2008DangerRanger
New Member
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2025
- Messages
- 4
- City
- Sycamore
- State - Country
- IL - USA
- Vehicle Year
- 2008
- Vehicle
- Ford Ranger
- Drive
- 4WD
- Engine
- 4.0 V6
- Transmission
- Manual
- Total Lift
- 2
- Total Drop
- 0
- Tire Size
- 32
My current ranger is a 2008 fx4 with the 4.0 V6, 5-speed manual, and 4 wheel drive (this combination supposedly didn't exist this year but from tracking the vin and previous owners it used to be a fleet truck up in canada). The rear axle code is R8 which from reading other forums is the much sought after 8.8 inch differential with 31-spline and a torsen lsd and 4.56 gears. In desperate need of a rear pinion seal I pulled the drive shaft and did the universal joints while I was there and now that I am about to pull the old seal out just for gits and shiggles I spun the drums and counted turns on the pinion to see if the gear ratio really was 4.56. Low and behold it isnt they are really 4.10 gears. Im wondering if someone swapped out this rear end at some point or if this is part of the weird factor that you couldn't get the R8 rear axle on a 4wd in America in 2008 probably because the 4.56 gears would require a different front differential too? I really don't know and haven't pulled the flange off yet to even see if the pinion is actually a 31-spline. This is where my questions come in before I order parts and take it apart. While doing the pinion seal Im wondering if I should do the companion flange as well because it has that plastic ring that appears to ride in the pinion seal as well. I would rather not have to replace it if I don't have too just cause they are about $130 and I cant even find the 31 spline version of the companion flange to begin with. I will not be pulling the axles out of the differential and replacing crush sleeves when I do this as I will just be marking the threads and retightening the pinion nut a few degrees further than before and maybe checking the drag is within the 8-14 inch lbs of resistance while spinning. Thanks for any help in advance.