Anyone know if the FX4 LII uses a different size rear bearing than the other 8.8" axles? The axle tube is a greater outside diameter -- but what about inside? My vendor doesn't know and I'm ordering new bearings to install in the axle I'm building and need to know if the regular bearings work or not.

Any information appreciated as he's holding up shipping of everything until I tell him what to send.

Thanks!

 

According to my 2003 Workshop manual. There is a section for an 8.8 and an 8.8 High Torque. And by "rear axle bearing" i'm assuming you are talking about the "rear wheel bearings" (thats the description in the manual)?

Both the 8.8 and 8.8 "high torque" have the same part # for the rear wheel bearings.

 

Hmmm...that doesn't square with most of what I've heard -- although if it was clear I'd already have the answer, lol!

Thanks for the info though.

Basically, there are two possibilities: 2.25" diameter bearings, or 2.5" bearings. Explorer axles are also the larger 3.25" diameter tube, and I believe they use the 2.5" bearings -- but you know Ford.

I'm not sure if the FX4 axle is the "high torque" one or not. I would have hoped for a specific section on it since it's so different from any other Ranger axle.

Anyone else?

 

Okay, crashing around the forums on TRS seems to confirm it's the bigger 2.5" bearing. I think I'm okay on this now, but if anyone has more to say on it, I'll be glad to hear it!

 

Well looking again at the difference b/t the 8.8 and the "high torque" they also have the same axle shafts, so that can't be the fx4 lvl2 b/c they use 31 spline don't they?

 

No luck, John. TRS sort of implies that all 31-spline 8.8's have the bigger bearings but I didn't see anything definite for the Level II. The axle rebuilder sites list the two sizes of bearings but not what they fit.

 

Okay, thanks Jey and Bob. I ordered the 2.5" bearings. Hey, it's not the most expensive thing -- if they are wrong, I'll get the other ones. I'm pretty sure it's got to be the bigger bearings because the axle shafts themselves are bigger and you can't use 31 spine stock shafts in the standard 28 spline axle tubes.

 

Wow, and the latest Kevin Smith movie..."Ranger-Forums"

 

damn, im slow, but i was just going to say the FX4 lvl II is close to the explorer rear end

 

Thanks, Scott. Slow or no, thanks for playing!