8.8 spring pads the same?

[84projectFORD]

Ok so i swapped in a 8.8 under my ranger but im keeping it a SUA (spring under axle) as per it keeps the wheel hop way down and the Gaint Motorsports leafs are designed for that. My question is, the spring pads seem to be about a 1/4 inch wider each side than the old 7.5. will that be a major problem down the road if i leave them as is or should i move them in?

 

[86ford]

move them. it puts the springs at bad angles and will be hard on bushings, springs, shackles, etc.

the ones in my b2 were significantly different, the rangers may not be.

86

 

[Sunk]

They should be the same, Rangers and Explorers have the same spacing between pads. IIRC, it's 39.5".

 

[84projectFORD]

well when i put the 7.5 back under the exploder i had to push the springs in about an 8th inch on each side to make them sit on the pad. vis versa on the ranger so i dont think they are the same. but will that 1/8 inch hurt the bushings? im not thinkin it will but ill also cycle the suspension and see what it does.

 

[4x4junkie]

1/8 - 1/4 inch is nothing to worry about.

The difference on a BII is more like 1" each side (you'd want to fix it in that case).

 

[84projectFORD]

1/8 - 1/4 inch is nothing to worry about.

The difference on a BII is more like 1" each side (you'd want to fix it in that case).

ok cool cause i really didnt want to have to cut them off and move them an 1/8 inch unless i really had too.

 

[Shran]

Is there a difference in spacing between 1st and 2nd gen BII's? I dunno about you guys' experiences with this but the 7.5 I picked up out of an '85 BII fit perfectly in my '86 Ranger. The spring spacing was exactly the same.

 

[4x4junkie]

The BII's spacing is definitely 2" wider. Maybe the one you got was already a Ranger axle? (it's possible to force it to fit).

 

[Shran]

Huh, weird. Maybe somebody swapped a Ranger axle like you said into the BII that I pulled it out of...who knows. I never did measure and now I kinda wish I had my old 7.5 housing now so that I could measure.