Explorer axle swap help
 

Well my explorer axle is coming along. Saturday I am going to be welding on the shock tabs and spring perches. My plan for the spring perches is to bolt the axle to the driveshaft and leaf springs then tack weld the perches. Then I will take it out and finish welding the perches.

Now for the question. First I need new u-bolts. I don't have any. What size u-bolts will I need? I am looking for measurement because I know of a spring shop where I can get them cheap.

If I were to leave the proportioning valve from my ranger in there would it cause me problems or is it required I swap in the valve from an explorer? I ask because I didn't realize this when I went for the brake parts so I didn't get it. I am afraid the explorer that I got the parts from is gone so I will need to find another doner.

well heres an example from a to z fab in cressona, pa.u-bolt

as for the proportion valve i'm not sure but i think the ranger will work, bill (04Lvl2) ran the stock proportion valve on his disk brake fx4 rear.

thank you

Is 10inches long enough?

heres some pics that came with an 8.8 easy swap kit from ruff tuff specialties
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...MVC-008F-1.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...MVC-007F-1.jpg
EDIT: shoe is a size 10 and the top of the nuts are flush with top of bolt

you need 3.25" radius ubolts

are you running stock blocks and springs? are the perches thicker than the current one on your 28 spline?

I am running 10" U bolts with 2" blocks and 2.5" thick springs

10" - 11" total length should be good as the U bolts usually have 3-4" of thread.

Thanks Zabeard that helps me to know what I need.

Well I have my 7.5" ranger u bolts on my explorer axle. I know everyone said not to use them but they looks good and all I had to do was bend them a little bit(which was one hard task to do). But I used those and I have 2" stock lift blocks. Now the u bolts are really close to not fitting but if you work with them for a little bit they do fit.

Could you take a pic of this I am interested in seeing how it looks between the bottom of the "U" and the bottom of the axle.

you are freaking nuts! i hope i dont run into you on the road.

Ubolts are really only a 1 time use thing as they can break easy one the second use.

my 31 spline u bolts were only 22 bucks...

well I know they are fine. I've done burn outs, donuts, offroaded, flexed. They work fine. I know everyone has there own opinion on things and well this is what works for me.