Axle interchange for Torsen rear diff?

[MikeG]

They aren't necessarily the same length. But you could try switching them, that would tell you for sure.

31 spline 8.8 axle shaft lengths

I picked up a spare axle shaft a while back thinking both sides were the same. Now I need the opposite side and I am not sure which one I currently have. Anyone know the length of each shaft? The tech library doesn't say anything about the 31 spline shafts.

www.therangerstation.com

 

[tinman_72]

The easy route would be to take the torsen/4.10 gear guts and swap them into an explorer housing...

What he said.

 

[Rimjam]

What he said.

Thanks everyone for the input.

Pretty sure left & right axles aren't the same length. Agree that there's some 'play' room with drum brakes (more so than disc). Have carefully 'eyeballed' axle tube, seems straight, no wrinkles. Why not put the Torsen & ring & pinion in an Explorer housing? Ranger diff is low mileage, (less than 50k), no rust, beautiful inside. Before I buy an Explorer axle to be cut I'll try to find a correct one.

 

[tinman_72]

...Before I buy an Explorer axle to be cut I'll try to find a correct one.

If I understand the suggestion correctly: Start with the entire Explorer rear end (which is easier to come by than a FX4), housing, disc brakes and all. Remove the factory Track-Loc and gears. Insert Ranger Torsen and gears. The Explorer axles are made to fit this housing, no need to cut. (Unless the carrier end of the Torsen axle is different than regular 8.8.) You just have to move and flip the spring perches and it bolts right in.
Of course, if you can find a FX4 rear end that is the easiest route, they just aren't common.

 

[Rimjam]

If I understand the suggestion correctly: Start with the entire Explorer rear end (which is easier to come by than a FX4), housing, disc brakes and all. Remove the factory Track-Loc and gears. Insert Ranger Torsen and gears. The Explorer axles are made to fit this housing, no need to cut. (Unless the carrier end of the Torsen axle is different than regular 8.8.) You just have to move and flip the spring perches and it bolts right in.
Of course, if you can find a FX4 rear end that is the easiest route, they just aren't common.

Already have a rear diff from a 2004 FX-4 Level II Ranger, but it's missing the left axle due to a wreck. Actually I'm missing left brake hardware as well. Everything easy to come by but the left axle which is apparently unique to a Ranger with 31 spline Torsen limited slip. I'd really rather keep the Ranger rear than switch to Explorer, so........do I buy a pricey Ranger axle or modify an Explorer axle?

 

[09fx4guy]

Just buy the axle for the ranger. Sometimes its not worth the headache trying to find something that is hard to find and also probably has some wear and tear on it already.

 

[adsm08]

Already have a rear diff from a 2004 FX-4 Level II Ranger, but it's missing the left axle due to a wreck. Actually I'm missing left brake hardware as well. Everything easy to come by but the left axle which is apparently unique to a Ranger with 31 spline Torsen limited slip. I'd really rather keep the Ranger rear than switch to Explorer, so........do I buy a pricey Ranger axle or modify an Explorer axle?

Modify the Explorer.


There is no objective value to keeping the Ranger specific axle and housing if the unit is not ready to drop in and go.

On the other hand, if you go with the Explorer axle and need to replace parts down the road, parts for that are plentiful.

I have a Torsen carrier in an Explorer axle in my Ranger. The only part about it that was even a little difficult was getting the axle retainers in. It is a tight fit, and the driver's side specifically I had to remove the parking brake and make sure the hub was rotated just so that the head of a wheel stud did not touch anything before it would go in far enough to get the retaining clip in.

 

[Rimjam]

$188 each at RockAuto before discount & shipping.

Decided to go the safe route & buy new since the rest of my Torsen is in such good shape. Rock Auto price at my door slightly over $200 and two days early...Now just need a brake drum & backing plate - '92 - '98 V8 Explorer, right?

Thanks for heads up pjtoledo.

FYI: Total length is 30 1/8" from inner "button" to outer edge of wheel mounting/brake drum flange.

 

[Rimjam]

Found a nice brake drum from '06 Ranger 4x4 but brake backing plate was trashed from being dragged around in JY. Did discover that 28 spline rear diff backing plate will NOT work on 31 spline axle housing, bolt hole spacing different.

So, what are my choices? Ranger FX4 w/ 31 spline or '92-'98 Explorer V8? Are all V8 Explorers w/ rear drums 31 spline?

 

[Blmpkn]

Thanks everyone for the input.

Pretty sure left & right axles aren't the same length. Agree that there's some 'play' room with drum brakes (more so than disc). Have carefully 'eyeballed' axle tube, seems straight, no wrinkles. Why not put the Torsen & ring & pinion in an Explorer housing? Ranger diff is low mileage, (less than 50k), no rust, beautiful inside. Before I buy an Explorer axle to be cut I'll try to find a correct one.

The housing may not be tweaked enough to have wrinkled, but it may still be off enough where it'll constantly be eating up bearings.

 

[Rimjam]

The housing may not be tweaked enough to have wrinkled, but it may still be off enough where it'll constantly be eating up bearings.

Good point.
Have consulted several knowledgeable people on checking for straightness: Carefully measured from cast iron carrier housing to backing plate flange, set up a stringline to use as a straight edge & measured several places from it to housing - so far so good. As-yet-untried test suggested by my niece: use laser pointer to shine thru entire housing, piece of glass on both ends. I'm learning a lot.