do 98-06 4x4 rangers all have 31 spline axles or 28? Are all of them Trac Loks? Is there any reason why i shouldnt go with a Factory Ford LSD? Are all of the 8.8s between those years interchangeable, bolting in without any problems? Does it matter if they are abs or not? Here is what I am thinking of doing. I have an 05 ranger with a 8.8 28 spline axle and it is open. I am putting 32 inch tires and I want 4.10s as well as a limited slip. I dont care about aftermarket or stock, this will be a street truck, which will see dirt, but not hardcore desert driving. I have found a 03 rear end from a 4x4 which is claimed to have 4.10s and a lsd. I have abs though. I dont know if this truck had it but I like abs and I do not want to disconnect it. My thing is the rear end cost 500 bucks with a core ( I have a crappy old one they could have), and installation on gears and posi will cost me about 400-500 dollars alone, without cost of parts. I want to know if that 03 axle will bolt in and work no problem with my 05 truck. Anyone know if all 4x4s came with abs in 03? Thanks
Ryan

 

Yes it will bolt in.

01-03? Level 2 4x4's
Have 31" Spline 8.8's (stronger)

all others had 28"


there is nothing wrong with the ford lsd

And the abs is the same..

 

The 31 spline 8.8 has only been offered on one Ranger package. All other 8.8's on Rangers have been 28 splines. In every case the 31 spline was packaged w/ the torsen limited slip and 4.10 gears. This is not the Ford 'Trac Lock' LS. Although the Trac Lock is available in other Ranger 8.8 applications.

In MY2002 the package was called 'Ranger FX4'. In MY2003 they changed the package name to 'Ranger FX4 Level II', which is frequently shorthanded as 'LII'. The package remained otherwise identical, save some minor trim differences.

So 2002 FX4's had the 31 spline 8.8 w/ Torsen LS. Then 2003 on LII's had this axle.

2003+ FX4's (non-LII's) have the 28 spline 8.8 w/ the Ford Trac Lock LS. In 2002 (and earlier) this package was called the Off Road Package (ORP). Someone will certianly correct me if I am wrong, but I think that all ORP and 2003+ FX4 (non-LII) packages included 4.10's as well.

One word of warning: there was a problem w/ the early run of 31 spline Torsen equipped axles. There was something to do w/ the carrier or something being poorly designed. The differential could fail under certian circumstances. There was a recall done on all 2002 FX4 Rangers that had the manual transmission. The recall did NOT include trucks w/ the automatic transmissions. The thought was apparently that the torque converter protected the axle somehow. Ford's solution was to replace the entire axle from drum to drum w/ a new one. The old axles were sometimes sold, complete w/ the Torsen LS. Beware that these could fail. Obviously if you are replacing the diff w/ something else (like John/N3ELZ did), then this doesn't matter.

 

well if I dont know anything about the truck, other than it was a 4x4 and is an 03, what codes could tell me if it is a 31 spline or 28, and if it has the Torsen or Trak Lok?

 

well you should be able to identify the package by a couple few quirks, and ultimately the VIN if needed. If it has a manny t-case with a chrome shifter, FX4 Level II stickers, silver face gauges, umm and a few other things im spacin, it should have a 31 spline axle. also the JY should be able to tell you if its an FX4.

and the 03 WILL have abs...

also if it has the axle tag on it still, you can just reference that.

 

lol nother question..i got an 8.8?

go ahead and call me stupid if you want..i just never knew

 

im pretty sure any 03+ with the 3.0 or 4.0 has atleast the 8.8 28 spline. only the 4cyl has the 7.5. and you will have to check your tag for if you have limited slip or not and the only truck with the torsen rear is the lvl2.

 

The tag on the axle will tell you if it's 8.8 or 7.5 -- search "axle tag" on this board and you'll find info I'm sure.

You can tell if it's 31 or 28 spline by the diameter of the axle tube. 28 spline axle tubes are 2.75" in diameter -- 31 spline tubes are 3.25" in diameter.

A 31 spline is a bolt in IF you get the wider spaced u-bolts, and the "plate" that goes over the leaf spring from a 31 spline setup, or similar (mine came out of an old F-150 with a 9" axle). In other words, your existing mounting hardware, 7.5 or 8.8, will not work if you want to mount a 31 spline.

Rangers also came with different size drum brakes. There are 9" and 10" brakes and either can be bolted onto the 7.5" axle and the 8.8" 28 spline axle. However, the mounting flange has different hole spacing on the 31 spline axles so make sure you get at least the backing plates if you get a 31 spline axle.

 

Here is some more info on identifying axles:

http://www.rangerpowersports.com/tec...axlegear.shtml

There is no distinction in the axle code between an 4.10 28-spline 8.8 Traction-Lok limited slip and a 4.10 31-spline 8.8 Torsen L/S.

Both are code R7.

The Torsen/31 was only available from the factory on the 2002 FX4 and the 2003+ FX4 Level II.




As far as tags, my 03 Level II has the axle ID:

N313L
4L10 88 3E15

and it had the lubrication tag:

75W140 SYNTH
OIL ONLY

The second tag is a dead giveaway because, on Rangers, only the Torsens specify 75W140 synthetic lube.