Changing Rear Differential
#1
03-10-2024
Changing Rear Differential
Hello Everyone, I have a 1995 Ford Ranger XLT passed down from my grandpa. it is a 2wd with a code of 84 for the axle. Did some research and found out that its an open diff with 7.5 ring gear diameter with a 3.45 gear ratio. i am wanting to put a Limited Slip diff for better traction and wont end up doing the One Wheel Peel lol. i found out that i can put a F4 axle code since it has the same ring gear diameter and same gear ratio, only difference of course is F4 being L/S diff. My question is if i could go with other type of L/S differentials with different gear ratios, as well as different ring diameters or would i have to stick with the 3.45 gear ratio and the 7.5 gear diameter?
-RD1Ranger
-RD1Ranger
#2
03-10-2024
Welcome to the forum
Yes, you can used a 1993-2009 L/S 7.5" or 8.8" axle in your 2WD 1995 Ranger of any Ratio you might prefer
This is if you swap the whole rear axle out, 7.5" and 8.8" are interchangeable, same drive shaft flange, same leaf spring mounts, same shock mounts
1993-2009 Ranger or Mazda B-series are also the same width
Only difference that may come up is 8.8" can have 10" rear brakes, but some were 9", all 7.5" were 9", all the brake lines match up and cables, just different size drum and shoes
Ratio chosen depends on use, lower ratio like 3.45 is for best MPG with highway driving and higher top speed
Higher ratio like 4.10 is for better pulling power or for using larger tires
Most popular ratio on Rangers and B-series was 3.73
You can use Mazda B-series axles as well, 1994-2009 were the same as Rangers
You can swap out just the 7.5" differential and install a 3.45 L/S, if you want to change ratios then need to also swap out the pinion gear
Differentials do need to be setup they are not plug and play, there needs to be shims installed and removed, but loads of videos to do all that online
In either case the 1995 uses a speedometer gear in the tail shaft housing for speedometer calibration, it is easy to change to calibrate speedo for ratio change or different tire diameters
Yes, you can used a 1993-2009 L/S 7.5" or 8.8" axle in your 2WD 1995 Ranger of any Ratio you might prefer
This is if you swap the whole rear axle out, 7.5" and 8.8" are interchangeable, same drive shaft flange, same leaf spring mounts, same shock mounts
1993-2009 Ranger or Mazda B-series are also the same width
Only difference that may come up is 8.8" can have 10" rear brakes, but some were 9", all 7.5" were 9", all the brake lines match up and cables, just different size drum and shoes
Ratio chosen depends on use, lower ratio like 3.45 is for best MPG with highway driving and higher top speed
Higher ratio like 4.10 is for better pulling power or for using larger tires
Most popular ratio on Rangers and B-series was 3.73
You can use Mazda B-series axles as well, 1994-2009 were the same as Rangers
You can swap out just the 7.5" differential and install a 3.45 L/S, if you want to change ratios then need to also swap out the pinion gear
Differentials do need to be setup they are not plug and play, there needs to be shims installed and removed, but loads of videos to do all that online
In either case the 1995 uses a speedometer gear in the tail shaft housing for speedometer calibration, it is easy to change to calibrate speedo for ratio change or different tire diameters
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RD1Ranger (03-10-2024)
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