Help with my axle length Ranger 1999 4x4

[Robert]

I'm upgrading my Ranger 1999 4x4 rear end to 31 axles. I got a 8.8 and the tag was remove so I only have the code from the door that is a 97. I don't want to remove the axles to measure them and I can't find anything on the internet. I see a lot of axles for sale at summit racing in my price range but I don't know the length if any one can help me out I would apershate it... Thanks.

 

[AllanD]

You are planing on swapping to 31-spline shafts in your exsisting housing?

Not worth your time or money.

Yes, you'll get 31-splines at the inner end, but the issue with the 28-spline axle in the ranger is the smaller shaft at the outer bearing journal, the smaller axle shaft outer bearing and the smaller diameter axle tubes.

All you'll get for your trouble is custom axle shafts that when they
eventually wear at the bearing journal, you won't be able to quickly
get a replacement shaft....

You'd be far better served by getting either an FX-4 Level 2 Ranger 31-spline rear axle assembly, but these aren't really common either and you'll be in more or less in the same boat.

An Explorer axle OTOH is common and relatively straitforward to swap in, but does require some welding...


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[4x4junkie]

Mine measure out to 30 1/8" for the driverside, 27 1/4" for the passenger.

I would agree though, an Explorer axle has some benefits that swapped-in 31 spline shafts on a Ranger housing won't offer (the bigger bearings give increased payload capacity, plus the ease of getting cheap replacement shafts, being that Explorer axles are literally everywhere).

 

[Robert]

Thanks for the info Guys... looks like I'm going to have to go the Explore axle rout.