger and a Dana 35 front end, I have the 2.8l with 35s, now I am going to go with the 5.13 gears, but what all do I need to buy to regear both axles to make everything work.

 

[sgtsandman]

If you are doing all the work, the gears, bearings and spacer kit, a gauge kit to measure lash (I’m drawing a blank on the proper name), a tool to set the spacers, three different torque wrenches for the different torque ranges you need to meet, and a lot of patience since you will be assembling and disassembling the differential multiple times getting everything in spec.

 

[Roert42]

-You’ll need the bearings, axel pinion, and carrier.
- Pinion and axel seals.
-new gear sets.
-gallon or so 90w oil.

For tools you will need.
-Internal bearing puller for the axel bearings
-External bearing puller/splitter for the pinion bearings.
-dial indicator for measuring gear lash.
-gear pattern paint for checking the wear pattern.
-sockets and wrenches of course.
-Ft/lb and In/lb torque wrenches.
-You will also need something to hold the pinion flange in place while you torque the pinion nut, they sell a tool for this, but I made my own.
-There is a tool used to set the pinion depth, it can be done without this but it does save a lot of time. You would need different ones for the front and rear.
- The punch tool for installing the carrier shims.

 

[Roert42]

Since I don’t have a lift, I find it easier to pull the axel and work out of the truck. If they are not new you will probably need to replace the break lines at this point as well.

 

[XxrangeradrianxX]

Awesome thank you guys!

 

[Roert42]

There is also a car-tech workshop manual on rebuilding a ford 8.8. I would suggest to get a copy of this to read through before hand, and have with you in the job.

Was very useful on my first job.

 

[sgtsandman]

Check out this series of videos before you take the leap as well. They will give you a very good idea what the job entails.

He has a bunch of other videos that are pertinent as well but these will get the idea across.

 

[superj]

He painted the heck out of the gear. That seems a little excessive

 

[sgtsandman]

He painted the heck out of the gear. That seems a little excessive

If I remember correctly, he started with just a small section but had removed and reinstalled the carrier so many times that by the time he had everything set, he pretty much had the entire ring gear coated in order to make sure he was getting a good pattern.

 

[XxrangeradrianxX]

What size splines would I need I want to do the grizzly locker with 31 splines, any suggestions?

 

[dvdswan]

With 35s you gear ratio will be about a 4.6:1 depending on the size of the tire the truck came with.

 

[sgtsandman]

What size splines would I need I want to do the grizzly locker with 31 splines, any suggestions?

Something seems to have gotten lost in translation. Do you mean gears? Because otherwise, you seemed to answer your own question.

With the Ford 8.8, there are only two sizes of axle shafts. The ones with 28 splines and the ones with 31 splines. The 31 spline axle shafts being a little thicker.

 

[2011Supercab]

The 31 spline axles won't fit the standard 8.8 housing in a Ranger.

You'll need the 8.8 from an Explorer or if you're really lucky you can find a housing from a FX4 Ranger with the Torsen limited slip to get 31 spline.

 

[don4331]

The 31 spline axles won't fit the standard 8.8 housing in a Ranger.

You'll need the 8.8 from an Explorer or if you're really lucky you can find a housing from a FX4 Ranger with the Torsen limited slip to get 31 spline.

You can get custom 31 spline axles with 1.4" bearing surfaces which fit in standard 8.8 housing. @4x4junkie has a set I believe. (But you're correct about the standard axles).

If you're spending all the coin on 5.13 gears & grizzly locker, custom axles are minor addition.

 

[don4331]

Based on my trials: I would want a press - if you don't get inner pinion bearing tight against pinion, it will shift there the 1st time you apply power and you will be starting over (and new gears, bearing, oil and seals gets expensive - fast). And I would want a housing spreader, especially for the aluminum Dana 35. It isn't forgiving about repeated assembly/disassembly.