Explorer Axle Swap
 

Hey guys, I was wondering if you could help me out answering a few questions. Me and my dad were thinking about doing an Explorer swap into my 93' Ranger this spring. From what I read is that you only need a flip kit to mount it b/c the explorer leafs are mounted on the bottom instead of the top vs. ranger's on top? I also read that explorer axles are 2" wider than ranger axles. So I was thinking how would that work out having a 2" wider rear end then the front, wouldn't it look wierd? I wanted to do this swap if possible b/c I can get my hands on a 8.8 4.10 explorer easily around here, because I plan on swapping to 4.10 gears soon because I'm thinking about some more lift and 33's. How do 4.10 gears run on the highway also? I know right now I am running at just under 3,000 rpm at 75 mph's.

flip kits work, welding on new perches is better though, the axle looks fine on the rear barely noticeable.

4:10's are great on the highway especailly if you are running 33's to 35's

I'm thinking about running 33's w/ either a body lift on top on the leveling coils on my truck now, or running like 4" coils up front with 2" blocks in the rear. So 33's are what I'm looking at for the future. I know I can do this mod on a low budget so I am definetly looking into it. My dad is concerned with mpg and running highway speeds verse my 3.73 gears now.

I'm running an FX4 31 spline axle -- really just an Explorer axle with the perches already relocated. Also on mine, I redid the shock mounts so they are in a horizontal plane rather than sticking down at an angle. I could re-use the stock shocks with the lift, an they don't stick down to drag or catch on things.

Nice thing about the later (95 and up) Exploder axles are the disc brakes.

I did this earlier this year. I ordered weld on spring perches and shock mounts from somewhere on-line I could find the website for you in a minute but if you google leaf spring perch and shock mount you will come up with what you need. I got the upper spring plate from jeffsbroncograveyard.com. I got the wider longer U-bolts from a local 4x4 shop(you are on your own there). Basically that all you need. The explorer 31 spline shafts are way stronger then the stock 28 spline ones. it is an excellent upgrade. You can find explorer axles in almost every junkyard. I think almost every explorer is an open diff so thats something to think about when doing the swap. So you might want to think about buying some type of LS or locker or whatever you think you need for the type of driving you do.

Ranger1 thanks for the info. I was wondering if anyone knows if any explorers came with LS w/ 4.10's? I know down at the local jy he just got in a 99ish explorer limited. Either way explorer's are a dime a dozen in the jy's around here.

i think the D4 axle code is the 4.10 L/S one, ive been looking into it as well

aah check that D2 is 4.10 ls d4 is 3.73

thanks a bunch, thinking about hitting up the jy tomorrow. Wouldn't it be sweet if they had black friday sales at the junkyards, haha

I was thinking if am geared 3.73 right now and swap to a 4.10 in the rear. Would I have to swap 4.10 in the front right away b/c my professor can help me swap them. I would only need it swapped right away if i were to use the 4 wheel drive right?

I was planning on re-gearing it anyway, I went to 4.88's so I honestly didn't look for specific gears. Even if i could have found one with a LS I wanted to go to something a little better then the stock ford LS which you will most likely need to re-build the clutches anyway if it has high mileage. The stock ford LS is a good unit but I sort of thought by the time you buy the re-build kit(no idea what it cost) you might as well take that money and put it toward a better diff. I went to the ECTED electric LS to locker. I was planning on making a post in a little bit on the ECTED but I am very happy with it no complaints after about 3K miles.

Ben's Ranger is getting to be a pretty incredible machine these days! :smile:

Wait until you see my next truck. :006:

I'm already jealous, Ben -- don't give me a reason to HATE you besides, lol! :wink:

just and FYI correction probly just a mistype there 31 spline not 35... that is all good night..

"Redneck Stone, Resident Light Addict, signing off..."

My next truck is going be huge. I am already plotting, planning and saving. My goal is to get the bottom of the door at chest height.

ya that will be fun till you need to stop at the ol' gas station every few miles......

gotta pay to play. My DD(ford focus) gets 34 MPG.

I went back to the JY yesterday, after looking at about 10-12 explorers I found 2 axles with D4 axle code (3.73 LS). They told me $250 for the complete rear end. After christmas I'm heading up to the another yard were they only charge around $50 a rear end, maybe I can get lucky a find one up there...

$250 for the rear ends is still a good deal, and having the rear end a lil wider I think gives the truck a meaner stance, but its only 3/4" wider each side so its not entirely visible unless you knew it.

did you find a D2 code explorer axle?...lol. Just bought a 97 Mazda B4000 4x4. Have the same aspirations. Mine is an open 3.27 8.8 :(
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...8c47de15a7.jpg

Ok guys, I’m going to chime in here. I found this article on The Ranger Station:

https://www.therangerstation.com/tec...lorer8_8.shtml

Now, I have swapped a 1997 4.0L 4WD rear end into my 2000 2.5L 2WD. It was a direct bolt. Yes, I understand I only have the 28-spline axles and the smaller axle tubes. However, instead of going through ALL of the trouble of moving the spring pads and shock mounts, wouldn't it just be easier to swap in a Ranger 8.8” and then swap in the differential and axles from the Explorer? I know very well that the 28-spline and 31-spline axles fit either housing as long as you have the correct differential. I did that swap on my buddy’s 1995 Mustang GT. We installed a (I forget what brand) 31-spline gear-style instead of clutch style LSD and then installed 31-spline Strange axles. If the axles are the same length, they are both 8.8” rear ends, and everything else other than the axle tube diameter are the same, wouldn’t this just be an easier way to do it? I mean you’re already going to want to put 4.10’s or 4.56’s in it so you’re going to have the differential out anyway, why not just grab the diff and axles out of an Explorer and put them into the Ranger housing?

I’m running the 3.55’s right now on my 2.5L and it REALLY isn’t THAT bad with my engine running strong now. I tried to drive it with the bad head with recessed exhaust valve seats and it was HORRIBLE, but my head was TRASH and I was really only running on 2 cylinders! However, with the engine running strong, the 3.55’s really aren’t sluggish unless you have the A/C cranked up, but even then it’s not THAT bad.

However, when you’re buying new rear end gears, they sell them with installation kits that come with all of the axle seals, axle bearings, pinion bearings, diff bearings, etc and they are NEVER vehicle specific as to WHICH 8.8” rear end you have. That to me tells me that EVERYTHING internally, ESPECIALLY since the axles are the same length, is IDENTICAL and you can save yourself A LOT of headache and work by just grabbing a Ranger 8.8” and throwing Explorer guts in it.

I’m going to be putting 4.56’s in mine. I wish I would have had the money when I swapped the rear end to do it right then because I had to change the axle seals since they were trashed on the junkyard rear end. That means I had the cover off (was going to change the gear oil regardless) and I had the axles out at that time. The differential and pinion bearings were in great shape so I could have just popped the 4 bolts for the diff out, driveshaft was already off so it would have been cake to zip the pinion nut off and pull the pinion out to change it right then. I may go ahead and get an Explorer diff and axles for it at that time since I’ll have it all out anyway. I’ll just put the 4.56’s on the Explorer diff and throw that in there.

I just think all the cutting, welding, and making sure all of your angles and positions are correct while you’re trying to adapt a top mount rear end to work on a bottom mount truck is a LOT of work that is unnecessary when it can be done much simpler. The only time I would really consider getting an Explorer rear end is if I was going to lower the truck. It’s already set up perfectly for the 5” rear drop so all it would be is a direct bolt-on and then drop the front end 4” to match.

Does anyone have any reasons that my idea wouldn’t work?