7.5 8.8 interchangeable

[stegomon]

My 90 ranger needs a new rear end. Does any one know what year 7.5 or 8.8 will bolt in? I can't do the 8.8 swap because I can't weld

 

[RonD]

1983-1992 7.5" or 8.8" from a Ranger will plug and play

1993-2009 7.5" or 8.8" from Ranger or Mazda B-series will also be plug and play.
But they are 1" wider on each side, so wheel/tire on each side sticks out 1" more, most like it better, lol

Ranger bodies got 2" wider in 1993 but the frame stayed the same, so plug and play, 1983 thru 2009
2010/2011 got rear disc brakes and are also bolt on BUT........brake lines and Parking brake cables need to be refitted

I would hold out for Limited slip
Donor can be 2WD or 4x4 doesn't matter
3.73 was most common ratio

Only the Explorer 8.8" 31-spine axle needed cutting and welding to be used on Rangers

This site: https://www.car-part.com/

Is a good place to look for used parts

 

[4x4junkie]

Ford switched to a larger pinion flange sometime between 1988-1990 (I forget exactly what year, or if it was among the mid-year changes for 1990), so you would need to swap the flange if you got an axle on the other side of when that change took place.

Check the pinion flange you have now... If the driveshaft bolts are 2.5" apart, you have the earlier flange. Bolts 3" apart would be the later flange. Making sure your replacement axle has the same size flange will make things easiest.

 

[stegomon]

Thank you every one!!! Big help

 

[Josh B]

1983-1992 7.5" or 8.8" from a Ranger will plug and play

1993-2009 7.5" or 8.8" from Ranger or Mazda B-series will also be plug and play.
But they are 1" wider on each side, so wheel/tire on each side sticks out 1" more, most like it better, lol

Ranger bodies got 2" wider in 1993 but the frame stayed the same, so plug and play, 1983 thru 2009
2010/2011 got rear disc brakes and are also bolt on BUT........brake lines and Parking brake cables need to be refitted

I would hold out for Limited slip
Donor can be 2WD or 4x4 doesn't matter
3.73 was most common ratio

Only the Explorer 8.8" 31-spine axle needed cutting and welding to be used on Rangers

This site: https://www.car-part.com/

Is a good place to look for used parts

I would hold out for Limited slip
Donor can be 2WD or 4x4 doesn't matter ???
3.73 was most common ratio

Only the Explorer 8.8" 31-spine axle needed cutting and welding to be used on Rangers ???



I've been hoping my 96 Explorer has 31 spline, but regardless, I'm considering using it on the 93 Ranger.

Will it have to be cut and welded ??
Could there be serious problems with that?

 

[scotts90ranger]

I would mostly look for '90-08 I think, after '92 they're only like an inch wider but otherwise the same as long as they're from a Ranger... after about '87 would be ideal since that's when they got the RABS sensor I think, then the rear flange change in mid '90 I think like Junkie mentioned.

 

[SenorNoob]

Neither of the 88's I've had had any kind of sensor on the rear axle... I always assumed that came with the body style change in 93.