even my 2.9l was able to kill an 8.8.i'de definately get rid of the 7.5.the later rangers had the wider stance of the exploders if im not mistaken.93 and up i think.
No, your 2.9 did not "kill" an 8.8" axle you MAy have had an 8.8" axle die in a 2.9 truck, but that isn't the same thing...
The later rangers '93-up do have a wider stance than the '83-92 rangers, but still not as wide as the explorer.
the 31-spline axle shafts while desireable aren't strictly necissary, but the larger diameter axle tubes are another matter....
The Disc brakes aren't necissary regardless of how fast
anyone thinks their ranger is going to be, because stopping
like acceleration is limited by traction.
HOWEVER the internal drum parking brake is nice to have, unlike the
standard ranger/explorer drum brakes which are technically
described as "single anchor point SERVO actuated brakes"
The Explorer parking brake is "NON-servo".
To make a short explanation out of it Servo
actuated brakes function by the cylinder applying pressure mainly to the "lead" or "primary" shoe and that shoe forces the "secondary"
or "trailing" show into harder engagement.
The problem with this is that Servo-type drum brakes while providing mechanical advantage above and beyond the hydraulic force applied
do not work as effectively when backing up.
Ever notice that while you can back up fairly easily
with the parking brake applied, you can't go forward as easily?
The explorer parking brake doesn't suffer from this deficit
Lastly, many people have difficulty assembling the springs and levers
that the drum brakes use, while replacing brake pads on discs can be
done by a stoned chimpanzee on a tequila bender.
BTW, a "Flip kit" does NOT make putting an explorer axle into a ranger easy, because you still won't have shock mounts on the axle.
Perhaps I shouldn't mention this, but I'm making a fixture for Axles to facilitate welding Ranger spring and shock mounts to them without having
to have the axle partially fitted into the truck.
And 28-spline Ranger 8.8" rears aren't NEARLY as common
as explorer axles. Remember that (for practiucal purposes)
only 4.0 Rangers came with 8.8" rears, while ALL explorers did...
And I believe Ford actually made more Explorers most years than Rangers.
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