Explorer axle swap questions

[Raginredneck09]

I have a few questions regarding something that has been done to my ranger prior to me owning it.

I was told that it has a 1996 explorer axle under it. Just straight swap with the e plorer shock mounts, but when he did it he didn't put the same gear ratio back in. The truck is suppose to have 3.73 and the current axle has 3.27 gears. He put new rear drums for a 8.8 ranger rear end on it instead of keeping the discs.

My question is the swap as straight forward as he made it out to be? I'm going to find another axle with either 3.73 or 4.10 gears. I like the stance the truck has but hate to loss of low end power and how far off the speedo is. I have tried to re-program the PCM with the current ratio but it refuses to take the calibration.

Also how much trouble would it be to keep the explorer disc brakes on the axle and have it work with the ranger brake system.

Btw, the ranger in question is a 2002 2.3 dohc 5 speed. Nothing special but it runs when I need it to. Any help would be great.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

What diameter are your axle tubes?

 

[Destroyer000]

explorer axle is really easy to make work with the ranger system. thats all i run in my truck. the rear brake assembly is pretty stright foreward. unbolt backing plates and swap them if you want dis brakes. as for the brake lines i find it easier to swap out the ranger soft line for the explorer one and your all set.. your ebrake cables swap them with the explorer ones and thats that. i assume you have a leaf over set up now? if so you might have to weld on some new spring perches on the new axle.

 

[Raginredneck09]

No the springs still go under the axle. Basically he did a axle flip with the swap. It dropped it close to 5, then I put 2 inch chevy drop shackles to lift it around 2. 2 inch drop springs in the front.