So I was reading an old thread where the guy was asking if his 7.5 was strong enough. He has a 2.3 liter and adam said he would be ok. I have a 3.0 V6 and have the same question. I wouldn't be opposed to buying an expo rear end but the problem is there are like none around here. I wanna drop in a Powertrax Lockright or the no slip (whic do you think would be better?) so I can tow my boat better. Any body know a good place to get them cheapest? Having trouble finding one.

EDIT: also don't I have to coast around corners and such?

 

I also have the same thought....i just got my rearend before i knew about the expo swap and want to know what it is im missing out on besides the disc brakes?? what can a 8.8 do that a 7.5 can't?

 

Mike, if i was going to drop money into a rear end, i would atleast upgrade to a 8.8 first!

 

Food for thought the 28spinle 8.8 has the axle tubes as the 7.5. Also mustang runs these housings up to 400 hp before they had problems.

So If your plan is larger tires than upgrade is needed otherwise you will fine as long as you don't wear one out.

 

^ x2.
i've seen 7.5's do some serious work. If you aren't going to get bigger tires, then i wouldn't worry about it.
The only benefit of an exploder axle is the Disc brakes and possibly the 4 leaf spring.

 

my buddy ran 33's on his 7.5 with a 3.0 with no problems. BUT like previously stated if you are going to drop money into the rear end id go with an 8.8. i picked up a posi on ebay for $35 for mine and that alone made a huge difference in traction and towing.

 

Yeah since posting this thread I have decided to go with an expo or ranger rear end with 4.10's and a LSD built in.

 

go for the expo, disc brakes are awesome for towing as well, also it is 31 spline vs the 28 ranger one (minor bonus)

it does take a little more work to put it in than the ranger one.

 

my 7.5 went boom with 33s after about 10k miles. Good choice going to an 8.8

 

If you are upgrading anyway then I agree.

 

Yours must've been on it's way out. I swapped a used 7.5 from a B3000 into my truck at 100k miles after the driver's side axle shaft slipped out of the original one (lots of burnouts on my part, and I'm pretty sure the previous owner was an idiot who drove the truck hard). The truck now has 117k, and is showing zero signs of trouble. I still do slight burnouts with it every once and a while.

 

I ran my 7.5 hard and it help up fine on 33's. Then when I got an 8.8 (non disc) it held up fine as well. Still going strong for the current owner of the truck.

 

Well goos news! I'm going to pick up an Expo with 8.8, 4.10s, and a LSD! YAY ME!

 

I doubt if i was on stock tires it would of gone out. i had 74k when it went out and the bearings exploded pulling out of a parking lot and thats when it went when i tried to beat traffic. I still drove it like that for a few days. Thank god it didn't go out when i went to the dunes meet, 16 hours from home.

 

Tomorrow the expo axle is going in! Wish me luck :D

 

I hope everything goes smoothly! And don't forget to take photos and update us!

 

is expo always 8.8 instead 7.5?

 

Well it's in guys! Thank you all for your help. I appreciate it! I'll post some pics up tomorrow.

 

I'm pretty sure. Never seen an expo 7.5... Ever.

 

My 7.5 has 111k on it and seen lots of stupid driving along with serious towing and still holds up strong.

 

I actually put in an expo axle since I made this thread.. problem solved!

 

i would say so

 

Rode a 5.0L, auto with a 7.5 for four years, many a smoke show.

 

really? thats impressive.

 

It's the same axle as a Ranger 8.8 28spline down to bearings, shafts and tubes the only benifit of the 8.8" is the ring and pinion. Lets be honest with no traction any axle can hold quite a bit of power. Issue would come from taking that 7.5" and putting it in a bind, even then its likely the shafts would smoke before the ring and pinion. Thats were a rear D35 goes and its basically the same axle with weaker tubes.