Rear Axle Help Pleaase

[adamson]

Hey there everyone in rangerstation land first of all thanks to all who look and or give any type of positive input. Ok I have a 94 ranger 2.3 4x4 with the open 7.5 rear, my question is I would like to swap out my rear for 8.8 ls or fx4 lvl2 if i can find one but the junk yards say only certain years will fit but I'm not to sure, so if anyone can please give me a little insight as to any differences between the years if any. ohh and I do know about the explorer swap but I just don't fell like dealing with that I just want a quick unbolt and bolt on type of thing thank you all again.

 

[adsm08]

It'll work. Worst thing you might run into is the drive shaft not bolting to the flange on the new axle. That is easy to fix. You can swap either side of that connection if needed.

 

[adamson]

You mean swap the flange or the end of the driveshaft from the donor truck right? I really dont want to mess with the pinion bolt torque to remove the flange if I dont have to. thanks for the input.

 

[adsm08]

Yeah, you can swap the drive shaft flange or the companion flange. That is the way I'd go too. It's a bit more work, but it keeps the stronger parts.

For your comparing pleasure:

You can see that the 8.8 flange is much thicker.

 

[Insanejughead]

Adamson, thanks for checking about this on here.


Every junkyard I've been to don't know much about anything when you get down to specifics.

 

[adamson]

Ok thanks for the pic adsm08 that helps visualize it better, so if I were to swap the end of the driveshaft to accommodate for the larger flange of the 8.8, will I be able to use the same u-joint on my driveshaft or is the hole on the flange a different size if so there are u-joints made for that type of situation correct like top and bottom are one size and left and right are another size if so anyone have a proper name for them and if possible sizes or diameters would be awsome. oh and are the bolts the same size and threads on the 8.8 and the 7.5 driveshaft to diff. if not just grab some for the 8.8 in that case. and the only reason I would have to get different u-bolts and plate would be if I were to put in the 31 spline axle right, tubes are the same diameter 7.5 to 8.8 right thanks to all.

 

[Insanejughead]

The U-joints are the same. 7.5" and 8.8" should both use Precision 369 joints (or equivalent).


Oh, and the 12mm 12 point bolts (flange bolts) are the same as well.


8.8" or 7.5" use the SAME U-bolts to hold them in place to the leaf springs. Axle shaft spline count has nothing to do with the axle tube diameter.

 

[adsm08]

The U-joints are the same. 7.5" and 8.8" should both use Precision 369 joints (or equivalent).


Oh, and the 12mm 12 point bolts (flange bolts) are the same as well.


8.8" or 7.5" use the SAME U-bolts to hold them in place to the leaf springs. Axle shaft spline count has nothing to do with the axle tube diameter.

All of that is correct up to the very last sentence.

The 31-spline 8.8 has larger bearings and larger axle tubes. I just put a 31-spline in my 87. I ordered U-bolts, top plates, and nuts for an 06 FX4 Lvl II Ranger and they worked just fine.

 

[adamson]

great thanks alot for the input all of you few more questions im having trouble finding a driveshaft for the 8.8 flange i need to know is it possible to use an explorer drivshaft because they are all 8.8 and much easier to find or do they use a different style yolk or different size u-joint or something like that?and where can I find a good but not crazy expensive trac lok rebuild kit You know clutches, steels, shims, and s-spring, I want to take it apart and put seals in it before i get it on the truck so i figured now would be a good time to do the ls too. oh and you can get the cross pin out without removing the ring from carrier right its the 4.10 gears I know on the 7.5 with the 4.10 you cant, just curious thanks.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

You sure the flange is different? I swapped the stock 7.5 in my 97 out for the explorer 8.8 that was in my 91 and the rear shaft from the 97 bolted right up.

 

[adsm08]

You sure the flange is different? I swapped the stock 7.5 in my 97 out for the explorer 8.8 that was in my 91 and the rear shaft from the 97 bolted right up.

Sometime in the mid-90s one of the bean counters realized they were making two different sets of parts that were completely interchangeable and the 7.5 got switched to the 3" spaced flange. I can't remember the year the switch happened. All I said was that it MIGHT be needed and gave him the two options for how to go about it, as well as my opinion on the better route.

 

[Insanejughead]

All of that is correct up to the very last sentence.

The 31-spline 8.8 has larger bearings and larger axle tubes. I just put a 31-spline in my 87. I ordered U-bolts, top plates, and nuts for an 06 FX4 Lvl II Ranger and they worked just fine.

Really? Well, I'm not going to argue. I have only dealt with 28 spline axles.


Come to think of it, I feel like an idiot. I was thinking about the differences between a 7.5" and 8.8". I learned from, working on my car, that Thunderbirds take axle shafts that are 3/4" longer than Mustang axles. I was worried about getting 8.8" shafts, but found out that as long as they had 28 splines, 8.8" or 7.5" shafts don't matter.

 

[Snoranger]

You sure the flange is different? I swapped the stock 7.5 in my 97 out for the explorer 8.8 that was in my 91 and the rear shaft from the 97 bolted right up.

'90 and up use the 3" flange.

 

[4x4junkie]

^^
Yup

Swap out the '94 7.5" for an 8.8", bolt up the driveshaft.