Just Wondering If it would be possible to put in a Moser engineering rear end into a v8 Ranger?

[SlugStang8997]

Was just looking up rear ends and found these brand new shiny rear ends by Moser engineering and got to thinkin could i put one of these into my Ranger?

Or Modify it to go into my Ranger. There mostly for mustangs though. I just think it's too bad there isn't an explorer rear end that they make. Or is there one?

My rear end is just fine but was just wondering if this has been done?

Here is the only video on the rear end Moser M88 8.8 but it shows mustangs and talks about mustangs. I am hoping this rear end can be configured for a truck or explorer/mountaineer.

 

[JoshT]

Not sure if it has been, but sure it can be. Moser makes axles to order. Call them up, give them the specs, they'll make one to fit. You may still have to weld on leafspring and shock mounts, not sure if they offer them pre-installed.

You've got enough on your plate to deal with right now before worrying about replacing a perfectly good axle. In the future, if you do need a stronger axle, you'd be better served with an explorer axle. The Explorer's axles are stronger than stock Ranger and take about the same work to install, but they are a lot cheaper than a custom Moser axle.

 

[SlugStang8997]

Not sure if it has been, but sure it can be. Moser makes axles to order. Call them up, give them the specs, they'll make one to fit. You may still have to weld on leafspring and shock mounts, not sure if they offer them pre-installed.

You've got enough on your plate to deal with right now before worrying about replacing a perfectly good axle. In the future, if you do need a stronger axle, you'd be better served with an explorer axle. The Explorer's axles are stronger than stock Ranger and take about the same work to install, but they are a lot cheaper than a custom Moser axle.

Thanks for your reply
I have a Mercury Mountaineer rear axle 3.73 posi-traction with relocated spring perches and shock mounts , so it is the same as the explorers i think..., I am not certain... I think its the same rear as the explorer...
I am still learning about the truck...

I was looking at the M88 Moser 8.8 axle built to order. I will call Moser and ask them if they could build it to fit my truck. Man that would be cool in the future to have a nice new rear end. My brother was saying that i would eventually need a rear end...My rear end has about 128000 miles on it so it should be good for a long time...

My dads 1997 Chevy Silverado has been through 3 rear ends at 267000 miles. So those only lasted about 90000 each. That truck is heavier though.

The Moser rear ends are not truck rear ends though but maybe they can be configure it to work...

Anyway i just thought they were cool, or a cool upgrade for the future.

 

[pjtoledo]

ah, other than the Moser being new parts, they are both basically the same axle.
an 8.8 in one is the same as an 8.8 in any other. they all can be configured differently, any option/part that will fit a Moser will fit the Explorer/Mountaineer.
your existing axle has the same inner components as a much heavier F150 truck, thus it is plenty strong.

 

[SlugStang8997]

ah, other than the Moser being new parts, they are both basically the same axle.
an 8.8 in one is the same as an 8.8 in any other. they all can be configured differently, any option/part that will fit a Moser will fit the Explorer/Mountaineer.
your existing axle has the same inner components as a much heavier F150 truck, thus it is plenty strong.

Thanks for your reply
So the Moser M88 8.8 is the same strength as Explorer/Mountaineer. And the same strength as an F150 inside. Wow that is interesting... I will have to find out what the differences are? My guess would be the mounts of the axle... Or size of the gears...etc

These are all the options on that Moser M88 8.8 https://www.moserengineering.com/Moser-88-Built-to-Order-Rear-End-Package.item

 

[2011Supercab]

So the Moser M88 8.8 is the same strength as Explorer/Mountaineer.

Not even close, but the 31 spline Mountaineer rear diff is more than strong enough for your 5.0

The axle in your truck can handle about 500 horsepower, that's more than double what you have.

Unless you just want to spend $5,000 for bragging rights, keep what you have.

Besides, you have frame issues that need straightened out before spending another dime on this truck.

 

[JoshT]

Only thing special about a moser axle would be the stronger axle shafts, an afermarket housing, and a lighter wallet. If you really needed it you could get axle shafts from them to pur in your Explorer housing. In your application (almost any application) there is nothing to be gained by the aftermarket axle housing.

Contrary to what your brother suggested, axles do not have an expiration date. How long an axle will last largely depends on how it is treated. If you aren't regularly overloading the truck or matting the gas pedal with every takeoff, it's probably going to las a long time. I don;t know of too many vehicles that aren;t running around on their original axles regardless of mileage. Might be some broken axle shafts that got replaced, but the gearing and assembly itself lasts a long time. Of those that are not, it's usually for reasons other than failure (gear change, full width, LS, etc) and in most of those cases one OEM Ford axle got replaced with another used OEM Ford axle that likely had just as many miles.

All axles are not created equal. Don't lump a Chevy axle (that generation atleast) into the same category as a Ford axle. My uncle used to run that body style of Chevy pickup. That thing went through three rear ends in a couple of years back in the early 2000s. He switched to Dodge and Ford, so far as I'm aware he hasn't owned a Chevy since. There's a reason hotrodders like Chevy engines, they're plentiful in the junkyard, cheap to build, and small footprint. There's a reason that they use Ford axles, they are strong (that's it). The factory 9" and 8.8" rear axles are liked for their strength.

 

[JoshT]

So the Moser M88 8.8 is the same strength as Explorer/Mountaineer. And the same strength as an F150 inside. Wow that is interesting... I will have to find out what the differences are? My guess would be the mounts of the axle... Or size of the gears...etc

All three use the 31 spline axle shaft. The Moser is available with more splines, but you'll never need it with a 5.0L Ranger on street tires. The difference in the 31 spline axle shafts is going to be materials (type of steel) and diameter. The factory Ford axle shafts might neck down to a little smaller diameter than the moser axle shaft, but they will be plenty strong enough for you. If you should ever break a stock axle shaft you can order a replacement from Moser and pop it right into your housing to get all of it's strength advantages.

Differences between F-150 and Explorer 8.8? Easy ones are the widths. Axle width is typically measured wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface, F-150 axle is a fair bit wider. The leaf spring perches on the F-150 have a fair bit wider spacing, and the perches them selves may be wider if the spring pack is (3" vs 2.5"?). The shock brackets will be located differently. The wheel lug pattern is different, 5x5.5 or 5x5.37 for F-150 (depending on year), 5x4.5 for Explorers. Brakes are different, but the Explorer ones are more than adequate (maybe overkill) for the application. The F-150 may use bigger axle bearings, but you aren't going to put enough load on the Ranger for that to be a concern.

Size of the gears? We call the axle an 8.8" axle. That 8.8" refers to the size of the ring gear. All three axles will use the same size ring gear. Materials may vary for aftermarket gear sets, but factory gear sets are almost never a problem.

Yes, you can build an exotic, insanely strong axle from mosier, but there is absolutely no need for that. If you ever double or triple the HP of your engine and make it actually connect that power to the ground (or install 40"+ tires), then consider it. Until then be happy with your Explorer 8.8 and stop tilting at windmills.

 

[SlugStang8997]

Not even close, but the 31 spline Mountaineer rear diff is more than strong enough for your 5.0

The axle in your truck can handle about 500 horsepower, that's more than double what you have.

Unless you just want to spend $5,000 for bragging rights, keep what you have.

Besides, you have frame issues that need straightened out before spending another dime on this truck.

Thanks for your reply
Agreed...I am not going to spend any money on the truck until the frame issue is fixed...But was just wondering about rear axles in general...I don't know much about them...So now i know alot more then i did...
So the Moser M88 is a weaker then the Explorer/Mountaineer? Well I wouldn't want that then... At its price point I expected it to be better at everything...

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Thanks for your reply
Agreed...I am not going to spend any money on the truck until the frame issue is fixed...But was just wondering about rear axles in general...I don't know much about them...So now i know alot more then i did...
So the Moser M88 is a weaker then the Explorer/Mountaineer? Well I wouldn't want that then... At its price point I expected it to be better at everything...

Its probably not "weaker"...

But the explorer 8.8 you have is plenty strong for whats feeding it. So spending the bills on a moser wouldnt give you any benifit besides bragging rights..

....and personally if i was dropping money for a custom rear id go with a 9 inch. Then your gear choices are basically unlimited and you can pretty much swap gear sets at will.

 

[19Walt93]

I haven't dealt with Moser but I've done some business with Currie. They built me a narrow 8 inch housing and a pair of axles for a Sunbeam Alpine that I swapped a 2.8 into. The also made me a pair of 5 lug axles for my spare Mustang II 8 inch when I swapped it into my Ranger. They have a form you fill out wth your measurements and build what you draw. If your current 8.8 isn't making noise I wouldn't rush to replace it. Make sure the seals aren't leaking, change the fluid, and run it.
I see many high HP Chevys with Ford rear ends and have never seen a Ford running a Chevy rear, please don't judge your 8.8 like it was a Chevy rear.

 

[SlugStang8997]

I haven't dealt with Moser but I've done some business with Currie. They built me a narrow 8 inch housing and a pair of axles for a Sunbeam Alpine that I swapped a 2.8 into. The also made me a pair of 5 lug axles for my spare Mustang II 8 inch when I swapped it into my Ranger. They have a form you fill out wth your measurements and build what you draw. If your current 8.8 isn't making noise I wouldn't rush to replace it. Make sure the seals aren't leaking, change the fluid, and run it.
I see many high HP Chevys with Ford rear ends and have never seen a Ford running a Chevy rear, please don't judge your 8.8 like it was a Chevy rear.

Thanks for your reply
My rear Axle is good still i was just wondering about rear axles in general mostly. I was just searching around and found those Moser rear axles and was intrigued. So i figure i should ask about them.

Well i figure... if they were that great, i think i would see them all over the place...in videos, written about online... etc...But i didn't find much when i searched ranger and Moser in the same sentence.

Forgive me for mentioning Chevy rear axles and Ford Axles as being similiar in quality...I didn't know the chevy axles were not good in general or at least the one i was talking about isn't good.

I am trying to learn about axles... so im asking questions.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Thanks for your reply
My rear Axle is good still i was just wondering about rear axles in general mostly. I was just searching around and found those Moser rear axles and was intrigued. So i figure i should ask about them.

Well i figure... if they were that great, i think i would see them all over the place...in videos, written about online... etc...But i didn't find much when i searched ranger and Moser in the same sentence.

Forgive me for mentioning Chevy rear axles and Ford Axles as being similiar in quality...I didn't know the chevy axles were not good in general or at least the one i was talking about isn't good.

I am trying to learn about axles... so im asking questions.

Ford uses ring gear diameter to ID axles (7.5/8.8/9 etc), GM uses number of cover bolts (10 bolt, 12 bolt, 14 bolt).

Your dads is probably a 10 bolt. They wernt that great. The 8.8 ford used in about everything from rangers to F150s and Vics to mustangs.

Besides rear ends are probably the eaisest major item in the drivetrain to change. So even IF your 8.8 happend to go (doubtful) they can eaisly be switched out in a few hours.

Id rather do 10 rear axles then 1 trans or motor lol

 

[19Walt93]

Ford uses ring gear diameter to ID axles (7.5/8.8/9 etc), GM uses number of cover bolts (10 bolt, 12 bolt, 14 bolt).

Your dads is probably a 10 bolt. They wernt that great. The 8.8 ford used in about everything from rangers to F150s and Vics to mustangs.

Besides rear ends are probably the eaisest major item in the drivetrain to change. So even IF your 8.8 happend to go (doubtful) they can eaisly be switched out in a few hours.

Id rather do 10 rear axles then 1 trans or motor lol

I believe when GM guys talk about 10 bolt or 12 bolt, they're talking about the number of ring gear bolts, not cover bolts.

 

[Thedrill]

Here are a couple of photos of the 8.8 in SlugStangs Ranger, when I welded on the HD shock mounts and wide perches.