8.8 rearend with 7.5 axles and tubes

[boalvr]

has anyone else had this problem? i have a 97 ranger 4wd with 4.0L motor.
i have 8.8 gears 3.73 ratio 10"brakes yet when i order parts for 8.8 they do not fit. i blew out a wheel bearing so i needed new bearings seals and drivers side axle. i ordered up all the parts from auto zone since i had the tag from the rearend saying 8.8 3 73. i measured the brakes and they were 10" so i thought it was all good. they had to get the axle from their used parts place so it is nonreturnable so i'm out $100 there already. and now there is no junkyard by me (Huntsville,AL) that has either an entire 8.8 assembly or the 7.5 axleshafts. helppppppppp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[scotts90ranger]

'93-current ranger rear axle shafts should all be the same (other than the drivers side being longer than the passenger side) other than the FX4's with the 31 spline 8.8's, it's hard to believe they don't have any rangers from the last 16 years, there's several million of the things out there... have you tried craigslist? there should be someone parting one out somewhere...

yes it's true, the ranger 8.8 is mainly for the stronger gears (ring and pinion and spiders), they use the same axle shafts and wheel bearings as the 7.5", they just get the larger 10" brakes ove the smaller 9" brakes (which was also on some 7.5's)

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Sounds like you're getting parts for the 31 spline version.

The ranger 28 spline 8.8 shares the same bearings, seals and axle shafts as the 7.5.

The 31 spline bearings, shafts and seals are larger. 31 spline 8.8's come in explorers and fx4 lvl2 rangers.

 

[4x4junkie]

It's the typical chain-store morons (slaves to their mal-programmed computers) at work again here.

Order 7.5" bearings & seals for your year Ranger and you'll then get what you need for your 8.8". Then take that wrong axle they gave you and shove it up their asses until the other end comes out of their mouths and demand your money back because it's absolutely not your fault whatsoever that they sold you the wrong part ($100 for a used shaft is highway robbery to boot).

Good luck, and welcome to the boards.

 

[AllanD]

has anyone else had this problem? i have a 97 ranger 4wd with 4.0L motor.
i have 8.8 gears 3.73 ratio 10"brakes yet when i order parts for 8.8 they do not fit. i blew out a wheel bearing so i needed new bearings seals and drivers side axle. i ordered up all the parts from auto zone since i had the tag from the rearend saying 8.8 3 73. i measured the brakes and they were 10" so i thought it was all good. they had to get the axle from their used parts place so it is nonreturnable so i'm out $100 there already. and now there is no junkyard by me (Huntsville,AL) that has either an entire 8.8 assembly or the 7.5 axleshafts. helppppppppp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The problem is NOT your rear or having the wrong parts, it's the ASSHOLES that program the parts lookup software for the various auto parts supply houses.

Ranger and Aerostar 8.8" rears use 28-spline axles and appropriate bearings, seals and backing plates.

Explorers and F-150's use the 31-spline shafts, bearings and seals.

Only a rare few rangers with the FX4-Level2 package have the "unicorn" rear axle with the bigger shafts.

The same type of shit happens buying front axle parts for a Dana 35 hybred

The next counter monkey that asks me if I have 3.45 gears when buying brake parts is going to have a keyboard up his ass.

AD

 

[scotts90ranger]

I know how it goes, the Napa guy didn't believe me once, I wanted brake pads for my '92 explorer and '90 ranger (for my D35 swap), identical part number brake pads, somehow the pads on the ranger receipt cost $2 more...

their computers also ask me what engine my '92 explorer had... man what the choices...

 

[RangerFabWorks]

The next counter monkey that asks me if I have 3.45 gears when buying brake parts is going to have a keyboard up his ass.

AD

sir, do you have 3.45 gears in your axle?





































sorry ad, i couldnt resist. MUST............RESIST.................COMMENTS.............

 

[AllanD]

Nope, I've got 4.10's

I know how to LIE to the counter-moron to defeat most of
the frustration that might make me commit Stephen King type attrocities
on them for tormenting me with their stupidity.

I'd love to see those monkeys try to figuire out my truck...

it's an '87 Supercab, the differences start with the Mazda Trans
(not introduced until '88) the 4.0 engine, the 8.8" axle and get
really fun with my 1997 D35 front axle and two-piston brake calipers.

If I set about building a first gen supercab to mess with their minds
I couldn't possibly create a more confusing combination...

Confusing to them anyway...

I have this "Fetish" of assembling things that don't really belong together
into an earlier chassis and making it look like God & Henry Ford wanted
those parts to be there

AD

 

[boalvr]

y do i have such little puny axles

even according to this site http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/axleguide.html
i should still have bigger axles than the 7.5 just 28 spline instead of 31
"The Rangers use a 28-spline 8.8-Inch axle on 4.0 Liter engine applications and a 31-spline axle on FX4 applications" i have 8.8 gears,4.0 liter engine and 10" brakes so i still don't see why i have the baby axles when the rest of the truck has all the bigger parts to it.

 

[scotts90ranger]

they put the 10" brakes on some 7.5's, having the 4.0 just means you get the 8.8, even if it is the cheezy one... it's just what Ford did, not much of what they did at times made or makes sense... like why the heck did they start using up some dana 28 parts 4 years after discontinuing the axle and making a crossbreed front axle?

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

The 8.8 has a stronger gear set than the 7.5, that's about the only difference.

The 28 spline 8.8 is nothing to sneeze at, I ran mine for 3 years on 35's with a lockright without any breakages.

 

[AllanD]

Quit sniveling you don't have "Baby axles" you just don't have the extra strength ones.

The axle shafts aren't the weak link in the 8.8" axle.

THE reason that the FX4-Level2's came with 31-spline axles is that ford wanted to use the Torsen diff but the Torsen diff wasn't made in 28-spline
and other apps already used the 31-spline.

Making a narrow explorer rear that used ranger length axles
and drums was the cheap wway out.

Frankly I'm annoyed that ford didn't simply put a Disc explorer rear
with different spring perchs in the back of the FX4

If ALL 4.0 rangers came with what ammounts to a "Level2" axle
I would run one myself

But at this point if I stumbled into one I would sell it instead of using it.

Why? because the bearing journals will eventually wear out
and then you are stuck looking for replacements for a rare
axle shaft for a relatively rare rear axle assembly.

An explorer axle requires some fabrication and welding,
but if you need a new shaft finding one is NEVER going
to be a problem because they are ALL the same on live
axle explorers (1991-01), they made MILLIONS of them
As opposed to "thousands" for the FX4 stuff...

AD

even according to this site http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/axleguide.html
i should still have bigger axles than the 7.5 just 28 spline instead of 31
"The Rangers use a 28-spline 8.8-Inch axle on 4.0 Liter engine applications and a 31-spline axle on FX4 applications" i have 8.8 gears,4.0 liter engine and 10" brakes so i still don't see why i have the baby axles when the rest of the truck has all the bigger parts to it.