Bronco rear housing

[DSRacing]

Does anyone know what the stock rear housing and spline count is for an early 1990 1990 fullsize Bronco. I'm not absolutely positive but I'm assuming it's an 8.8 inch housing with 31 spline axles.

I'm looking to buy one for as a project and apparently the spider gears in the diff have been welded together. If I buy it, then I want to switch it out for a Detroit locker ASAP. I'm sure someone on here will know.

[Bajajt12]

i know it is 8.8, but am not sure of the spline count.

JT

[SimonSays]

full size should be a 31spline..

[DSRacing]

Thanks for the info.

[johnowhite]

DSR - There may be another way to go....You might be able to take an Explorer rear end, with disk brakes (95+), posi and close to the right ratio and swap it. The ranger website has the numbers and details...I did this with a 2001 ranger. It might work with your bronco.....

[DSRacing]

DSR - There may be another way to go....You might be able to take an Explorer rear end, with disk brakes (95+), posi and close to the right ratio and swap it. The ranger website has the numbers and details...I did this with a 2001 ranger. It might work with your bronco.....

I would think the 8.8 out of an Explorer would be too narrow for a fullsize Bronco? I haven't bought the truck yet, I'm going to go look at it tomorrow. If I do buy it, I have a few options available to me and was thinking the easiest solution would be to simply switch out the welded diff for a locker. If nothing else is torn up inside the housing.

[dezertdude]

An explorer 8.8 will not work under a bronco. no way.

why not go 9"? I would'nt put ANY money into an 8.8 unless it was a gear set in a street queen.

[DSRacing]

The truck will be for slow speed pre-running, and a parts/chase vehicle. Maybe some mild suspension mods and maybe fiberglass in the future but nothing extreme. (famous last words) The 8.8 should be fine for it's intended purpose.

[jgbjgb]

An explorer 8.8 will not work under a bronco. no way.

why not go 9"? I would'nt put ANY money into an 8.8 unless it was a gear set in a street queen.


You sound like you have a bias against the 8.8. Is the 8.8 as strong as the 9 or others? No. But do not discount the 8.8.

A lot of Jeepers use the Ford Explorer 8.8, and these Jeeps are not street queens. I am still running the original 8.8 diff on my 96 F150 and I beat the crap out of my truck, it is definitely no street queen.

I am running 33" tires, 4.10 gears and a tuned (aggressive) Eaton Positraction LS with a LT set up.
If interested see pics on my profile page.

[fabnahorse]

I ran mine with a 31 spline Detroit, 4:56 US Gears, Yukon axles and a Crane diff cover without any issues for a couple of years. Once I started getting faster in the whoops, the spring purches compressed into the axle tubes, causing severe deformation. That is one of the true weak points of the 8.8. I would advise welding in some gussets to spread the load. It also bent (picture below) after a few healthy jumps, but it wasn't trussed. It actually took quite a bit of abuse with the good ol' Rancho suspension before it gave up.

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/523204/fullsize/p5290012.jpg