Ranger rear end in bronco2

[JohnAllen]

Hey guys. I've read where the pinion offset and leaf spring perches are slightly different between a bronco2 and Ford Ranger. My question is will the 3/4 inch of a difference in the pinion offset and the overall 2 inch difference in the leaf spring perches cause any problems in the mechanical aspect of the rear end?

 

[racsan]

hell , I thought it was the same axle. watch the roadkill episode with the big-block samari, that was some serious driveshaft offset and it lived with a 440 powering it.

 

[JohnAllen]

hell , I thought it was the same axle. watch the roadkill episode with the big-block samari, that was some serious driveshaft offset and it lived with a 440 powering it.

I did too until recently. Went off-roading the other day up in Tennessee and when I came back my rear end is making a clunk sound when the truck shifts from driver side to passenger side and vice versa. So I've been doing research on going to the nearest junkyard and pulling another rear end. Being how the bronco2 is almost a dead beast I've had to look at crossing over either a ranger or an Explorer or even an Astrostar Van rear end. Amongst doing this research I have found that there are quite a few differences in the variations of the 7.5 inch rear end from the ranger to the bronco2 to the astrostar. Which I didn't think would be possible, I mean a 7.5 is a 7.5 right? I knew that with the 8.8 rear there would be some slight differences but come to find out the measurements on the 7.5 rear as far as leaf springs, pinion offset, and shock locations on the Ranger are all the same and on the Explorers are all the same. Minus the earlier year Rangers.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I put a 7.5 from an 87 stx hirider in my 85 b2. The pinion offset was no problem. The spring perches I fabbed a plate that got welded to the perch. Drilled 2 holes where they needed to be in the old perch for the u-bolt to go thru. I drove it for a year no problems then sold it. I have a build thread somewhere but am on my phone and don't know how to find it.

 

[JohnAllen]

I put a 7.5 from an 87 stx hirider in my 85 b2. The pinion offset was no problem. The spring perches I fabbed a plate that got welded to the perch. Drilled 2 holes where they needed to be in the old perch for the u-bolt to go thru. I drove it for a year no problems then sold it. I have a build thread somewhere but am on my phone and don't know how to find it.

Ok. So it would be better to relocate the perches than to squeeze the leaf springs in some?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Its what I did. I figured that was less stress on the springs and bushings.

 

[JohnAllen]

Its what I did. I figured that was less stress on the springs and bushings.

Thank you. I was kinda hoping that that wasn't the case, but I guess its time to find a welder, lol.