Its been a long time since I have posted since getting into other hobbies, but I still have the ranger as a commuter/work truck. Randomly today I came across someone locally selling an 8.8 with 4.88 gears out of a pre 93 ranger that I am thinking of swapping in.

My truck is a 2004 so I am assumming there is no way to incoperate my rear ABS sensor.

I have never had my ABS kick on, so am not too concerned about not having it. I want to check to see if there will be any other issues though since I have not messed with the ABS system before. Will it just trigger the light and disable the ABS front and rear, or are there other issues that will come up?

Thanks!

 

1993 Ranger would have had the RABS sensor too. It will probably plug right in to the 2004 harness. If not, see if the 04 sensor will bolt in. There should be a way to make it work.

 

This.
Same location and everything. I don't think the part number ever changed.

 

Thanks.

Initially I was told the axle was out of a 1980s ranger, and online TRS listed those as not having a hole to mount the sensor. Then I got a picture of it and it does have the sensor mount. I did disconnect my sensor last night and nothing was affected but the abs. However looking at the picture sent today I noticed that it has the spring mounts flipped for spring under axle ( it was in a race truck which was totaled) So not sure if I want to mess with getting mounts welded back on top. Oh well, may get around to putting gears in some day...

 

It's pretty easy to do a flip job man. If the price is right then I would get it.

 

If you can weld, its not a big deal. if you can't, now is a pretty good time to learn.

 

I would still get it. It would be cheaper to get the mounts welded then buy 4.88 gears.

 

Yeah, thats what I finally decided. We agreed to $250 for it ready to go with mounts welded back on top which I figure is fair.

 

$250 and you got him to flip the mounts? Good price!

 

Yeah thats a good price! Nice score. Post up some pics of your truck too!

 

Arrgh. This axle became quite the debacle.

I went over and picked it up after work, about an hour away from me. Brackets welded on top, everything looked good.

Get home and muscle it out by myself. Get it on the ground and rolling it around notice both wheels always turn together. Start thinking about it and call the guy back. Did you put in some kind of locker? "Oh yeah, It has a mini spool, thought I mentioned that" Nope, you certainly didn't. So I told him I have no use for it and am dropping it back off tomorrow, which luckily he agreed to.

I have never used a spool, but from my understanding a spooled rear and 15.5 wide tires is just asking for trouble on the street. Am I right taking it back?

 

Mini spool's good. You can remove it. I'd put the OEM spider gears back in it from your axle.

 

You got a pretty good price, so I'd say keep it and get rid of the mini spool.

 

Yeah, I would like to keep it, (and tempted to throw it in just to see how the 4.88 feel) but not sure its my best move. My axle is LS so the spiders wouldn't interchange. By the time I buy and install new spiders I will have a decent amount tied up in a 20 year old axle with an unknown history. I am thinking I would be better off spending a little more to build an explorer axle or just re gear mine.

 

Call or go to a JY and pull them. They cant cost much.