Differential Cover: Ford Ranger 2005

[Diabolus]

I am not 100% certain, but I believe I have a 7.5 differential. I am installing a Detroit truetrac and wanted to get a new cover. I cannot find any covers like ARB or Mag-Hytec for my differential. Why don't they make any in this size? Am I missing something here?

Thanks*

 

[Bird76Mojo]

Aftermarket covers are mostly "snake oil" products. Most of them alter the overall oil level which works the fluid harder, and that isn't good. Almost all of them also have an internal design/shape that works the fluid harder, heating it up more than a factory cover does.

Gale Banks is doing an in-depth study of this right now.

There is a whole series on Youtube. I recommend everyone watch the entire series. Here is the first video he did on it. He's still investigating: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4DQ-jzKQRw&t=4s


GB

 

[Diabolus]

Aftermarket covers are mostly "snake oil" products. Most of them alter the overall oil level which works the fluid harder, and that isn't good. Almost all of them also have an internal design/shape that works the fluid harder, heating it up more than a factory cover does.

Gale Banks is doing an in-depth study of this right now.

There is a whole series on Youtube. I recommend everyone watch the entire series. Here is the first video he did on it. He's still investigating: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4DQ-jzKQRw&t=4s


GB

Interesting, thanks for posting this. I wanted to get a new one to help the new locker I'm getting, but it could actually be worse.

Do you happen to know why they don't even bother making one in 7.5?

Thanks again!

 

[Bird76Mojo]

Probably because everyone scraps the 7.5 axle in favor of something heavier.



GB

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Probably because everyone scraps the 7.5 axle in favor of something heavier.



GB

They never really found their way into high performance applications either.

I have a finned cast aluminum cover for my 8.8 which is oem for a late model GT-500.

 

[Diabolus]

They never really found their way into high performance applications either.

I have a finned cast aluminum cover for my 8.8 which is oem for a late model GT-500.

Im using my Ranger for some dirt roads for camping, nothing hardcore offload.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Im using my Ranger for some dirt roads for camping, nothing hardcore offload.

Yeah but to drive the market a 200hp Fox body was as high performance as it got for an oem application.

Every Mustang ‘86+ and most light trucks early 80’s and newer have had the 8.8.

 

[Diabolus]

Yeah but to drive the market a 200hp Fox body was as high performance as it got for an oem application.

Every Mustang ‘86+ and most light trucks early 80’s and newer have had the 8.8.

Are you suggesting my axle is no good?

 

[Ranger850]

Are you suggesting my axle is no good?

I don't think he's saying it's no good. Just not an aftermarket for those rearends in particular due to the fact that a stronger rear end is easy to upgrade and parts are available

 

[Diabolus]

I don't think he's saying it's no good. Just not an aftermarket for those rearends in particular due to the fact that a stronger rear end is easy to upgrade and parts are available

how much would it cost for me to upgrade my rear?

I don't want to spend a lot of money, but I got the recent Detroit truetrac so I could offload, I don't have 4x4 so I need all the help I can get.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I wouldn’t worry about what you have.

 

[Ranger850]

Go to your local junk yard and grab a rear-end out of a newer Ranger. Or explorer or Mustang. I'm not really an expert but from what I understand these will work.

 

[pjtoledo]

my 2005 2wd ranger has 345,000 miles on the factory 7.5 axle. it started life as my work truck and always had 400-500 lbs in the bed.
the weakest point of the 7.5 is the spider gears, your truetrac completely replaces them. a 7.5 also uses the exact same axle shafts as an 8.8-28 spline.
one bit of advise, crawl under and rip off that plastic label. they trap moisture and can cause a rust hole in the tube. (for rust belt guys)

edit: I see you're in California, rust shouldn't concern you.

 

[Diabolus]

Thanks for all the info. I got a 6” race car dynamics lift, 33” KM3s installed. Anything else to make this a more solid truck for camping?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

my 2005 2wd ranger has 345,000 miles on the factory 7.5 axle. it started life as my work truck and always had 400-500 lbs in the bed.
the weakest point of the 7.5 is the spider gears, your truetrac completely replaces them. a 7.5 also uses the exact same axle shafts as an 8.8-28 spline.

That’s why I wouldnt worry about it. Run the locker you have with the axle you have.