Arggg! This sucks as a second post

[meh77gmc]

I just joined this forum to search info on how to change rear wheel bearings (thinking that was the cause of the noise my Ranger was making). I got the info, bought the parts and bearing puller, then opened up the rear end to get the job started. This is what I found...

Now I get to try to find a used 7.5 rear with (hopefully) a 4.10 gear to make up for the 31x10.5 tires this thing has on it. Now that I think about it, would running that size tire with the stock 3.73 gears have led to this damage?

Any advise on this upcoming swap is welcomed, as I have never swapped whole axle assemblies before. Thanks and it's good to meet y'all.

Mike

 

[adsm08]

A whole axle swap is easy. It's just bolts out/bolts in. Drive-shaft, shocks, brake lines, u-bolts, maybe a swaybar, bang, she is out.

Screw the 7.5, find an 8.8. That damage is more likely due to having a 7.5 than having any particular gear ratio.

As for switching to 4.10s, bear in mind that if you have a 4x4 the ratios must match front and rear or you cannot use the 4x4.

 

[Captain Ledd]

Yep... those are gonners' alright.

The ratio itself wouldn't have made a difference, clutch dumps and neutral slams at some point in it's life would have, as well as just plain old wear/abuse.

Any axle assembly from a Ranger will technically work. For your app, do your best to stick to 1993+ with drums (should be all but the very newest Rangers). Both 7.5" and 8.8" will swap no issues/mods, shouldn't have flange issues by this point in model years. Get 10" brakes if you can, muuuuuch better than the 9's. It's pretty wide open really. 8.8"s will have the bigger ring gear, which you might want lol.

Basically to swap: Unbolt driveshaft, old axle, disconnect parking brakes/ hoses etc (not necessarily in that order ), reinstall new-to-you axle. If you're mechanically competent, it's pretty dang simple.

 

[meh77gmc]

Yep... those are gonners' alright.

The ratio itself wouldn't have made a difference, clutch dumps and neutral slams at some point in it's life would have, as well as just plain old wear/abuse.

Any axle assembly from a Ranger will technically work. For your app, do your best to stick to 1993+ with drums (should be all but the very newest Rangers). Both 7.5" and 8.8" will swap no issues/mods, shouldn't have flange issues by this point in model years. Get 10" brakes if you can, muuuuuch better than the 9's. It's pretty wide open really. 8.8"s will have the bigger ring gear, which you might want lol.

Basically to swap: Unbolt driveshaft, old axle, disconnect parking brakes/ hoses etc (not necessarily in that order ), reinstall new-to-you axle. If you're mechanically competent, it's pretty dang simple.

So, if I go the 8.8 route, I won't have to weld spring perches or anything? If it's a simple bolt-on, that sounds like the way to go. With an 8.8" I would like to go with the 4.56 gears to match the tires on my truck. Thankfully mine is not 4WD, so I can change ratios. Mine is just an extended cab with a little 2" lift.

I really appreciate the responses and advise y'all are giving. Thanks.

Mike

 

[faststang90]

that gear is like that because it was not set up right

 

[RonD]

So, if I go the 8.8 route, I won't have to weld spring perches or anything? If it's a simple bolt-on, that sounds like the way to go. With an 8.8" I would like to go with the 4.56 gears to match the tires on my truck. Thankfully mine is not 4WD, so I can change ratios. Mine is just an extended cab with a little 2" lift.

I really appreciate the responses and advise y'all are giving. Thanks.

Mike

Up at the top of this, and every page, look just under the top banner, you will see:
Home | Ford Ranger Forum | Tech Articles | Other Articles | Featured Rangers | ect.............

Click on "Tech Articles", then bookmark the page you go to, you will go there often
And then for your wanted info click on: "Axles, Gears, Hubs & Lockers"

"Tech Articles" has alot of "been there, done that" info from members here.

 

[Captain Ledd]

So, if I go the 8.8 route, I won't have to weld spring perches or anything? If it's a simple bolt-on, that sounds like the way to go. With an 8.8" I would like to go with the 4.56 gears to match the tires on my truck. Thankfully mine is not 4WD, so I can change ratios. Mine is just an extended cab with a little 2" lift.

I really appreciate the responses and advise y'all are giving. Thanks.

Mike

As long as it's from a Ranger or technically Mazda B-series, 1993 vintage or newer (Might have to double check years on the B-series, but they're basically Rangers. Should have the same dashboard as your '96), it should fit no-problems. I know Ford lists an axle code for 4.56, but as far as anyone has found, they never made a Ranger with 4.56 gears, so you'll have to install them. Make sure to get the u-bolts and spring plates from the 8.8, the tubes are a hair larger IIRC.

 

[adsm08]

The tubes on a 28 spline 8.8 should be the same as a 7.5

 

[meh77gmc]

I'm gonna call around today to see what I can find in an 8.8

 

[redhurricane]

If you have the means to do some welding, the 95-up explorer 8.8 is a great upgrade. Ballistic fab makes some very nice perches/shock mounts, and this axle will get you disc brakes which is a giant leap in performance braking over drum. Typically found with 3.73 LSD gearing. sometimes in rare cases with 4.10. get into the tech articles here on the site and learn how to read axle tags. that way when you go junkyard hunting you know what you are looking at.

easy bolt in is the drum 7.5 or 8.8 as already mentioned.

 

[Captain Ledd]

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Ford-7_5-axle.shtml

This does list them as both 2.80", though...

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Ford-8_8-axle.shtml

This link lists them as 3" under the "Ford Ranger 8.8-Inch Axle versus Ford Explorer 8.8-Inch Axle" (which sadly, is where I stopped reading), I had thought I'd seen the 3" measurement tossed around elsewhere too.

 

[meh77gmc]

Luckily I make my living as a welder, so cutting and rewelding a few mounts won't be too much of a problem. My first challenge will be finding and pulling a good rear-end at the local U-Pull-It junkyard.

 

[meh77gmc]

Update...
Being as broke as I am at the moment, I had to just find what works and go with it. I gotta get my work truck back on the road. I just don't have the luxury of time, at the moment, to take an explorer 8.8 to my workplace to cut and reweld the mounts and perches, so I had to find a true bolt on replacement. The only Ranger 8.8 within a 250 mile radius was going to cost $350. My only option ended up being a 7.5 from a 98 ranger, but it is limited slip, and has 10 inch drums. The only issue I see is the 98 axle will be 2" wider overall. Do any of y'all foresee that as a problem in any way? For $175, I pulled the trigger and bought it.

 

[adsm08]

Should be just fine. I have a 97 axle in my 87, it isn't too wide.


Too bad you are so far away. I have a 3.73 8.8 that I would have sold a lot cheaper than $175.

 

[meh77gmc]

Yep, that's my luck. It could be raining cootchie, and I'd get hit in the head by a pecker.

Mike