Explorer rear axle on a Ranger?

*Xplorer92* · 07-10-2005, 08:28 PM

Has anyone ever tried to fabricate a 1st gen. Explorer axle to fit on a '94 Ranger 4x4? I recently had to replace the entire front end of my '94 Ranger w/ a '93 Explorer 3.73 TTB. The problem I have now is that I have an 8.8 3.27 Ranger rear axle, that does not match the front ratio and would like to use the Explorer 8.8 3.73 L/S rear axle to match the front. Any suggestions or direction to a place online that I could get some specs would be greatly appreciated.

________________________________
'92 Explorer XLT, 4x4, new 5 spd., 9"s of suspension lift, 3" body lift, locked, Warn manual hubs, 35x12.50 Procomp Mud Terrains, my offroad machine

'94 Ranger XLT Supercab, 4x4, 4.0L, Auto Tran., only 36,000 on motor, new Jasper Tranny only 600 miles, 4" suspension, 3" body, Warn manual hubs, 33x12.50 BFG All-Terrains, my daily driver

'93 Explorer XLT, 4x4, Auto trans., bone stock, missing entire front TTB, Tranny for sale or maybe give away if you want it (still works fine), cracked heads on motor, other good parts P.M. me if you are interested, I'm thinking about scraping it, my parts truck

*Texplorer* · 07-10-2005, 08:31 PM

Arent they the same? I thought the only dif was that the Ranger axle was only a 28 spline as compared to the 31 of an Explorer.

*bmxking5* · 07-10-2005, 08:43 PM

^^And the fact that they are SOA (Explorers are obviously SUA)

*FireZapper* · 07-10-2005, 08:43 PM

You will have to remove and re-weld the spring perches above the axle and out a little. You will also have to fab up some shock mounts..

*Xplorer92* · 07-10-2005, 08:58 PM

Would the Superlift perch adapters for the Explorer S.O.A. work the same on the Ranger or are the perches a different width apart? I think the frame rails on a Ranger are closer together than on a Explorer right, but then again the leaf springs are mounted directly under the frame rails on the Explorer, and on the outside of the frame rails on the Ranger, And what about the sway bar, will I have to fabricate the mounts for that too? Maybe I should just get off my lazy ass and take some measurments

*Stic-o* · 07-10-2005, 09:23 PM

I belive the Explorer axle is about 1-1 1/2 wider then Ranger. I ran into this problem when I was going to swap in a 8.8 for a old 7.5

**RangerX** · 07-10-2005, 09:54 PM

Here's everything you want to know.

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech...plorer8_8.html

*Xplorer92* · 07-10-2005, 09:55 PM

So did you do the swap or decide not to because of this? What did you do instead?

thecause17 · 07-10-2005, 10:31 PM

What would be the point of using the 1st gen axle when you could use the 2nd gen axles with rear disc...if you were going to go through the trouble to do it at all.

*Xplorer92* · 07-10-2005, 10:53 PM

um....

Because, 1. I already have the axle from a parts truck so its like getting it for free 2. From what I understand you have to go to alot of trouble to modifiy the master cylinder. 3. Disc brakes, drum brakes, it makes no difference to me. But, I can understand where you're coming from and I guess it is a valid point for someone who really needs disc brakes in the rear.

*Xplorer92* · 07-10-2005, 10:57 PM

Thanks for the help RangerX. The post at the Rangerstation helped out
alot, and gives me some valuble info to go on.

07-10-2005, 08:28 PM	#1
Xplorer92 Elite Explorer Richmond, VA '92 XLT/'00 Jeep Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 219 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Explorer rear axle on a Ranger? Has anyone ever tried to fabricate a 1st gen. Explorer axle to fit on a '94 Ranger 4x4? I recently had to replace the entire front end of my '94 Ranger w/ a '93 Explorer 3.73 TTB. The problem I have now is that I have an 8.8 3.27 Ranger rear axle, that does not match the front ratio and would like to use the Explorer 8.8 3.73 L/S rear axle to match the front. Any suggestions or direction to a place online that I could get some specs would be greatly appreciated. ________________________________ '92 Explorer XLT, 4x4, new 5 spd., 9"s of suspension lift, 3" body lift, locked, Warn manual hubs, 35x12.50 Procomp Mud Terrains, my offroad machine '94 Ranger XLT Supercab, 4x4, 4.0L, Auto Tran., only 36,000 on motor, new Jasper Tranny only 600 miles, 4" suspension, 3" body, Warn manual hubs, 33x12.50 BFG All-Terrains, my daily driver '93 Explorer XLT, 4x4, Auto trans., bone stock, missing entire front TTB, Tranny for sale or maybe give away if you want it (still works fine), cracked heads on motor, other good parts P.M. me if you are interested, I'm thinking about scraping it, my parts truck Last edited by Xplorer92; 07-10-2005 at 08:59 PM.

07-10-2005, 08:31 PM	#2
Texplorer Elite Explorer Morgantown, WV 96 XLT 4x4 4.0 Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 3,614 Vehicle Specs	Arent they the same? I thought the only dif was that the Ranger axle was only a 28 spline as compared to the 31 of an Explorer. __________________ 2005 F-150 SuperCrew 4x4 5.4L on 33" Nitto TG's 1996 XLT Lifted on 33's SOLD 1996 Limited Stock SOLD 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee Rocky Mountain Edition

07-10-2005, 08:43 PM	#3
bmxking5 Rollover Posse Member Monroe, GA '93 Sport & '96 XLT Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 4,812 Vehicle Specs	^^And the fact that they are SOA (Explorers are obviously SUA) __________________ Weekend Toy: '93 Explorer 2dr - Full-width D44/9" swap, disc f/r, 37" Nittos, 4.88s locked rear, hi steer '96 Explorer 5.0 - Lifted, Magnaflow, Mac, TMH, 33s, TOTALLED!! New DD: '01 F150 Supercrew 4x4 - Magnaflow Hi-Flow cats & Muffler, powdercoated FX4 wheels, leveling kit

07-10-2005, 09:23 PM	#6
Stic-o Elite Movie Star Tujunga, CA '99 XL 4x4 & '06 XLT 4x2 Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 12,425 Vehicle Specs	I belive the Explorer axle is about 1-1 1/2 wider then Ranger. I ran into this problem when I was going to swap in a 8.8 for a old 7.5 __________________ The JP Mobile ~'99 Explorer XL The Mall Crawler ~'06 Explorer XLT The Tow Rig ~ '05 F-150 SuperCrew The Commuter ~ '10 Focus SES

07-10-2005, 09:54 PM	#7
RangerX Moderator Elite Ranger Omao, Kauai '93 Ranger XLT 4X4 Join Date: Jul 1999 Posts: 7,193 Vehicle Specs	Here's everything you want to know. http://www.therangerstation.com/tech...plorer8_8.html __________________ Bill Collins 93 Ranger XLT 4X4 "Beauty is only sheet metal deep."

07-10-2005, 08:43 PM	#4
FireZapper Wheel it, Fix it, REPEAT Columbia Pa. 93 Sport Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 561 Vehicle Specs	You will have to remove and re-weld the spring perches above the axle and out a little. You will also have to fab up some shock mounts..

07-10-2005, 08:58 PM	#5
Xplorer92 Elite Explorer Richmond, VA '92 XLT/'00 Jeep Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 219 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Would the Superlift perch adapters for the Explorer S.O.A. work the same on the Ranger or are the perches a different width apart? I think the frame rails on a Ranger are closer together than on a Explorer right, but then again the leaf springs are mounted directly under the frame rails on the Explorer, and on the outside of the frame rails on the Ranger, And what about the sway bar, will I have to fabricate the mounts for that too? Maybe I should just get off my lazy ass and take some measurments

07-10-2005, 09:55 PM	#8
Xplorer92 Elite Explorer Richmond, VA '92 XLT/'00 Jeep Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 219 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	So did you do the swap or decide not to because of this? What did you do instead?

07-10-2005, 10:31 PM	#9
thecause17 Wannabe Elite Explorer Hutchinson, PA '99 Ranger 4.0 4x4 Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 275 Vehicle Specs	What would be the point of using the 1st gen axle when you could use the 2nd gen axles with rear disc...if you were going to go through the trouble to do it at all. __________________ '99 Black Ranger XLT Offroad, 4.0 4-door 4x4, 410's. Gibson cat-back, smittybilt nerfs, etc...

07-10-2005, 10:53 PM	#10
Xplorer92 Elite Explorer Richmond, VA '92 XLT/'00 Jeep Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 219 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	um.... Because, 1. I already have the axle from a parts truck so its like getting it for free 2. From what I understand you have to go to alot of trouble to modifiy the master cylinder. 3. Disc brakes, drum brakes, it makes no difference to me. But, I can understand where you're coming from and I guess it is a valid point for someone who really needs disc brakes in the rear.

07-10-2005, 10:57 PM	#11
Xplorer92 Elite Explorer Richmond, VA '92 XLT/'00 Jeep Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 219 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Thanks for the help RangerX. The post at the Rangerstation helped out alot, and gives me some valuble info to go on.