you will need to move your gas tank or get a fuel cell the 8.8 are off set just a little bit. but there great axles.

 

are you sure about that? I dont think thats accurate.

anyways, an EB 9 inch are a good width but you wont get a 5-4.5 bolt pattern. you would have to get conversion spacers or run different bolt pattern rims. Why do you want to switch? are you breaking axles?

 

so go find an explorer axle and just take the brakes

sell the 9"disc brake conversion, people always want them and WILL pay for them. It will probably be cheaper and easier than swapping axles...

edit, ah wait, they wont swap directly over to a 28 spline ranger 8.8 i dont think...

 

A 9" will be wider than the exploder 8.8 most likely unless someone shortened it. even considering your killer deal it would probably be cheaper to do the ex 8.8 than a 9". you may get a good deal on the discs but you will still need to buy the axle and the LS. if you go the explorer route all you need to do is find a semi good deal and it has everything you said you wanted already on/in it.

 

You cant put 31 spline axles in a ranger 8.8. swapping the whole axle would be easier any way. the hardest part would be swapping out brake stuff to accept the discs, that and moving the spring perches to the top. other than that its strictly a bolt on procedure.

 

they do but they dont have disc brakes. by time you find an fx4 axle ($$$$$$$$) and THEN find a explorer axle and take the breaks, thats a good chuck of money and you could probably just buy a kit for you axle...

 

cause they are so application specfic and had much less production to them. more rare=more expensive.

95-01 doesnt matter. you could say that since a 2001 is newer is will have less wear but it could be quite opposite, depends on vehicle history...

 

First and foremost, and I think you already know this, swapping to a 9" would be a lot of work and could entail a lot more work then you want.

If your goal is simply to get a rear axle with 31 spline axles and disc brakes, then an exploder axle is far and away the easiest and cheapest method.

Personally, I would never buy a brake kit from SSBC. Not saying they are bad (the kits look amazing), but they are just way over priced. You can find disc brake kits a bunch of different places and you can even make your own disc kit for fairly cheap like 04Edge did. Here's another writeup for disc brakes from rwenzing:

https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...ad.php?t=17512

It's not horrendously hard, but you'll probably have to put some work in to get it right.

 

a box bronco 9" is a completely bolt in rear....u are aware of this right, only thing needed is a relocation of a shock mount, but with a exploder 8.8 ud have to fab them anyways. given the option between the 2, id go with the 9", no c-clips to deal with, has a full removeable carrier, parts and availability for it is unmatched, and if u can find one from a 76-77 bronco there already 31 spline big bearing

 

The only problem I see really going to a 9" is anti-lock rake compatability. I have a spring under 9" with disc brakes out of a lincoln versilles sittin it the shop. Its the right width, lug pattern, spring perch location (for lowered) and 31 spine axles. The only reason it isn't in my truck is the Antilock Brakes.

 

Exactly what 04 said. The first thing I thought of the was the drive shaft. I know the connectors are different.

Also, don't forget in some Ranger's you have your speedo in the 8.8. Not sure what years that was in... but could be another issue to add to the pile.

 

are u certain, i took my 9" from a 77 Box Bronco and i bolted it right in on the existing spring perches?? i said u would have to relocate 1 shock mount because on the 9" they both are rearward facing shocks, and as far as driveshaft you will only need a adapter u joint, which doesnt cost much more then a stock u joint for the rear.

just a note....this is the ONLY 9" rear axle that im aware of that will "bolt in" to some degree, but it can be cheaper to bolt in the 9" becuase in reality it takes less fab work the installing a explorer 8.8 (u dont need to cut off and add new spring perches, u dont need to fabricate 2 new shock mounts)