new option for 31 spline, or old news?

[pjtoledo]

Moser Engineering has a listing for 31 spline axle shafts with the small 1.4 bearing. lengths are 27-1/4 and 30-1/8.
part # A31-93RANG, lists it for 93-97 rangers.
that sounds like you could take a regular 28 spline 8.8 axle unit and switch it over to 31 splines with these shafts and a new 31 carrier. though it would still have the small bearing & shaft diameter. this may open up some more choices for lockers & LSDs.
got a question about the 2002 level II 31 spline unit, what size bearings does it have? 1.4 or 1.6xx? EDIT, just reviewed the tech listings, it shows the big bearings for FX4 II, but has no 31 spline listings for 93-97

 

[Captain Ledd]

Shaft diameter would be the same as 31 spline, even with the small bearing. The bearing surface on the axle shaft is still quite a bit larger than the splined shaft size, plenty of room to fit it through. And if they changed the spline count but not the shaft size, they would need their own special carrier/spider gears.

Except for the FX4 lvl2, the very first year of the FX4 package, ALL Rangers came with the smaller 28 spline shafts.

28 spline = small bearing (except the last year or two disk brake ones, those had big bearings)
31 spline = big bearing

I honestly don't think the 28 splines are that bad, but good to know there's an alternative way to add some beef rather than the whole axle swap.

 

[Mac]

It's been done and worked. JBrown in V8 section did it. I think RockAuto even carries a stronger material 28 spline shaft if you want to stay with the 28's. Another one think the 31's over rated.
Dave

 

[gw33gp]

I don't care about the spline count but I don't think the larger bearing that comes with the 31 spline axle is over rated. I tow my race car all over the country with a lot of additional load on the bed. I had to replace the axles and rear bearings on my 89 Ranger at around 100K miles due to excessive wear. My current 02 Ranger with the 31 spline axles has over 192K miles, there is not even a hint of a problem on the axles or bearings and it has seen even more severe duty than the 89.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The mutant 28/31 spline 8.8 has been in Mustangs for awhile.

I got an axle with limited slip and factory disc brakes, it also happened to be 31 spline. It wasn't a do-or-die thing to get a 31, it just worked out that way. I don't know how much the fancy shafts are but my axle was $100 with the Explorer springs though.

Kinda nice to basically have a half ton axle too.

 

[pjtoledo]

Cap'n Ledd, where in Michigan are you?
I'm wanting to compare my 2010 axle shafts to an Explorer axle shaft for the bearing location.
the 2010 shafts are 8.8, big bearing, shorter at 26-15/16, 29-13/16, and 28 splines.
the housing is a bit narrower than the regular 8.8, and the bearings are set in farther than a regular 8.8.
I'm concerned the longer Explorer shafts will put the bearing surface out past the bearings in the 2010 axle.

I'm in Toledo and can drive almost anywhere anytime in lower Michigan, trips to da 'UP take little planning.

Perry

 

[4x4junkie]

Moser Engineering has a listing for 31 spline axle shafts with the small 1.4 bearing. lengths are 27-1/4 and 30-1/8.
part # A31-93RANG, lists it for 93-97 rangers.
that sounds like you could take a regular 28 spline 8.8 axle unit and switch it over to 31 splines with these shafts and a new 31 carrier. though it would still have the small bearing & shaft diameter. this may open up some more choices for lockers & LSDs.

I've had those shafts in my Ranger's stock 8.8 housing since 1997 (well, one side anyways, the other side I had to replace in 2002 after an ARB Air Locker grenaded in it and wiped the splines off the shaft).
I suspect Moser's shafts also have harder bearing surfaces than the stock shafts. When I replaced the shaft in '02 I distinctly remember there was virtually no visible mark on it where the bearing rode, where on the stock shafts you could easily see a line after about the same 25K miles.

 

[Captain Ledd]

Cap'n Ledd, where in Michigan are you?
I'm wanting to compare my 2010 axle shafts to an Explorer axle shaft for the bearing location.
the 2010 shafts are 8.8, big bearing, shorter at 26-15/16, 29-13/16, and 28 splines.
the housing is a bit narrower than the regular 8.8, and the bearings are set in farther than a regular 8.8.
I'm concerned the longer Explorer shafts will put the bearing surface out past the bearings in the 2010 axle.

I'm in Toledo and can drive almost anywhere anytime in lower Michigan, trips to da 'UP take little planning.

Perry

Well you're in luck! (kinda) I'm currently in GR area, but the family "shop" is around the Flint/Pontiac area (sorry, that's as specific as it'll get for a public internet post).

But I DO have another Explorer 8.8 disassembled in the back of the shop, shafts out and everything. If you want I can put up some pics with measurements and/or whatever. Next time I'll be home is Easter weekend. If you really want to get a first hand look we could probably do that at some point too.

 

[pjtoledo]

Well you're in luck! (kinda) I'm currently in GR area, but the family "shop" is around the Flint/Pontiac area (sorry, that's as specific as it'll get for a public internet post).

But I DO have another Explorer 8.8 disassembled in the back of the shop, shafts out and everything. If you want I can put up some pics with measurements and/or whatever. Next time I'll be home is Easter weekend. If you really want to get a first hand look we could probably do that at some point too.

Well, it so happens I drive right by Flint on the way to Frankenmuth. I see a generous serving of homestyle chicken in the near future.

back to axle shafts, I'll try to get some pics of the shafts so guys can see the 2010 is shorter than the regular ones.


Perry