nofortunatesonII
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I looked at a Ford Motorsport website and all I saw were Mustang axles. Does Motorsport carry these? Any other manufacturers make them? Thanks.
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Who makes 31 spline axles for a '99 Ranger 8.8 rearend...
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rwenzing
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Ranger 31 spline axle shafts will not fit into a stock 99 Ranger axle assembly. The 31 spline axle assembly has several parts that are different compared to your 28-spline axle - larger axle tubes, larger bearings and brake backing plates with a different bolt pattern, to name a few.
The only Rangers that had 31-splines from the factory were the few that were equipped with the Torsen differential. These include the 2002 FX4, the 2003+ FX4LII and possibly a handful of later FX4s that had the Torsen available as an option. If you can score one of these hard-to-find, 31-spline Ranger axle assemblies, it will swap into a 99. You would need to get it complete with U-bolts, spring plates and brake backing plates.
Another alternative is the 31-spline Explorer axle assembly. It is easy to find in junkyards, only slightly wider that a Ranger axle and many came with disc brakes (95~2001, IIRC). This one is not a bolt on because the Explorer carries its axle above the spring pack. To mount it under the spring pack like a stock Ranger axle, it would need relocated spring perches and shock mounts. Welding and knowledge of pinion angle setup requiired.
nofortunatesonII
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It looks like...
I will probably go with Dutchman axles. From info on their website the axles should run $225 for the pair. Bob, thanks for the info on the FX4. The axles I will be ordering will have the smaller bearing journal so they will fit in the 28 spline 8.8 housing. I tried a 31 spline explorer axle in a 7.5 Ranger housing at a local salvage yard a couple of days ago. The 31 spline axle will fit through the 28 spline bearing until you get to the 31 spline bearing journal. The axles I will have made will have the 28 spline size journal, but will be 31 spline, very similar in design to the 31 spline fox chasis axles. They will still be much beefier than the 28's. Doing it this way saves me the effort of pulling an Explorer rear and having it modified, as I already have a Ranger 8.8, 31 spline Traction-Lok and 4.10 Ford OEM gears. I am hoping to put a 302 in the truck some day. I have a 302 and just recently bought the motor mounts from a V8 Explorer from a local salvage yard. I already had the 8.8, so I figured I might as well get it ready to hold up to the increased hp I hope to have under the hood some day. Thanks to ALL for the help and ideas..
I will probably go with Dutchman axles. From info on their website the axles should run $225 for the pair. Bob, thanks for the info on the FX4. The axles I will be ordering will have the smaller bearing journal so they will fit in the 28 spline 8.8 housing. I tried a 31 spline explorer axle in a 7.5 Ranger housing at a local salvage yard a couple of days ago. The 31 spline axle will fit through the 28 spline bearing until you get to the 31 spline bearing journal. The axles I will have made will have the 28 spline size journal, but will be 31 spline, very similar in design to the 31 spline fox chasis axles. They will still be much beefier than the 28's. Doing it this way saves me the effort of pulling an Explorer rear and having it modified, as I already have a Ranger 8.8, 31 spline Traction-Lok and 4.10 Ford OEM gears. I am hoping to put a 302 in the truck some day. I have a 302 and just recently bought the motor mounts from a V8 Explorer from a local salvage yard. I already had the 8.8, so I figured I might as well get it ready to hold up to the increased hp I hope to have under the hood some day. Thanks to ALL for the help and ideas..
IZwack
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Curious: what exactly do you mean by bearing journals?
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/diagrams/expaxle.GIF
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/diagrams/expaxle.GIF
nofortunatesonII
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IZwack...
The area on the axle where the bearing rides.
The area on the axle where the bearing rides.
IZwack
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So they're going to machine the axle shaft diameter down?
nofortunatesonII
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IZwack...
No, the shaft diameter will be the same. The journal area will be machined down. The bearing journal is a larger diameter than the rest of the axle and is the area of the shaft before the flange. The shaft will still be the diameter of a 31 spline axle, but the bearing journal will be the size of a 28 spline journal. The 28 spline JOURNAL is a larger diameter than the 31 spline SHAFT. Unfortunately, I don't have an axle sitting at the location I am at or I would take a photo, as this would make it easier to explain. The link below shows a pair of Fox chasis Mustang axles. My axles will look almost identical except the length of 1 axle will be different ( 1 Mustang axle is the same as a Ranger axle except for lug count). Sorry the photo in the link is not bigger, but you may be able to see it good enough. It is difficult for me to view it as my eye sight is not what it once was.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/79-9...ewItem?hash=item250183364822#ebayphotohosting
No, the shaft diameter will be the same. The journal area will be machined down. The bearing journal is a larger diameter than the rest of the axle and is the area of the shaft before the flange. The shaft will still be the diameter of a 31 spline axle, but the bearing journal will be the size of a 28 spline journal. The 28 spline JOURNAL is a larger diameter than the 31 spline SHAFT. Unfortunately, I don't have an axle sitting at the location I am at or I would take a photo, as this would make it easier to explain. The link below shows a pair of Fox chasis Mustang axles. My axles will look almost identical except the length of 1 axle will be different ( 1 Mustang axle is the same as a Ranger axle except for lug count). Sorry the photo in the link is not bigger, but you may be able to see it good enough. It is difficult for me to view it as my eye sight is not what it once was.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/79-9...ewItem?hash=item250183364822#ebayphotohosting
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