Anytime! 
differential swap
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 400
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From: South Texas
differential swap
I am planning to get a front and rear end out of an explorer so I can run 33's on my 85 bronco. Does anyone know what year explorer would require the least modification and is there one that is a direct bolt in? 
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Best years to get them from is from a 91-94 Explorer. The rear 8.8 axles in 95-97 are rear disc brakes and not drums. The rear disc will require more mods. Get the rear drums because it will still be considered an axle and a brake upgrade(larger drums=better braking)with little modifications. The closest thing you can find to a direct bolt in, is a Dana 35 axle (same type of front axle in an Explorer)from a 90 Bronco II. Besides that you will require slight modifications to both the front and rear axles.
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Originally Posted by appo
Wolfpax: Would the explorer rearend you mentioned also be a dana 35
like the front axle of the 90 B2? Or do you need to get both front and
rear upgrades from the explorer or both from the 90 B2?
like the front axle of the 90 B2? Or do you need to get both front and
rear upgrades from the explorer or both from the 90 B2?
The Explorer rear axle is a Ford 8.8 axle. Some 90 BroncoIIs come with the Dana 35 so you have to make sure if your s has one or not.
Look under the front axle and tell me how much bolts you have in the front of the pumpkin. Also are there any fins running along the bottom of the front pumpkin?
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 400
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From: South Texas
I think I found me some new differentials. I found a '92 explorer 4x4 wrecked. the front and rear look to be in good condition and the guy wants 300 bucks for the pair. The rear is the 8.8 but I couldn't find a tag on the front. Is there suposed to be a casting on the axle tube or somewhere I should look to identify it. Am I correct to assume that explorers of that year came with the dana 35. Thanks for the help.
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Yes all Explorers come with Dana 35 TTB front axles. you can either look on the door sticker for the axle code or look somewhere on the pumpkin itself of the differential. There is supposed to be a tag with reference numbers on it.