Ford 8.8" : regear or swap axle

[Gates.Ranger37]

I have an 8.8" rear axle with 3.08's in it.

Should I buy a whole new 8.8 with higher gears, or should I just buy a new ring and pinion with higher gears?

I can get a new ring and pinion with 4.56 on ebay for about $135.

I think a new ford explorer 31 spline 8.8" is about $250 with 4.10's.

If I just get a new ring and pinion will my axle be as strong? Or is it better to rebuild the whole thing? or replace it?

I need lots of input. I'm in over my head, haha.

 

[Gates.Ranger37]

By the way I have a 4.0L engine with manual transmission, and I'll be running 31x10.5 R15's

 

[Downey]

btw its lower gears not higher.


I would buy an explorer axle with 4.10s a great set up with 31s, but get one with disc brakes and l/s

 

[Fx4wannabe01]

btw its lower gears not higher.

Lower gearing, but the number is numerically higher.










OP: 4.56's and 31's is a little too much if you highway mile the truck. That 4.0 OHV you've got likes to build torque down lower and does alot better job at overcoming larger tires or higher gear ratios(numerically lower) when compared to my SOHC 4.0. For the size tire you want to run, it really isn't beneficial to run anything lower than a 4.10 gear. I'd even say 4.10 would be too low. And because of that no need for anything lower than 4.10, it would make alot more sense money wise to run a low mile junkyard used axle($100-250) compared to quality gears put in and a professional install(upwards of $600 per axle including parts).

I'd go 3.73 or 4.10 Ranger or explorer axle. If you think in the future you may be adding larger tires, I'd go 4.10 right now. Ranger axle would bolt right in. Expo would require welding and messing with stupid parking brake cables.

Strength wise, you've got a 28spline 8.8. Putting in quality gears(like Yukon brand gears) would be the same or better as far as axle strength. The housing limits won't be changed, the axle count would not be changed, strength would be the same. If you go with cheap chinese gears....they are crap and howl and make noises. Plus they may be made with subpar materials. Yukon FTW. If you throw in an Expo axle, the strength bumps up around 35% because of it being a bigger housing, thicker housing, and 31spline axle shafts.

Good luck with whatever you do.

 

[Smurf Mobile]

If you stick with your current axle don't forget about the gear install kit ($80), and the install itself which typically costs just as much if not more than the gears themselves.

If you upgrade to the explorer axle chances are you will need to replace some key brake components to get it running safely. Plus flipping the spring perches to the top of the axle or its going to drop you into the ground.

I personally like the explorer axle and have put them under all of my rangers, but its up to you.

Andrew

 

[Gates.Ranger37]

Thanks for the input guys. Yeah I meant that I need lower axle gears, but I wasn't thinking when I wrote it. So I think I'm going to buy a ranger or explorer axle eventually.

 

[dla]

I have an 8.8" rear axle with 3.08's in it.

Should I buy a whole new 8.8 with higher gears, or should I just buy a new ring and pinion with higher gears?

I can get a new ring and pinion with 4.56 on ebay for about $135.

I think a new ford explorer 31 spline 8.8" is about $250 with 4.10's.

If I just get a new ring and pinion will my axle be as strong? Or is it better to rebuild the whole thing? or replace it?

I need lots of input. I'm in over my head, haha.

Well if you can find a new Explorer 8.8 with 4.10's for $250 - buy it. But don't hold your breath on that one.

 

[Smurf Mobile]

It just depends on where you look. We have them for 150-200 at most of the local yards, although some try to charge 700 if you don't know any better.

Andrew

 

[dla]

It just depends on where you look. We have them for 150-200 at most of the local yards, although some try to charge 700 if you don't know any better.

Andrew

Not here. First of all finding 4.10 is difficult. Second, Ranger swappable rear-ends are 2001 and older - so "new" is a strange term.

I bought one for $160, but it was from a private party scrapping out a wreck (3.55's).

 

[Fx4wannabe01]

I have NEVER seen a stock 4.10 expo axle... and I'm a weekend yard browser.

 

[Downey]

i have only ever seen one

 

[Fx4wannabe01]

Sport trac? yes...seen those but they want gold for them.

 

[Downey]

i have never seen a sport trac in a junk yard

 

[RacinNdrummin]

I have a 4.10 axle I pulled from an explorer. They are more common in the 95 and later explorers.