I heard somewhere that the axles are the same. My 8.8 is bent. I have a 7.5 laying around. Can anyone confirm or do I need to start ripping rears apart?

I dont know, but i somehow seiously doubt they are the same, but i could be wrong. But i doubt it.

negitive..... the 7.5 has a 7.5 inch ring gear and the 8.8 has an 8.8 inch ring gear and the housings are different as for width they are compariable assuming out of explorer or ranger or BII but spring under for explorer

It all depends on what the axle is out of. Mustang axles will swap regardless if the diff is an 8.8 or 7.5. Same with early Rangers, and Aerostars. The only problem is that the axles are different lengths in most cases. A Bronco II will only interchange by itself and so will the Explorer. A right Ranger will swap for a left Aerostar but the opposite will not change. Spine count is also important. Aerostars, Older Rangers and newer 7.5's are 28 spline while Explorers and newer Ranger 8.8's are 31 spline.

What year and type of vehicle do you have?

The 7.5 is out of a 94 ranger, the 8.8 is out of a 95 ranger.

You should be able to swap it, but it would be like swapping out a D44 for a D35.

If your swapping the entire diff, then the unit will bolt right in, no problem.

fug 8.8 go 10.25 if your gonna do it

The 7.5 is also a lot easier to bend than the 8.8, so if you bent the 8.8....

I'd find another 8.8. If a little welding doesn't intimidate you (I'll assume it doesn't seeings you're here on this forum), use an Explorer 8.8. It has bigger 31 spline shafts compared to the Ranger 8.8. The leaf perches need to be moved and shock brackets put on it. '95up Ex has disc brakes.


BTW, FYI Speedfreak,
Only the new FX4/LII ('02 FX4) Ranger has 31 splines. Anything else is still 28.

I'm talking about the AXLES not the housings. I know the housings are a direct swap. That is how the 8.8 got under my truck and the 7.5 in laying on the ground. Both axles are 28 spline. I have heard that the axles are the same even though the diffs are different. I need to know if someone knows for sure. Speedfreak was on the right track but got derailed by all the answers regarding the different diffs and housings.

I only got off track because I didn't have any info to answer the question. Now that I have the correct info, the answer is YES, they will interchange.

BTW, if this board is going to help you any without any headaches, when you ask a question, but some information down. Like year and make of vehicle and year and make of swap parts. Your original question was as vague as asking if all oranges are orange.

My first question was clear. I asked about swapping axles not housings or diffs. You wanted to know the year and type, I answered. Thanks for the info, but not for the lecture. Especially from someone who has only been here for two weeks.:flipoff2:

No it wasn't.
When referring to an axleshaft, it is usually called an axleSHAFT.
the word "axle" by itself usually implies the entire axle as a whole. And it is far more common to "bend" an axlehousing than an axleshaft (what probably happened is you twisted it, making it no longer appear straight), which further led people to believe you were referring to the axle as a whole.

Yes, the axleSHAFTS between '94 & '95 Ranger 8.8s and 7.5s are interchangable.

Originally posted by HONDA_ForePlay
fug 8.8 go 10.25 if your gonna do it

get off the pipe......:flipoff2:

Well, I may have only bein on "this" board for two weeks, but I at least know how to make myself clear enough for other poeple to understand me.:flipoff2:

Oh and big woopee, you've bein here a whole year:flipoff2:



try to help somepeople and this is the thanks you get???

I believe the shafts are the same but hey, since you've got one out of your 8.8" already and the 7.5" is just "laying around" why not pull one and check. :D

After you pull out the 7.5 axle and all things seem to be the same.The only difference there could be is in the splines pitch/depth just my .02