rearend

[bruiser]

ok soo i have an 8.8 housing and carrier but no axels yet and someone told me that i could use my 7.5 axels as long as they are 28slpined can anyone confirm this i dont think its true but if it is then i would save a few bucks

[Jesshwarren]

I believe you can use the 7.5" axles they are the same as the 8.8" 28 spline from what I know.

[freebyrd24]

I thought that the 7.5's were a different spline. I'm not 100%, hopefully someone else can confirm

[D94R]

7.5's, and all Ranger 8.8's (except for the 8.8's in the Level II's) have the 28 spline axles.

[fordnut71]

all 7.5 an 8.8 ranger axles are they same spline an size. the explorer has 31 spline an a 8.8 rear.

[bruiser]

soooo i could take my 7.5 axels and throw them in and 8.8 and it will work???

[D94R]

Yes, the lengths between the two are the same as well.

[bruiser]

awesome thanks alot everyone

[fordnut71]

no the lengths are different from side to side.
left is shorter then the right side.

[D94R]

The lengths of the 8.8 to 7.5 are the same, respectively. Which is what the question was about. Not the side to side differences.

[nagelandy55]

Its still good to know incase you tried to swap them around.

[D94R]

Right, but if you tried to swap them, you'd immediately see something was wrong. I didn't realize it was going to take so many confirmations, and then expanding upon every dimension, and then confirming that as well to let the OP know the axles from the 7.5 to the 8.8 are interchangeable lol.

[nagelandy55]

but now we know :=)

[D94R]

Next time, I'll make sure to explain the theory of relativity too, that way we nail everything down first swing :)

[Jesshwarren]

If you go to a 8.8" it is smart to upgrade to the 31 spline axles. I found the weakest part of the 7.5" was the 28 spline axles. I twisted both of the stock 28's in the 7.5"

[muddpawz]

can anyone tell me what year 8.8" is best and easiest to swap to? obvoiusly the 31 splines, but what about brakes, axle width (if different) and what the model would be found in. tryin to take the guess work out of it! i dont have much fabrication experience or tools to do it with so im shooting for the most strait forward swap i can. Thanks

[nagelandy55]

all them will that are 31 spline will be 1.5" wider (unless the FX4 axles are 31 spline too)
I think 95 and up explorer axles had disc brakes which are reallyl really nice compared to ****ty drums
All you gotta do is weld spring perches on, weld shock mounts on and your pretty well good to go
RPS has many articles on this

[muddpawz]

can someone tell me what the RPS web site is? THANKS

[fordnut71]

http://www.rangerpowersports.com
youll find most of us in the 2.3 turbo section

[muddpawz]

found a 98 explorer 8.8 w/rear discs, and heard that i will need to get the master cylinder out of a 4wheel disc car too. my 94 came with drums in the rear. is it true, or can i use my factory master cyl?

[flyin]

Use the master cylinder for the disk brakes. They are different for a reason. When is assembled drive the truck and try to get the rear wheels to lock up. If they lock up too easy compared to the front then try an adjustable proportioning valve to balance the brakes properly

[nagelandy55]

You can use the factory master cylinder the rear brakes will just grab a bit harder than the fronts. If you want tunability just get a proportional valve (http://www.jegs.com/p/JEGS/755192/10002/-1) anything like this will do.

[muddpawz]

so to do it right i will need the 4wheel disc master cylinder, and possibly the proportioning valve too? Or will just the master cylinder do the trick and set the pressure correctly?

[nagelandy55]

If you want to get the master cylinder off an explorer your trucks brake balance will be setup like the explorer, one setting - non adjustable (can't set the pressure).

OR

you can use your stock master cylinder (the one on the truck) and put a proportioning valve in the line to the rear wheels, like this one (http://www.mbmbrakeboosters.com/Proportioning-Valves/Hotrod-Universal-Adjustable-Proportioning-Valve.html)
Its really easy and then you are able to adjust the performace of your rear brakes to your liking. You can get these valves for 40$ at jegs or summit.

OR

You can leave everything the way it is now and just run the rear disc brakes, they will grab alot harder than the drums did but if you like it then thats your choice.

SO to do it right you have to know what you want.

[muddpawz]

did the 8.8 swap!! used the factory disc/drum, master cylinder off my 94 b2300 and no proportioning valve. brakes feel a ton better, and are almost perfectly proprotioned. fronts still lock up before the rears. only problem i had was that my factory wheels dont fit over the axle end!! out of all the threads i read and researched, none of em said anything about the wheels.sooo if your gona do it, MEASURE THE WHEEL CENTERS!! had to get some wheel spaceres for both sides just to get home. Not sure if its a year specific thing or what? new rear end came out of a 98 explorer w/ 3.73's and LS. got the whole thing done for less than $300.

[fordnut71]

it should fit a 15" rim with no problem. i havent seen any 1 else have a problems with 15" unless you still have 14" on there

[muddpawz]

yessir still sportin the ole 14s!! but i keep em clean!!

[flyin]

FX4 axles are 31 spline and they use a torsen posi unit instead of the factory clutch unit.

[D94R]

Only the Lvl II rear ends were 31 spline. Unless you're talking about the newer units (08+ I think) where I think you can upgrade to the 31 spline/torsen rear end.

[flyin]

I just remember that the fx4 was different