Rear end/ gearing questions from the new guy
 

Just picked up a 2009 Ranger Sport 4x4. Soo i've had a half***ed plan to build one up using some parts from the jeep Cherokee I have. The first thing on my list is a rear end swap. To my knowledge Rangers come with a Ford 8.8 axle housing with 4:10 gears for the standard model. Which isn't a bad setup, however, I got a Dana 44 with a locker, chromoly axle shafts, 4:56 Yukon gears and disk breaks on my Cherokee and i'm wondering if I could just swap out the internals and keep the stronger 8.8 housing or if I have to swap the whole axle. i've searched a bit myself and only found that the dana 44 is like an inch wider. not much more. Thanks for any input in advance.

Cheers

Most common axle ratio for Rangers was 3.73, towing package got 4.10, and 4.10 was an option that could be added to most 4x4s

You do for sure have an 8.8" in a 2009 Ranger, it may or may not be Limited Slip, AXLE code will tell you
You can look at the drivers door label to see the ratio for both axles, AXLE Code, seen here: https://www.therangerstation.com/tec...le_codes.shtml

No, you can't swap Dana 44 and Ford 8.8" internals, 4.56 ring and pinions are available for Ranger front and rear axles

Rangers use 28-spline 1.2" axle shafts
Explorer 8.8" used 31-spline 1.3" axle shafts
And no, internals can not be swapped on these either, different length axles
But you can use the whole explorer rear axle in a Ranger,welding required to move spring perches

Front axle will be a Dana 35 SLA with ratio matching the rear, it will be OPEN style

Ford did have FX4 Level II Rangers which did have 4.10 and were 31-spline with Torsen L/S but very hard to find, and you would still have to change to 4.56 ratio so..........
These were only offered 2002-2007, but in 2008/9 Torsen rear axle was an option on any 4x4s, AXLE code was R8 for the Torsen in any of these years, but it was 4.10 not 4.56 as listed

Well that sums that up. Thanks.
My next question would be if taking the gears from my Cherokees front end dana 35 would fit in the rangers sladana 35. Now what I've seen about this swap is that its HunkyDroy. no issues.

Yes, ring and pinion on the Dana 35s should be the same, only thing I don't know is if the Cherokees front axle drive shaft is above or below center line
Rangers Dana 35 SLA is a standard rotation axle, below center line like the rear, Rangers earlier Dana 35s were reverse rotation, above center line

You can swap the whole axles, just not the ring and pinions

hmm. Very good to know. Sounds like my gears would only be swappable if my Cherokee ring and pinion match the forward rotation of the ranger.

Just have to look at it, if driveshaft enters below center line of axle they will work