Hello, new member here. I’ve seen several forums on my question here but haven’t found details as to my truck, although maybe I didn’t look hard enough.

I have a 1997 2wd 2.3 extended cab. I believe I have the 7.5 rear end. I’m looking to put in a diff locker before the winter hits, but I cannot find one for my axle for the life of me. I’ve found countless for the 8.8. Do any of you know where I can get one for <$250?

OR, should I axle swap and then get a locker? I don’t want to do some extensive modifications to make a different axle work, I trust myself with a “plug and play” swap if you will. I’m upgrading my entire suspension soon so the axle is coming off anyway. I can deal with brake lines and cables, but anything beyond that like axle shaft swapping and I probably wouldn’t feel comfortable doing that. I’ve heard that some axle swaps require a different master cylinder as well but not sure. Hoping y’all can help. TIA!

 

Welcome to the forum

1993 to 2009 Ranger, or Mazda B-series, are interchangeable, 7.5" or 8.8", plug and play, driveshaft, spring mounts, shocks and brake cables and lines
Use new u-bolts, they are cheap and can be a pain to reuse

2010-2012 Rangers had rear disc brakes, nice upgrade, but rear brake setup needs to be changed around

Try: https://www.car-part.com/

Use YOUR Zipcode

Look for Axle assy rear(w. Housing)

Search for 7.5" or 8.8"
Select 9" or 10" brakes what ever you have now, or select 10" if you want

Select Limited Slip(L/S) or Trac-lok(Ford's name for L/S, GM calls it positraction)


A Locker is different than Limited-slip, a Locker will have an ON/OFF switch if you want to use it for street driving, or one wheel will drag when going around a corner
Limited "slip" means that when going around a corner one wheel is allowed to "slip" a bit, so doesn't drag, so its a locker that allows for street driving
7.5" or 8.8" Ranger axles are 28-spline, so any differential replacement needs to be for 28-spline axles, most are 31-spline so heads up

 

That was unbelievably helpful. Thank you very much. 28 spline, got it.