Swap Questions 8.8 for 7.5

[Cleanster]

I have a 2000 3.0L AT 4x4 111K miles with the famous rear alex clunk. I have found a 8.8 3.73 70 K miles with 9 in drums from an 05 for 300.00 at the parts yard or a 8.8 from a 97 unknown miles for 175.00. My current axle has 10 in drums and my question are:

1. the axles should be compatible ie; speed senor, parking brake, and any thing else I can't think of?

2. Can I swap out the 10' brakes from my present axle for the 9's on the swap axle?

3. Is there anything I should do to the replacement axle before I install it?

TIA

 

[4x4junkie]

I'm not aware of an 8.8" ever coming with 9" drums... Have you looked at the axle? (9" drums will have the little ribs/fins around them, the 10s are smooth).

Regardless, they should swap fine. Just make sure the ratio matches your front if yours is a 4WD.

 

[Insanejughead]

Likewise, I've not seen or heard about an 8.8" having 9" brakes... I put ventilated drums on my 10" brakes that I pulled off of a 90's Lincoln car. I figured any extra cooling would be worth it, and my old drums were wore down pretty damn bad; it turned out that my e-brake cables were staying tight when they shouldn't have.

You shouldn't have a problem installing the axle, but it would be beneficial to check the smoothness of the gears and the tightness of the bearings. I've had to replace outer bearings and seals on both of my axles.

 

[Cleanster]

The listing on the parts yard has several different catagories 8.8 3.73 9 in brakes and 8.8 3.73 10 in brakes are but a few of the choices. No one in my area has a 8.8 3.73 10in brake in stock. , perhaps they are disc?
Thank you for your imput.

 

[Insanejughead]

Is that place too far away to simply go and measure the drums for yourself?

8.8"s came with discs, but you don't find those in rangers (unless the newest ones are going with all wheel disc brakes...)

Btw, I'm not good at remembering the diameter of disc brakes. I should know that information for my Thunderbird and Ranger, but I don't...

 

[Mac]

I've got a really good pdf file on the 2000 Ranger spec's but seems like once I've up-loaded it to this site I can't do it again, what's up with that? Might have figured it out. It shows that the determining factor on brake size is the GVWR. Anything under 4480 lbs gets the 9", heavyer gets the 10". Page 7-8 if pfd works.

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3814&d=1291944625

Dave of the Nord