8.8 Housing interchangability

[oldgreen]

OK, our truck is a FX4 Level 2 with 31 spline axles. We need to build a couple more rearends and already have the shafts, carriers, etc, but I need to know if the housings from other rangers will work with these parts. In other words, will a 93+ ranger rearend housing accept 31 spline shafts (with the correct carrier). The only real issues I can think of would be the bearings and the length of the shafts, but will it work?

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

No it won't work. The axle bearing journals are smaller on the 28 spline ranger housings.

You would need either another fx4 lvl 2 housing or a 91-01 explorer housing.

 

[oldgreen]

Excellent. . .are the explorers the same width?

 

[Captain Ledd]

Excellent. . .are the explorers the same width?

nope, marginally wider.

 

[oldgreen]

BUMMER. . .we have to be stock track width. FX4 housings are not cheap. . .not even a little bit. . .

 

[Captain Ledd]

Well, you could take Full size 8.8's and have them cut down to stock FX4 size (for the sake of having more material to work with). Then you just use the shafts and cariers which you already have.

Explorer, FX4 LvlII Rangers, and Fullsize 8.8's are all identical except for widths. I believe the Explorer 8.8's are 1.5" wider on either side than the Ranger (IIRC).

Is this for racing?

 

[oldgreen]

Yeah, we are a 7300 class Ranger in Best in the Desert. We just ran out of FX4 LII rearends and need an alternative. Since we go through a few every year, it needs to be as simple as possible.

If the bearing journals on the 28spline housings are smaller than on the 31spline housings, why do explorers and 28 spline rangers use the same part number for an axle bearing? Seems kinda odd. It seems like they should use a different bearing since the 31spline shafts are bigger. . .

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

They don't use the same part number, the 28 spline bearings are quite a bit smaller.

The explorer rear end will be about 3/4" wider than yours.

The 90-93 8.8's are 3" narrower. The 93+ are wider.

 

[metalmacguyver]

Is your source for matching the part numbers a parts store computer? There are some errors. If you try to buy axle seals for a ranger with a 8.8, they will give you seals for a 31spline axle.

 

[oldgreen]

3/4". . .That is close enough!! Explorer axles it is.

I'm guessing that our spare shafts will not work either. . .do you know if one of them is the same length or are they both a little longer?

 

[Nhaz]

Is your source for matching the part numbers a parts store computer? There are some errors. If you try to buy axle seals for a ranger with a 8.8, they will give you seals for a 31spline axle.

Funny you should mention that. This weekend when I swapped in a trac loc into my rear end. the axle seals i bought to replace mine were quite a bit larger then my existing ones. I ended up reusing my old seals.

And this was from the dealership.

 

[Doug]

I need to replace the 7.5 rear axle on my 2008 ranger with a 8.8" and I am wondering if I can not find a Level II rear axle will my plan B will work? Plan B = 28 spline 8.8 axle housing, Detroit Truetrac part #913A561 31 spline differential, and Superior super 88 31 spline c clip eliminator kit. and 4.56 gears. Will these parts work together; specifically the inner bearings and how will the strength of this set-up compare to a level II.