Explorer rear end question

[ceewdee]

Guys, went to the bone yard yesterday in search of a Explorer rear end. I found one (7 actually, CARS donors), but I have a question. There were two sitting side by side. Both 4x4, 1997, with disk brakes, one was a four door the other a two door. The four door had a multi-leaf rear end, and the two door had a single leaf rear. Will either of these work? The two door had the aluminum drive shaft, is it worth retro-fitting in my '55? There was also a late model Corvette that I plan to grab the rear end out of (don't need it, but for $125 bucks, kind of hard to walk away from that). Thanks in advance.

[twin57]

i belive that rear end to be a 8.8 you could use either i would go with 9 inch a bit more money but it got a drop out center section easy gear changes look at linclon vercies might be correct lenght

[r66ss]

agree with Dave
NINE INCH

[keith]

here is a guy that used a 1997 8.8 junkyard, some tips and tricks on there that relate over. no width info or install stuff on a trifive, but some good bits and pieces to add. It's worth the read.
http://www.explorer4x4.com/discrear.html


I found 1 lincolin versallies rear axle during my search for a housing. I passed on it because it was REALLY wide and it was a passenger housing. Found a truck 9" housing at the junkyard for a steal and only had to narrow about 4 inches total..

[Shua57]

I put a 8.8 in my 57. Simple, easier to get than a 9" and is just as strong as a 12 bolt, if not stronger. Couple that with the disc brakes and the posi and the fact you can grab them cheap and you can't go wrong with it.
To answer your questions, yes, either one of those will work. Just make sure that they are posi rear, should have a tag on one of the rear cover bolts with something like "3L73". They made a 4.10 and a 3.73 ratio. The rears have a offset pinion by 3 inches which makes it simple to narrow. Stock Explorer rear is 59.5" WMS to WMS. If you pick up another short side axle and cut the long side housing by 2 15/16" and reweld it, then slide the extra short side axle you bought you end up with a 56.5" rear which allows for some good wide tires in the back. I had my driveshaft made as I am running a 200-4R trans and wanted a heavy duty driveshaft with the flange adapter that F@#d used on those rears.
I've help several on here with installing one in the trifives so if you have any questions just let me know. Basic steps are - narrow one side of rear, weld on leaf spring perches, decide if you want to run F@#d bolt pattern or have the axles drilled for Chevy bolt pattern, drill rotors and have at it.
Josh

[ceewdee]

Thank you so much for the response. I appreciate that!

[drpepper]

i,ve installed 2 of the 8.8 diffs. did exactly as shua57 did. narrowed left side 2 15/16 and used 2 right axles. not all are 373 or 410 though. both mine were 3:27. may have been 2 wheel drive? they set up just like a 12 bolt. f*&ds ring and pinion kit is only $300. ralph at eci says the rear disc are metric and shouldn't be used with larger ft discs? mine seem to stop ok. might watch the depth of the spring pocket on the single leaf. it could be shallower and not fit multi leaf. i,ve seen that on older camaro diffs.

[Hal_396]

I run the 8.8 without the axle mode. It works just fine but if were installing another I'd do the mod.

If I had to do it all over again I would probably just install a posi in the stock rear-end. Nothing wrong with 8.8 but by the time I purchased the rear-end, all the perches, flange adapter, u-bolts and had the perches welded on and the axles drilled I would have been money ahead.

That 8.8 is a monster rear end and way stronger than the stock unit but I'm not running gobs of HP so I really didn't need it. Don't get me wrong here,I'm very happy with it but just looking at it from a money stand point.

[auggie56]

So the axle tube diameter is the same as a trifive ? Concerned if I can use stock perches, u bolts and shock plates. I'm interested because it's stronger, you get a sway bar and disk brakes. That all makes the mod cheap for me.

[drpepper]

the axle tubes are larger on the 8.8. best i remember they are 4 1/2 inches. i had to have larger u bolts made and used the original lower plate/shock mount.