7.5 to 8.8 New drive shaft?

[The purple one]

If I go from a 93 7.5 to a 8.8 will I need to do anything to the drive shaft? (longer or shorter one) I know the brakes are differant I am not worried about that. Thanks.

 

[TheOne]

also wondering the same thing...will the drive shaft i have now work????

 

[kunar]

the length of the drive shaft is fine, the flange may or may not fit...

 

[adsm08]

Flanges are wrong. The bolt spacing goes from 2.5" on the 7.5 to 3 inches on the 8.8. You can get one to fit though. It will work. If you do the 1-piece conversion at the same time it will make things easier.

 

[holyford86]

the bolt spacing on the early 7.5 inch axles was 2.5 inches, the newer ones use the same mounting as the 8.8

 

[TheOne]

whats considered early? mines an 87...

 

[scotts90ranger]

I believe it changed in '90, you might get lucky and just be able to use the flange off of the explorer drive shaft if your U joint is the same size like mine is, so just take the U joint off the end of the shaft (not too hard to do in the yard with a big socket, a hammer and some needle nose pliers) and take that with you when you get the axle

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

the bolt spacing on the early 7.5 inch axles was 2.5 inches, the newer ones use the same mounting as the 8.8

Yep, I swapped an 8.8 in my '00 and it bolted right up like stock.

Oh, and some 7.5 rears did get the same brakes as the 8.8, my Ranger had 'em from the factory, it depends on the build of the truck (I got a higher GVW)