8.8 axle swap question

[rez624]

so I have a 97 ranger 2.3 5 speed with a 7.5 rear axle. I'm looking into upgrading it to an 8.8. From what I've read I've learned that I have to cut the spring pads because the 7.5 has a soa axle and apparently the 8.8 has a spring under. My question is can I mount the 8.8 over the springs and just use it to lower the rear of the vehicle?? Thanks!

 

[Hahnsb2]

The 31 spline 8.8 from an explorer is spring under, the 28 spline 8.8 from a ranger is still spring over, just so you know. And yes you can use the explorer 8.8 in it's spring under configuration, it'll drop the rear about 5". Just make sure you flip the center bolts in the springs.

 

[--weezl--]

what hahns said, additionally, there are 31 spline 8.8's in rangers that are sprung over

and you don't need to flip the bolt... it's recommended, but not necessary... i've got explorer spring under springs on my 8.8 31 spline ranger (spring over) axle, and i did not flip the bolt... i did have to do some work with a file though, just a little to make the hole the bolt goes into slightly bigger, no more than a layer of paint or surface rust though... it didn't fit quite perfectly, but it sucked in pretty quick when i put the u-bolts back on

also, you don't have to cut the spring perches off of the under axles, if you're putting the spring over... the only legitimate purpose for cutting them off would be to get you better ground clearance, if you're using it 4x4ing... they do make conversion kits that bolt on to the lower spring perches if you wanted to go that route... they look kinda like this:

 

[upnsmoke]

Weezl, is the piece between the leaf springs and the axle tube not welded to the axle? If not, wouldn't it be stronger if they somehow tied it into the piece resting on the stock spring perch under the axle? Still, it looks like a good idea to me. It looks a little sketchy at a glance, but after thinking about it, I bet it is as strong as stock or close enough, welded or not.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I made a similar setup that weezl shows, post 88, 90 in the following link;
http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79003&page=6
No problems so far, knock-knock.

Richard

 

[--weezl--]

edit: ^^ those are not the exact pics i'm referring to, but they are the exact principal i'm referring to! the ones i was thinking of are an anodized golden color IIRC


no, not welded, and it's 2 completely separate pieces, it allows you to have a bolt on swap from under sprung to over... i agree that if they were connected, it would be much stronger... that one is unique, the ones i've seen before were basically a piece of c channel that fits around the tube, and the ends of the c sit on the top of the lower perch, which gives you the rotational strength... that way you've got a fulcrum up against the spring to stop axle wrap... with the picture posted above, the rotational stability is 100% on the u-bolts, while this should keep it strong, it's really hard to say...

i can't find a picture of the kit i was thinking of, but i'm about 99% sure someone has used it, and posted pictures of it, on this forum... don't have time tonight to search for it...









nor do i really want to search for it, i don't like searching... i highly recommend not taking that opinion until you are well past 18 posts though lol

 

[upnsmoke]

I like the setup Alwaysfloored has pictured. It is simpler than having something like the first picture and trying to tie those two pieces together somehow. Weezl, your thoughts are similar to mine, I think. The stock setup and stock perch give a fulcrum farther from the center of the axle, reducing the tension force on the U bolts for a given torque on the axle. In the first setup, the perch could move in theory, giving control of axle rotation to the lower part. The only potential problem I see with this is that the U bolts can not supply compression force, thus the fulcrum becomes the center line of the axle, applying significantly more tension on 2 of the U bolts than a stock type setup or a setup like alwaysfloored made. I would bet that there is still little chance of breaking them unless you were doing the drag strip thing. Still, if I ran that type of setup, I think I would be sure to keep my U bolts tight. The existence of a completely bolt on axle flip is very cool, and I would not hesitate to run a setup like alwaysfloored has.

 

[88_Eddie]

that's an interesting kit. i'd rather just cut the old perches off and weld on new ones. it took me an hour and a half to cut off everything and weld on the new perches

 

[--weezl--]

Welding is far better, unless you don't have access to a welder...


Sent from somewhere naughty!

 

[upnsmoke]

that's an interesting kit. i'd rather just cut the old perches off and weld on new ones. it took me an hour and a half to cut off everything and weld on the new perches

It usually takes me an hour and a half to locate my welder and dig it out of the basement. Seriously though, I can see the appeal of a completely bolt on setup, especially if it is temporary. I'm going to get one of these, and a set of spoke Daytons, and make my truck a temporary lowrider.

 

[TxGasRacer]

http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/88SS-31.html

 

[rez624]

If I lower the rear of the vehicle with the axle swap what can I do to the front to balance it out. Also how will the different gears effect driving?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

that's an interesting kit. i'd rather just cut the old perches off and weld on new ones. it took me an hour and a half to cut off everything and weld on the new perches

If it is a disc brake axle and since they are the same width as a Ranger it may be simpler to just forget about them so you can still have a very sturdy place to mount brake lines. They won't really hurt anything under there. This didn't occur to me until after I hacked mine off of course...

If I lower the rear of the vehicle with the axle swap what can I do to the front to balance it out. Also how will the different gears effect driving?

For 3-5" you are probably going to need a regular lowering kit for the front.

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Drop.html

 

[88_Eddie]

If it is a disc brake axle and since they are the same width as a Ranger it may be simpler to just forget about them so you can still have a very sturdy place to mount brake lines. They won't really hurt anything under there. This didn't occur to me until after I hacked mine off of course...

true, mine was for my b2 though. plus i wanted a clean look with nothing hanging down. i used completely boxed perches as well

i just tapped a whole into the back of the perch and used that to bolt the rubber hoses that go to the caliper

 

[brinker88]

Yea those boxed perches are awsome! Got mine from Ballistic Fab