axle swap

[taylor27]

I have a 94 B3000 and from what i can tell by looking at my rear axle it is a 7.5 and im looking to put a 8.8 in it, what do i need to know before i do this and what is necessary when i get the 8.8, i know of one from an explorer but im not sure of the spline or gears

 

[corrond56]

well if you go an explorer route you will need to do a spring over. I would buy all new perches for the springs and the shocks instead of trying to reuse the ones on there. Check the tag and see what gears it has. Not sure if there is a way to tell how many splines it is by the tag but if the gears aren't right you will have to pull them anyway to change them. I would pull of the cover either way to inspect the gears and change the fluid. Then look at the brakes and if they need it rebuild the brakes and possibly change the lines on the axle.