Ford owns 33.9 % of mazda. Ford-mazda is a joint venture called Auto Alliance. It wouldn't do ford or mazda anygood financially to change all that.
Anyway I'm rambling on here, It is the same rearend. But did 92 have disc brakes? I would try and get a 96+ for the disc brakes.

 

^x2 Great idea get the 31 spline axles and the disc brakes.

 

so 96+ has 31 spline axles.
Dang after I just pulled the cover off and discovered it has a posi.

But I'm running 33's and don't plan on going bigger if I do it will be 35's I should be okay right?

 

And yes I wanna go discs brakes back there to. What do I pull them off? a exploder I take it and get a adjustable proportion valve.

 

From The research I have done, you want a 96+ explorer rearend. Also some of the explorer's had 4.10 gears. Some had a limited slip, which you would have to change to go locker. But I think the 4x4's had the 4.10 LS option.
I had no idea they had bigger spline axles in 96+ learn something new everyday.
This is my next mod after I get my SYE. You can get a 8.8 at a junkyard pretty cheap.

Oh, yea i have read you can use the explorer proportioning valve. Dont know if this true or not.

I don't know if a drum brake rear end has the hubs as a disc brake hub. And also the bracketry for the disc brakes.

 

it is a ford 8.8, mazda is owned by ford...

i say run it, if the gearing is really 3.73 they i say scrap it a ranger 4 cylinder will have a 4.10 and can be found real easy!

 

Not sure what you were trying to say about the ranger. The ranger axle is close to the Explorer, but from what I've read it isn't as strong.

The Ranger axle is rated at 2750 lbs

The Explorer axle is rated at 3200 lbs

 

Alright ripped it apart Clutches are in crappy shape. So I got new ones from ford.
Confirmed its a 31 spline so I'm all set. just need to regear to 4.10's