Rear axle choices Ford 9" or 8.8" or other? (2008-2022 bump)

[AndrewNance]

I think 96-01 is what you?d want to find. Prior to that they had drum brakes and after 2001 they went to IRS in the Explorers. I?m pretty sure the one MikeJr did for my car is out of a 2000. Shouldn?t matter if it?s v6 or v8 but there are 28-spline and 31-spline varieties. The ID tag should tell you the gear ratio if it?s still there.

 

[culberro]

Thread resurrection.

Given this thread is 14 years old -
I'm trying to figure out what model/year range I would be researching when looking for either a Ford Explorer rear axle , or the Toyota option mentioned by John V.

I have zero access to pick n pulls in my area, so anything I get is coming from online.

Edit- install detail from Nathan
http://www.turbobricks.org/forums/showpost.php?p=5286677&postcount=5

Use this site for searching junkyards: https://www.car-part.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi
Plenty of exploder 8.8 in your area with 3.73 gears.

Make sure they come with brakes, those are really expensive to buy aftermarket. The brakes also fit ford 9in, and people use them as the ?cheap? disc conversion.

 

[lookforjoe]

I think 96-01 is what you?d want to find. Prior to that they had drum brakes and after 2001 they went to IRS in the Explorers. I?m pretty sure the one MikeJr did for my car is out of a 2000. Shouldn?t matter if it?s v6 or v8 but there are 28-spline and 31-spline varieties. The ID tag should tell you the gear ratio if it?s still there.

Thank you! I was searching through 2004/5, which would have been no good at all...

Use this site for searching junkyards: https://www.car-part.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi
Plenty of exploder 8.8 in your area with 3.73 gears.

Make sure they come with brakes, those are really expensive to buy aftermarket. The brakes also fit ford 9in, and people use them as the ?cheap? disc conversion.

Thank you - yes, I'm using carpart.com - no pics of the ones in NY, so I'll need to email for more info - I did come up with one that say 3L73, so that would be my first choice, based on remarks earlier in this thread


EDIT -I see that the rears have 5x114 bolt pattern, so typically use spacers to convert to 5x108?

 

[culberro]

What's the application?

NA, turbo? Cruiser, DD, track car, race car, auto-x?
If you want a higher geared rear end (3.55-4.10), 8.8 makes the most sense. If you want lower gears (4.10-5.xx), Toyota 8in starts to make sense.

You can also do a Ford 9in kit with whatever center section you want for about $2k with all new components. It's very easy (I've seen what you're capable of) to make a fixture to transfer the mounts from a volvo axle over to the swap axle.

 

[lookforjoe]

What's the application?

NA, turbo? Cruiser, DD, track car, race car, auto-x?
If you want a higher geared rear end (3.55-4.10), 8.8 makes the most sense. If you want lower gears (4.10-5.xx), Toyota 8in starts to make sense.

You can also do a Ford 9in kit with whatever center section you want for about $2k with all new components. It's very easy (I've seen what you're capable of) to make a fixture to transfer the mounts from a volvo axle over to the swap axle.

Sorry - this is for the 740 pickup to go with the 4.8L V8 conversion (street, towing)- I'm assuming the stock rear isn't going to like close to 300ft/lb if I push it...

 

[culberro]

Sorry - this is for the 740 pickup to go with the 4.8L V8 conversion (street, towing)- I'm assuming the stock rear isn't going to like close to 300ft/lb if I push it...

Honestly it'll probably be fine unless you start doing one wheel burnouts or weld the diff and pretend it's an open diff. There are plenty of LS swapped 240s rolling around with a stock 3.31 geared 1031.

The welded 1031 in the v8 drift car has yet to break an axle, and it's a very healthy 302. It's all about how yo drive it

But if you are going to swap the axle in the 740 ute... I'd grab a 8.8 and whatever gearing works out the best for you. Probably the lowest available since the tires will end up being so small in diameter compared to an explorer.

The 3.73 gears in the drift car are stupid short with a T5, a 3.3 would be a better choice

 

[lookforjoe]

Honestly it'll probably be fine unless you start doing one wheel burnouts or weld the diff and pretend it's an open diff. There are plenty of LS swapped 240s rolling around with a stock 3.31 geared 1031.

The welded 1031 in the v8 drift car has yet to break an axle, and it's a very healthy 302. It's all about how yo drive it

But if you are going to swap the axle in the 740 ute... I'd grab a 8.8 and whatever gearing works out the best for you. Probably the lowest available since the tires will end up being so small in diameter compared to an explorer.

The 3.73 gears in the drift car are stupid short with a T5, a 3.3 would be a better choice

Many thanks for the input. I'm not planning on beating the crap out of it. I'm keeping the 4L60E auto trans, if that makes a difference to gearing. Looking up 2001 Explorer, Sport Trac was only available with the 3.73 or 4.10

 

[culberro]

Many thanks for the input. I'm not planning on beating the crap out of it. I'm keeping the 4L60E auto trans, if that makes a difference to gearing. Looking up 2001 Explorer, Sport Trac was only available with the 3.73 or 4.10

The v8 3.73 has a pretty big year range, the 3.55 and lower are harder to find.

The 3.73 will give a ~2k rpm cruising speed at 60mph:
https://apx6u.app.goo.gl/4Txk

 

[VB242]

My 4.10 came out of a 2 door sportrav, I just grabbed another short axle and shortened the left axle tube, I don't remember the width when done though, I think it was ~1.5" wider than a stock 240 axle. How much wider is the 740 axle than a 240?
Edit, I'm also using 26.5" diameter tires with a Tr-3650 transmission, first is a little short at 3.37 but fifth is 0.62 which is great for cruising 70-80mph tolerable in the coastal plain I live in at 60mph but really needs to be in 4th for 55mph though

 

[lookforjoe]

The v8 3.73 has a pretty big year range, the 3.55 and lower are harder to find.

The 3.73 will give a ~2k rpm cruising speed at 60mph:
https://apx6u.app.goo.gl/4Txk

Thanks for the graphic display!

I can live with that, still under 3K in the normal highway cruising speeds

My 4.10 came out of a 2 door sportrav, I just grabbed another short axle and shortened the left axle tube, I don't remember the width when done though, I think it was ~1.5" wider than a stock 240 axle. How much wider is the 740 axle than a 240?
Edit, I'm also using 26.5" diameter tires with a Tr-3650 transmission, first is a little short at 3.37 but fifth is 0.62 which is great for cruising 70-80mph tolerable in the coastal plain I live in at 60mph but really needs to be in 4th for 55mph though

looking through other TB threads - the 8.8 is 59.25" , the 240 rear is approx 54.25", I'm assuming the 740 rear is about 60-6.5", since cpt. Bondo said the 8.8 ends up being about .5" narrower

So, other questions would be what to do about the driveshaft, and bolt pattern.

 

[VB242]

Thanks for the graphic display!

I can live with that, still under 3K in the normal highway cruising speeds




looking through other TB threads - the 8.8 is 59.25" , the 240 rear is approx 54.25", I'm assuming the 740 rear is about 60-6.5", since cpt. Bondo said the 8.8 ends up being about .5" narrower

So, other questions would be what to do about the driveshaft, and bolt pattern.

I had the large size M47 drive shaft altered to fit both ends, 1330 yoke I think on the rear end side and an ebay yoke for the transmission end.

 

[AndrewNance]

Redrilling the axles wouldn?t be too expensive. I know Kyle had his done for the 240 rear end in his Amazon to get them to match the 5x114.3 front hubs. You can order them in custom sizes/bolt patterns from Moser if you just want to press the easy button though.

 

[mikep]

I did come up with one that say 3L73, so that would be my first choice, based on remarks earlier in this thread

Yes, the L means Limited slip.

As for the question on length, not seeing the earlier comment, I thought the 740 axle was a bit longer than 240 (less than 1/2"?)

 

[lookforjoe]

Redrilling the axles wouldn?t be too expensive. I know Kyle had his done for the 240 rear end in his Amazon to get them to match the 5x114.3 front hubs. You can order them in custom sizes/bolt patterns from Moser if you just want to press the easy button though.

Yeah, anything that involves machine work is tricky around here, few options and typically over $100 hour time spent rates. Probably be cheaper for me to buy new rather than ship mine somewhere for redrilling, I'll have to investigate.

Yes, the L means Limited slip.

As for the question on length, not seeing the earlier comment, I thought the 740 axle was a bit longer than 240 (less than 1/2"?)

My understanding from various threads, is that the 8.8 ends up being a tad shorter than 700. I don't know about 240, besides the comments that the 8.8 is several inches too wide.

 

[white855T]

Heres one with 3.27 gears. You could even get with 3.08 gears(might a little harder to find).

https://allusedparts.com/ford/explo...5wbZ-B-UmlV7K-DcwO0jN9hMK0r-sfcxoC3I8QAvD_BwE

 

[lookforjoe]

Heres one with 3.27 gears. You could even get with 3.08 gears(might a little harder to find).

https://allusedparts.com/ford/explo...5wbZ-B-UmlV7K-DcwO0jN9hMK0r-sfcxoC3I8QAvD_BwE

I saw those listings, but how to tell if they have the LSD, they don't mention it

 

[lookforjoe]

Looking at D4 / 3L73 rear end off a 99 Explorer. After I cut the longer tube & source a 2nd shorter side axle, I'll deal with the shorter width by following Cpt. Bondo's advice from many moons ago & use 1.25" spacers & FWD offset (ET45) 18"x8" Advanti Hybrid wheels from my C30.

Some Q's that I don't see (or missed) answers or comments on -

What to do about the tone ring for ABS/ speedo on a 740?
Do ppl use the stock Explorer rear brakes as is, or upgrades? If so, to what?
How is hand brake cable connection handled going from Volvo to Ford parking brake setup?

 

[302ftw?]

Looking at D4 / 3L73 rear end off a 99 Explorer. After I cut the longer tube & source a 2nd shorter side axle, I'll deal with the shorter width by following Cpt. Bondo's advice from many moons ago & use 1.25" spacers & FWD offset (ET45) 18"x8" Advanti Hybrid wheels from my C30.

Some Q's that I don't see (or missed) answers or comments on -

What to do about the tone ring for ABS/ speedo on a 740?
Do ppl use the stock Explorer rear brakes as is, or upgrades? If so, to what?
How is hand brake cable connection handled going from Volvo to Ford parking brake setup?

I did this in 2011 or so on a turbo 302 swapped 740 and I have to say, keeping the stock explorer brakes and hardware was a mistake. It never really played nice with the Volvo master and the rear brakes never worked right. The ebrake situation did work at least. I think we used an explorer cable and adapted it to the volvo handle. Tone ring was a non issue as I was running megasquirt at the time and that car did not have ABS. Not sure if this is more a help or hindrance tbh. Sorry!

 

[lookforjoe]

I did this in 2011 or so on a turbo 302 swapped 740 and I have to say, keeping the stock explorer brakes and hardware was a mistake. It never really played nice with the Volvo master and the rear brakes never worked right. The ebrake situation did work at least. I think we used an explorer cable and adapted it to the volvo handle. Tone ring was a non issue as I was running megasquirt at the time and that car did not have ABS. Not sure if this is more a help or hindrance tbh. Sorry!

Thanks for the input.
Can you elaborate? The Ford calipers were too large for the system to keep proper proportioning? They don't look like much.

What did you do about the offset? Did you shorten the long side & get another short axle? Any pics of what you did?

 

[302ftw?]

Thanks for the input.
Can you elaborate? The Ford calipers were too large for the system to keep proper proportioning? They don't look like much.

What did you do about the offset? Did you shorten the long side & get another short axle? Any pics of what you did?

Yes, I could never get the rears to activate in the same ratio needed. I even installed a proportioning valve to little effect. Could have been a me problem, I was in college had a limited attention span. Drove the car around for 2 years with basically only front brakes.

At least with the axle I got, two right side axles proved to work but the axle overall was a bit short necessitating some beefy adapters on the rear. Cut a section in the middle of the axle tube, welded two pieces of angle iron on either side to keep the tubes straight with a gap in the middle to weld the tube. No pics unfortunately, was 2010 and all the pics hosted online have been lost to time.