Axle Swap
#1
Axle Swap
Hey guys,
I am faced with a perplexing problem. I got in my truck the other morning to hear and feel some clanking in the rear end. After inspection I have learned that somehow the whole rear end is fried meaning ring, pinion and planetary's. I have a 99 ranger 4x4 with 3.0 sitting on 33's with all stock suspension. I have figured out that I have a 3.73 ratio with 7.5 ring. Thing is I want to make this beefier. I want to go to a 4.10 rear end but am concerned about when I put the truck into 4wd will this mess up the front end at all? Hell most of the time I don't get to put it in 4wd. None the less is this feasible. It also seems that doing a full axle swap not just removing and replacing gears but actually swapping the housing complete is going to be easiest for me. I plan to do it this weekend. Thanks for any help. By the way anyone know where I can get a used axle in SO Cal at all. I have had no luck at all.
I am faced with a perplexing problem. I got in my truck the other morning to hear and feel some clanking in the rear end. After inspection I have learned that somehow the whole rear end is fried meaning ring, pinion and planetary's. I have a 99 ranger 4x4 with 3.0 sitting on 33's with all stock suspension. I have figured out that I have a 3.73 ratio with 7.5 ring. Thing is I want to make this beefier. I want to go to a 4.10 rear end but am concerned about when I put the truck into 4wd will this mess up the front end at all? Hell most of the time I don't get to put it in 4wd. None the less is this feasible. It also seems that doing a full axle swap not just removing and replacing gears but actually swapping the housing complete is going to be easiest for me. I plan to do it this weekend. Thanks for any help. By the way anyone know where I can get a used axle in SO Cal at all. I have had no luck at all.
#2
lets see to start with Ide get a ford 8.8 axle out of an explorer with disc brakes. tehy also come with 31 spline axles which are the strongest, the only think that you will have to change is the leaf spring perches because exploders are sprung under axles and rangers are sprung over axles. all that requires though is the cutting off the old perches and reweld some new perches on and some new shock towers which also isnt bad because that give you an excuse to relocate them and get more droop!
#3
#4
Hey guys thanks for the responses. I will be searching out the 8.8 hopefully it is available at a relatively good price. Is there any advice one might have on getting the axle to line up properly? I would hate to put in a good axle and wind up with some driveline problems down the road. I am figuring on just making good measurements.
#10
#11
#12
Well the axle swap went really well surprisingly after getting the wrong one and going back to get the right one. I swapped it out in about 5hrs. I have a remaining problem when I give it too much gas or too much torque is applied to the drive line. I am hearing u-joint noise going in reverse and in first. Has anyone done anything to beef up their driveline? I am just wondering if there is any sort of beefier u-joint or driveline available. Thanks for any and all help.
#13
Originally Posted by ranger_addict
I am hearing u-joint noise going in reverse and in first. Has anyone done anything to beef up their driveline? I am just wondering if there is any sort of beefier u-joint or driveline available. Thanks for any and all help.
If it's a rumble instead of a clank, you may have a problem with the pinion angle.
Last edited by V8 Level II; 03-01-2005 at 10:20 AM.
#15
#16
Originally Posted by ranger_addict
I should clarify this is not a new noise and I did not just change gears I did a whole axle swap. It was making this noise before I did the axle swap. I am pretty sure of myself on the bad u joints
#18
#20
Originally Posted by TheForce02
brent where did you get the axle? i live right near you and would love to get an 8.8 in my truck
Last edited by rngprerunner; 03-01-2005 at 02:27 PM.
#21
Originally Posted by TheForce02
brent where did you get the axle? i live right near you and would love to get an 8.8 in my truck
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