Hello guys, new in town

[Elchai]

Hello every body!!!., as you now know im a newbie, so be nice...ha-ha., I own a 02 explorer sport, which i love, but i have a nagging problem with the differential, its humming like crazy, i already opened it up and it is beyond repair,(without costing an arm), so all i can come up with, is replacing it with a less expensive (junk yard) one, that being said, would anyone of you know, if a diff, from an older, say 96 explorer, not sport mind you fit in my truck, the reason of course is that the older the truck, the cheaper the parts.
Thanks beforehand

 

[alaskan155]

95-01 explorers and 98-10 rangers all the same

 

[Ivy Mike]

I think 2002 was the first year of the independent rear suspension but it was the same 8.8 diff as the 03/04 Cobras got.

Which probably sucks just as badly since the Cobras are doing nothing but getting more expensive. You might get lucky enough to call around to various shops and see if they have one lying around. Popular swap is to take out the IRS and swap in a solid 8.8 or 9" for drag racing.

The simple answer to your question is no. Earlier parts will not work.

 

[Elchai]

O.K. Guys thanks, my sister owns an explorer 00 4.0 xlt, thats where i got the brainstorm, i figured...Since the rims are the same, and diff. is also the same, why not try an older model, that has the same size rims, and has rear disc brakes.

 

[adsm08]

I think 2002 was the first year of the independent rear suspension but it was the same 8.8 diff as the 03/04 Cobras got.

You are only half right there Mike. The 02 and 03 Explorer SPORTs (which is what we are dealing with here) retained the solid rear axle along with a few other carry-overs from the previous FS Explorer body. The Sport Trac retained the solid rear up until 08.

To the OP, if you have a solid 8.8 rear, any solid 8.8 rear with the same brake setup (disc or drum) and the same gear ratio will pretty much bolt into place of your old axle.

A different rear end ratio will mess with your 4x4, so matching the gears will be important.

 

[Elchai]

adsm08. I think you are the man!!!, you've made me decide, tomorrow morning i'll start making some phone calls and hopefully by the end of the day i'll be looking at some quotes...and if everything goes well, i'll have a new diff. come monday, Ill keep you posted, thanks a million.

 

[Ivy Mike]

You are only half right there Mike. The 02 and 03 Explorer SPORTs (which is what we are dealing with here) retained the solid rear axle along with a few other carry-overs from the previous FS Explorer body. The Sport Trac retained the solid rear up until 08.

To the OP, if you have a solid 8.8 rear, any solid 8.8 rear with the same brake setup (disc or drum) and the same gear ratio will pretty much bolt into place of your old axle.

A different rear end ratio will mess with your 4x4, so matching the gears will be important.

You are very correct sir and I am guilty of not reading closely enough and shooting off my mouth.

Good catch.

 

[bcost882]

pic a part out here is 200ish for any 5 lug axle

 

[Elchai]

Looked in to that, but only found the parts for the diff., and mine is beyond repair, i need a replacement diff., unless i was looking in the wrong place in here.

 

[adsm08]

You are very correct sir and I am guilty of not reading closely enough and shooting off my mouth.

Good catch.

I actually probably wouldn't have caught that myself if I hadn't been working on the back of an 02 Sport at work that day.