I read a comment yesterday stating you can put the rear diff from an explored on the ranger is this possible? If so wich year and would it be a direct fit or would there be some fabricating involved I would really like to get that 8.8 rear diff with the 4.56 gears

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2002 ford ranger edge 3.0 step cab with 2.0 fox shocks in front stock in back. 4'' front body lift with 3'' spindle lift torsion bars torqued at 1.5'' 4'' rear body lift. flowmaster exhaust 35"remington mudd brute tires 5 speed manual transmition with k&n air filter 2 wheel drive 4.56 rear geared with a 7.5 diff front bullballr with hella 500 offroad lights two pro comp tow hooks in the front and the back

they do fit, as for direct fitment im not too sure, i thought the expo axles used different shock mounts, maybe im thinkin too new

8.8's will fit, but you have to flip them over and weld new shock tabs and spring perches on them.

What year explored would that be I'm sure they changed it up after a certain year

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2002 ford ranger edge 3.0 step cab with 2.0 fox shocks in front stock in back. 4'' front body lift with 3'' spindle lift torsion bars torqued at 1.5'' 4'' rear body lift. flowmaster exhaust 35"remington mudd brute tires 5 speed manual transmition with k&n air filter 2 wheel drive 4.56 rear geared with a 7.5 diff front bullballr with hella 500 offroad lights two pro comp tow hooks in the front and the back

95-01 I am pretty sure

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2001 3.0 V6 Automatic "Police Interceptor"
4x4 Off-Road
3" Body Lift
Belltech 6400 Shackles
JBA Headers
LOKRITE Locker
COBRA disc conversion

But if you flip it over and install shock mounts and spring perches, then you'd have multiple reverse gears and only 1 forward gear. do NOT FLIP axle over to instal.

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1985 306 H.O. B303 GT40'S Edelbrock performer intake Holley 750 dual feed built C-4 2000 stall shift kit 3 Inch exhaust dumped before axle series 40 flowmaster stock 7.5

?????

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www.1fun4rd.blogspot.com

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LOL WUT?










You never LITERALLY flip and rotate the axle. lol. You're not taking a rear axle and making it a front axle.... And you don't literally bolt an axle up upsidedown either....



Axle flip/spring flip/flip kit means the axle moves from one side of the spring to the other. Explorer's are spring-under axle. Rangers are spring-over axle. If you bolt up a Explorer axle onto a Ranger and not move the perches, you'll lower the rear 5".

To get an Explorer axle under a ranger and keep the same height, you'll need to cut off the old spring perches and weld on new ones on top of the tube instead of below. Also have to weld on new shock tabs as Explorer axle housings are shock-tab-less. Don't forget new u-bolts and spring plates for the new bigger axle housing. Your stock stuff won't work.

'95-05 are the axles to get....disc brake, 31spline. Note: 02-05 only Sport and Sport Trac will work.....02-05 regular Explorers are IRS.

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'01 XLT disguised as a '03 Fx4 Level II.

I'm pretty sure he was joking due to the smiley face next to the thread title reply.

The better clarification stated above was probably needed though since someone would probably literally flip the axle and have the fill port on the down side instead of the up side. That would make for an interesting fluid change...

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Sgtsandman's Work in Progress
2011 Ranger XLT, 4X4, 4 door Super Cab. 4.0L, 5 Speed M50D-R1HD, 3.73:1, 8.8" open differential, Jason Pace cap
2019 Ford Ranger STX FX4, Super Crew, 2.3L Ecoboost, 10 speed automatic, 3.73:1 with rear locker, Leer 100XR cap

not to mention a breather hole in the tube acting now as a drain...

lol. Didn't notice the smily face thingy though that post still is making me lol inside. lol.

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'01 XLT disguised as a '03 Fx4 Level II.