Slick761

Everyone gets their 8.8 out of the explorer.. anyone know if the ranger works? Pretty sure it would be a direct bolt in.

Gorillaxj

All the ford rear end info you should need.
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Axles.html

The ranger is not allways a 8.8, could have a 7.5 rear axle. and if it does it has drum brakes, most likely 28 spline (unless 2002 or newer) it would work, but harder to find and has drum brakes. there could be other reasons but these are the ones I could think of.

jmaxj

^^ all what he said plus i've read that rangers are narrower too. plus i don't see why everyone likes the 8.8. it's still a C-clip axle it's not much stronger than the 35. is it because its an easy way to say you've got disk brakes?

Slick761

There are like 15 rangers at the local pick n pull ranging from 91 to 99. I can pick an 8.8 outta the crowd and I don't mind the drums... take it the explorer has 31 spines.... hmmm... might be worth getting out there and taking a day to pull the anger rear end and put the axles and pumpkin from an explorer in it... maybe the discs too... hmmm.

Slick761

Ok I see what's up. Thank you for the link. They are a little narrower.

dpace7XJ

Yeah crappy c-clip...but just curious, why aren't they stronger than a 35? I know my 8.8 can take a heck of a lot more than a 35 can but i know u know Jeeps so i was just wonderin..

dpace7XJ

Dont mean to get off topic btw

Slick761

8.8 may be c-clip but the 31 spline axles are much stronger then the ones used in the 35 as is the 8.8 inch ring gear. It's not a question of c clip vs non c clip. This has nothing to do with strength.... just what happens after an axle shaft breaks. Just read that the ranger used a smaller axle shaft that wasn't as strong. The explorer with its 31 spline axles is still much stronger then a 35

_StationWagon_

You would understand why if you did some more reading. Slick761 pretty much covered it, but I have to reiterate: the C8.25 is stronger than the D30 & the 8.8 is much stronger than the D35. It's all about spline count & ring gear. The disk brakes are simply a bonus.

cdawall

There is only one model ranger that carries a 31 spline rear they are the fx4 level II models. They also carry a torsen l/s in them (gear based lsd) even with the drum brakes on them these will be the strongest factory 8.8s since the carrier is considered a weak point these already have that replaced. Low end rangers carry a 7.5" 28 spline axle which isn't any stronger than a d35. The higher end ones (4.0l and later all 4x4s) carry a 28 spline 8.8" they actually have smaller tubes than the 31 spline models (2.75" vs 3") both in stock form are stronger than a D35 by a lot (no idea who came up with the opposite) the 28 spline 8.8" is as strong as a 29 spline 8.25" however without a cclip eliminator the weak point on them is and always will be the cclips. Just as an FYI new model rangers (09 up IIRC) are disk brake all 8.8 28 spline. If you have anymore ranger axle questions lmk I have one did the research already.


As for the direct bolt in it is not. Shock mounts are wrong, leafspring mounts are set in about 2" vs the jeep mounts. There will be just as much work involved getting a ranger ready as getting an expo ready.

Agent_Oragnge

X2 the 8.8 blows away the D35, i can get 8.8 fro around $200 with discs, and an aftermarket locker. whats stopping me??? can i borrow $200.

Donnie_K

No 8.8 is bolt in unless you get one that already has xj brackets welded to it either from a manufacturer, or from an xj at the junk yard that alread had been modified.

jmaxj

maybe you need to read more. first i never said it wasn't stronger, i said it's not MUCH stronger. the 35 has 27 or 29 splines depending on which model and a 7.5" ring gear. the 8.8 has 31 spline and a 8.8" ring gear. where's the huge upgrade? the center section and carrier are still as weak as the 35. i've seen a few even explode with only 33" tires. seen more explode with 35's. they both have a 1.16-1.28 shaft diameter which is more important than spline count. a bigger shaft is stronger than the one with more splines.

all i'm saying is why go through all the trouble to replace the 35 with an 8.8 when its a minimal upgrade. i've swapped a few of them and they are kind of a pain for the slight gain you get.

oh and comparing a front axle to a rear axle like you did with the c8.25 and 30 just had to be thrown in there huh?

Rock Toy

I think you have gotten some faulty information somewhere. The 31 spline Ford 8.8 is much stronger than the D/35 like about 60% stronger.

The D/35 rear axle has a Continuous Output Torque of 870 ft lbs and a Maximum Output Torque of 3480 ft lbs.

The 31 spline Ford 8.8 has a COT of 1360 ft lbs and a MOT of 5100 ft lbs.

A D/60 SF rear axle has a COT of 1500 ft lbs and a MOT of 5500 ft lbs.

The numbers show the 8.8 being closer to the D/60 in strength than to the D/35.

Slick761

I like the fact that my buddy had an8.8 with a locker and upgraded shafts on his 700hp blown mustang. He ran 29" slicks and didn't break it.... try that with a 35 and upgraded shafts. The 8.8 is not far off from the strength of a 9" when you put 35 spline shafts in it. I started this thread to find out what the difference is between an explorer 8.8 and a ranger 8.8. Since the ranger is spring over I was hoping it was the same rear end and that the perches would line up. Now I see it is not the same. Ford decided they needed somethin stronger to push around that tank of an suv. For 200$ at the jy the explorer 8.8 is a steal. It is strong, cheap and available with a strong aftermarket. What more coulda want?