where to look for an r5 axle?

[1991 Blue danger ranger]

i want to convert my ranger to an lsd. i have axle code 95 in my door (8.8 open with 3.55 gears, 1991 model year) and i saw that a truck with the axle code R5 is what i want to find to keep the same gear ratio. my question is, what years/ models do i look for? i haven't seen much for 3.55s at all and don't know where to look.

 

[SenorNoob]

AFAIK it should be possible to swap from 1990-2011 as long as it's an 8.8 from a Ranger. At some point they got disc brakes. It would be easier to avoid those. There is a width difference 93+ though. It might or might not matter for your case.

If you wanted to do a little more work to convert it to spring over, Explorer axles (91-01) were all 8.8 and had slightly large shafts out at the wheel bearing end. I found Explorer parts to be more common in the junkyards near me.

 

[1991 Blue danger ranger]

i know that they used the 8.8 through all of the years and that it got wider, I'm just trying to figure out when and what models had the r5 code.

 

[2011Supercab]

You will just have to check every truck you find, a 3.55 limited slip would have been a special order.

Most 4x4's came with 3.73 or 4.10 and even then limited slip was special order on 99% of the trucks.

 

[1991 Blue danger ranger]

You will just have to check every truck you find, a 3.55 limited slip would have been a special order.

Most 4x4's came with 3.73 or 4.10 and even then limited slip was special order on 99% of the trucks.

Kind of what I thought upon learning I had a 3.55 4x4 in the first place. Hopefully my luck is good and I won’t have to look too long.

 

[bobbywalter]

the 91 can be tough....there were abs and non abs and 355 was pretty rare. but lsd is fairly common in 3.73.......4.0 trucks didnt really have the 4.10 till 93 models but those are heavy in lsd....

 

[2011Supercab]

@bobbywalter
What about getting just the limited slip carrier out of any gear ratio and putting his ring gear on it?

 

[bobbywalter]

the cost and effort of that is past me. often times you have to re shim ect. though you can get lucky. i would never pay to install a clutch pack limited slip.. a torsen or tru trac justify the effort though. generally i can get a whole axle 1-150 complete so that is what i do.

i prefer to bolt in a replacement for 150 bux.

 

[1991 Blue danger ranger]

@bobbywalter
What about getting just the limited slip carrier out of any gear ratio and putting his ring gear on it?

that would work? i could manage that, didn't know that it was a possibility. how difficult would it be to remove the center off a diff from a junkyard truck?

 

[1991 Blue danger ranger]

the cost and effort of that is past me. often times you have to re shim ect. though you can get lucky. i would never pay to install a clutch pack limited slip.. a torsen or tru trac justify the effort though. generally i can get a whole axle 1-150 complete so that is what i do.

i prefer to bolt in a replacement for 150 bux.

i tried to look up replacement kits nut they're all 500$ plus, that's why I'm asking how to find a complete axle.

 

[Curious Hound]

that would work? i could manage that, didn't know that it was a possibility. how difficult would it be to remove the center off a diff from a junkyard truck?

Removal is easy. Installation can be difficult. It involves setting up the gears for proper engagement, backlash and bearing preload. Special tools and trial and error with different shim combinations until the engagement pattern is correct. Then torquing the pinion nut until proper preload is attained. As Bobby mentioned, it is far easier and less expensive to swap in the whole axle.

 

[SenorNoob]

As Bobby mentioned, it is far easier and less expensive to swap in the whole axle.

Too bad Ford never built a Ranger/Explorer with 4.56 gears. It would save me a ton of money.

 

[sgtsandman]

Too bad Ford never built a Ranger/Explorer with 4.56 gears. It would save me a ton of money.

I hear you on that!

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

It’s just a matter of searching to find what you want. The axle codes are all over the place, there’s no specific year or trim package that will always have the same axle code. Around here, for whatever reason, open rear axles are super common and it’s semi-rare to find a limited slip. You would think being in a place with hills and snow in the winter that limited slips and 3.73 or 4.10 gears would be common, but nope.