87 ranger axle ?????

[red7878]

1. hi i have an 87 ranger 4wd and was wondering what axle i have im wanting to do new gears but i cant figure out what rear axle i have

2. Also is the ttb considered a straight axle ive heard lots of diffrent answers??

 

[adsm08]

The rear axle is a 7.5, unless it has been changed.

No, the TTB is not a "straight axle". It's not straight.

Straight axle is not really the proper technical term, the proper term (straight is correct in that it describes the shape) is "solid" because the two ends cannot move by themselves, independent of the other.

The TTB is considered a "semi-independent" suspension because the two sides can move by themselves to a point, but if one moves too much it starts to tip the other side.

 

[red7878]

thank you would you happen to know a good site to get gears for the 7.5

 

[adsm08]

Jim sells gears on the parts store site here, I personally don't buy diff parts anywhere but Randy's Ring and Pinion. Except bearings, but I work at the dealership and can get them cheaper at work than Randy's.

 

[red7878]

ok im just wanting new gears because pushing bigtires with stock gears and a tiny v6 is hard on the clutch....and thanks

 

[adsm08]

Yes it is. Lower gears like 4.10 or 4.56 would be good. You will need to upgrade to a D35 to re-gear the front though, nobody makes gears for the 28 anymore.

If you are looking for things to do to the truck to make it handle those tires nicer the 4.0 clutch upgrade is a good one to look at. There are instructions in the tech library.

 

[shortzt]

I have axles with 4.10s for sale but I would suggest doing a d35 and and explorer 8.8 upgrade, well worth the money

 

[red7878]

what all do i need to do a dana 35 swap for front and for the 8.8 rear

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Probably the easiest is to buy a wrecked explorer 1990 to 94 or ranger from 1990 and up to 97. If you can find one with 4.10's you may save some money re-gearing. I believe aerostars with the 4.0 came with 4.10's in the d-35/8.8 flavor too, they would be 1990 and up too. There is the "tech library" at the top of every page, it has most of the answers to your questions. Start a build thread with pics, we like pics and your own thread helps when your memory fails.

 

[red7878]

thank you ill upload pics to a thread as soon as possible

 

[4x4junkie]

Aerostars never had the D35, and to my knowledge only 2WD 4.0L Aerostars got an 8.8" (AWD ones all had a 7.5" rear).

Explorers normally are quite ubiquitous in the junkyards. I'd suggest just steal the axles & steering linkage out of any '91-'94 Explorer as said. The front axle bolts in if you have a suspension lift on yours, the rear needs the leaf spring perches relocated and shock mounts put on.

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/D28_D35_swap.shtml
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Explorer8_8.shtml

If you get the whole Explorer though, you'll likely find a wealth of other (more up-to-date) parts you can swap over to your '87 also. There's so much stuff that's interchangeable on these rigs.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Aerostars never had the D35, and to my knowledge only 2WD 4.0L Aerostars got an 8.8" (AWD ones all had a 7.5" rear).

Thanks for clarifying.

 

[red7878]

thanks 4x4 junkie im also gunna try to do the 2.3 turbo diesel swap really needing it