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new rear end


sloth69mustang

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2007
Messages
638
City
central OH
Vehicle Year
97, 97, 91, 69
is there an explorer 8.8 rear end that directly bolts into a 97 ranger? i have an 8.8 from an explorer but idk what year explorer but it is not the same suspen as my ranger. any info will help. if there isnt a direct bolt in i am going to just fab the one i have in.
 
Why bother with the Explorer rear end when a 4.0L 8.8 is a true direct bolt in with no problems? The Explorer is wider so you have to be careful with your back-spacing although not that much of a problem. Emergency brake cables need work to fit. Does the Explorer had drums or disc's? If disc's it's recommended to change to the Explorer master cylinder. Check the TRS info on rear ends on more.
Dave
 
disc better stopping power and 8.8 in the sploder is a 31 spline and the ranger is 28 spline
 
I'm well aware of the difference in spline count and the disc brakes. The early Explorer's came with drums. Unless you/he are planning on running some large power, the stock 8.8 Ranger rear end is fine. Even the old 8" rear end can take 400HP with the proper center section. Want more strenght, go for the bolt in Fx4 that has the 31 spline axles and torsen differential. Lot of different ways to go on the swap, we all have our're opion.
Dave
 
Why bother with the Explorer rear end when a 4.0L 8.8 is a true direct bolt in with no problems? The Explorer is wider so you have to be careful with your back-spacing although not that much of a problem. Emergency brake cables need work to fit. Does the Explorer had drums or disc's? If disc's it's recommended to change to the Explorer master cylinder. Check the TRS info on rear ends on more.
Dave

He already has it according to his post so no sense in trying to track down another axle when getting his current one in is simple.
 
Want more strenght, go for the bolt in Fx4 that has the 31 spline axles and torsen differential.

and good luck finding one of those in a junkyard (not nearly as common as exploder axles).

as long as he has RABS on his truck, he can use his stock master cylinder regardless of drums or disks.
 
Well..............

is there an explorer 8.8 rear end that directly bolts into a 97 ranger? i have an 8.8 from an explorer but idk what year explorer but it is not the same suspen as my ranger. any info will help. if there isnt a direct bolt in i am going to just fab the one i have in.
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Your 97 4X4 should already have an 8.8 under it...............the advantage of an Explorer rearend, year bein irrelivant, is the fact that it bolts right in & instantly gives you 4" of drop for us HOT RODDER types.............
No real advantage for a 4X4 or somebody that already has an 8.8.........just my O2....................

BTW: I've got a 98 Explorer 8.8 w/discs in my 94 and it was a complete swap, but did have to finigle the parkin brake cable.................
 
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Your 97 4X4 should already have an 8.8 under it...............the advantage of an Explorer rearend, year bein irrelivant, is the fact that it bolts right in & instantly gives you 4" of drop for us HOT RODDER types.............
No real advantage for a 4X4 or somebody that already has an 8.8.........just my O2....................

BTW: I've got a 98 Explorer 8.8 w/discs in my 94 and it was a complete swap, but did have to finigle the parkin brake cable.................
It depends what engine was in his truck... I really don't see the hype of the 31 spline 8.8. The 28 spline uses the same axles as the 7.5 and the axles are NOT the weak point on the 7.5, its' the carrier. The 28 spline 8.8 fixes that problem. It seems to me the 31 spline axle would make the carrier the weak point now (compared to the 31 spline axles) and quite frankly, if I had had to choose between breaking a shaft or blowing apart my carrier/gears, Id much rather break a shaft... It all makes sense to me but someone tell me if I'm way off base...
 
True, the stock carrier tends to be a weak spot on a 31 spl 8.8. But if you're running a Detroit or something aftermarket...
 
i do not have an 8.8 in my ranger right now bc i have a 3.0 so i have the weak 7.5 rear end. i am planing on a 347 swap so i will need the stronger of the 2 8.8s. the rear end i have looks like a 4 link suspension so idk. the thing i am worried about the most is getting the parking brake to work. i do have rabs currently even tho it doesnt work and i am still trying to fix. but the rear end i have also has rabs so that isnt a problem. it is rear disc. i prolly wont change the master cylinder unless i have problems driving. what is the actually measurement of the width with the exploder rear end? it is more than an inch per side or what?
 
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if its disk brake, then its a 31 spline 8.8 from an explorer (rangers never had disks). a good candidate for a v-8 swap.

ive heard the difference in width is something like 3/4 of an inch on each side (1.5" total).
 
if its disk brake, then its a 31 spline 8.8 from an explorer (rangers never had disks). a good candidate for a v-8 swap.

ive heard the difference in width is something like 3/4 of an inch on each side (1.5" total).

yeah i know it is an exploder rear end but i would rather have one that bolts directly in. did the 97 eploders have an 8.8 with disc and 31 spline?
 
all explorers had 31 spline 8.8's. they switched from drum to disk brakes in the mid 90's.

no explorer axle is a direct swap into a ranger. the closest you will get would be to get a "flip kit" like zman suggested...it eliminates the need for welding.

if you had a drum brake axle from an explorer, the e-brake would hook right up. but since its disk brake, some customization is required to mate the two.
 

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