Rear axles for ranger

[bigben94]

i have an 89 ranger which currently needs a new rear axle, it is currently a 7.5 but i noticed that a lot of people switch to an 8.8, i was just wondering what the benefeits of this were and what mods i would have to do to do this to my ranger

 

[Chance]

It's stronger. What do you plan on doing with your ranger? If it's stock and you're not abusive to it, I would leave it a 7.5"

If you want/have more power than stock (see: v8, 4.0, forced induction), or if you wheel it, I would recommend an 8.8 out of an exploder. I haven't done the swap so I don't know about anything more than moving the spring perches to the top of the axle...

 

[ZMan]

If you get a Ranger 8.8, all you will need to do is change the flange on your driveshaft so it'll bolt up if I remember correctly. Everything else goes right in.

 

[Will]

I see no benefit. Both the Ranger 7.5 and the Ranger 8.8 are 2,750# capacity axles. The 8.8 was installed on 4.0 engines because of the 4.0s increased torque, but I doubt it was really needed. An Explorer axle is a 3,250# axle so that's what I would get if I were going to bother to upgrade. If you are just needed to replace yours, I would get whatever 7.5 or 8.8 Ranger axle came the firstest and cheapest.