rear axle swap

[bagdranger]

Hey guys I'm wanting to do a rear axle swap on my 85 ranger. I thought about trying to find a newer axle from a explorer. I was watching extreme 4x4 today and the guys on the show were building a pathfinder with a newer explorer rear end with disc brakes and a LSD. My question is what years did this axle come in and what do i need to look for on the axle as far as gear ratio etc.? and what kind of driveshaft fix do i need to do to mine that i have now and would it help if i swapped to the solid driveshaft before i do this swap?

 

[mkpecor]

if you want disc brakes look for a 1995 and up. for gears i would look for 3.73

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Find one with the same gearing as your truck currently has no so you don't have to do a gear swap in the front diff.