Late model 35 ttb knuckle on early model 35 ttb

Nerdrage88 · Mar 4, 2016

Sorry if this has been asked before but does anyone know if you can put any Dana 35 knuckle on any Dana 35 (ttb or straight axle) the reason I ask is because of the later ttb brakes are quite the update and haven't seen anything on swapping knuckles to allow better brakes on a early ttb that originally came with those stupid pins and single piston caliper.

Off subject but speaking of brake supposedly mustang disc brakes fit 28 splin 8.8 in a snap but not the 31 spline and was wondering if I could take the flanges off a 28 spline and put it on a 31 spline housing and then do the mustang disk swap. Maybe I'm treading new ground because I haven't seen any of the sort (the reason why I bother is because I'm planning a n buying a first gen explore for parts on my b2 project and don't want to do to much peacing parts besides a few thing like brake updates that are newer than even the first gen ex vs b2) and I'm not a fan of those drum brake parking things.

Thanks

Wayne

85_Ranger4x4 · Mar 4, 2016

I have heard you can just switch knuckles and of course the brakes, never done it though.

4x4junkie · Mar 4, 2016

×2, it is my understanding the knuckles will swap. I think there might be a difference where the steering stop hits though (not sure how this will affect things), the later knuckles I remember having adjustable stops.

cammeddrz · Mar 4, 2016

Nerdrage88 said:
Dana 35 (ttb or straight axle)

I don't believe I've ever seen a front D35 that wasn't TTB.

Rear jeep? Sure. But no front 35 in a straight axle configuration

Nerdrage88 · Mar 4, 2016

Maybe it was a rear axle for the straight axle Dana 35. I have read that lockers with fit ether.

Even if the wheel stops are different (witch they probably are) I'm sure it wouldn't be to difficult to modify if it were to affect the swap in any way.

Kirby N. · Mar 5, 2016

Yes many jeeps came with the rear straight axle low pinion 35. Those are notorious for easily bent housings and easily broke axle shafts. The lockers will fit either, though the provisions for c clips aren't used for the front typically. I guess you may be able to retain the passenger one if you used a rear locker for the front?

I have ran a couple used heep rear lockers in a front ttb. I found them cheap when guys Grenaded the rest of their rear axles. Of course I ended up grenading mine too.

To the rear disk question- I found that the drum 31 spline 8.8s have a smaller spacing from the housing bearing flange to the wms than disk setups. This makes it difficult to convert to disks. This has been overcome with washers (I think a 1/8" wheel spacer under the disk would be the best option) or some machining. Check out my build thread to see how I finally got it done.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

85_Ranger4x4 · Mar 5, 2016

cammeddrz said:
I don't believe I've ever seen a front D35 that wasn't TTB.

Rear jeep? Sure. But no front 35 in a straight axle configuration

4wd 95+ Explorers and 98+ Rangers have a very different D35 lurking in the front end.

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/dana_35_sla.shtml

And the Jeep D35 has a carrier split on the gearing. IIRC it has to be a 3.55 or deeper carrier to work on a RBV TTB housing.

Nerdrage88 · Mar 5, 2016

85_Ranger4x4 said:
4wd 95+ Explorers and 98+ Rangers have a very different D35 lurking in the front end.

I know this to be correct. They have ifs as in uper and lower control arms and CV axles. I was contiplating getting a 95-97 ttb from a ranger just for the updated brakes but that would defeat the purpose of buying a parts truck with 95% of the things I need thus not needing to piece things together with the exception of a few thing.

Sorry if I confused anyone about the straight Dana 35 being a front axle, for some reason thought there was, some people use lockers intended for that axle in a 35 ttb.

Nerdrage88 · Mar 22, 2016

So without starting a new thread and probably have been asked.

If the ranger 28 spline 8.8 is narrower than the explore 31 spline 8.8 then is the ttb 35 different widths also?

So if I were to leave to 7.5 and put a 95-97 35 ttb they should be close to the same width? I'm thinking killing two birds with one stone and less work. Put in the 35 the with the upgraded brakes on it already.

Just a shot in the dark but if there is a difference in width it's the knuckle correct? And there is nothing to compare similar years because by then the ex started with independent not ttb.

For now I'm not going for the strength I'm going for the brakes and the ability for slightly lower gears and lockers. The way I'm set up I won't brake what I got but would like lower gears because my tires a 235s and I came stock with 205s so the gears will help. Since I don't need the strength I'll be leaving the 7.5 and just do the mustang disk brake upgrade (according the the tech artical about it, it's snap, as mentioned earlier).

85_Ranger4x4 · Mar 22, 2016

Rangers got wider too in '93 IIRC so you are still going to be off.

I am curious how it is going to play out with my '95 D35 and my Explorer 8.8. It will be better than my D28 and 8.8 how it sits now but I am curious how much better.

Nerdrage88 · Mar 22, 2016

Hmmm so I might be better off with the 8.8 of 93 + and 95 + ranger AT MINIMUM preferably both of the same 95-97 ranger.

Again im looking for the brake options and not necessarily the strengths. I shouldn't brake those axles with the tires I got even when I do lockers.

I know the ranger 8.8 is only 28 spline but I can do the same bakes on the ranger 8.8 as with the 7.5.

85_Ranger4x4 · Mar 22, 2016

They didn't match originally so you won't be able to get them to match dead nuts perfect no matter what you do.

Nerdrage88 · Mar 22, 2016

Oh OK so no biggy. My front tires rub on the sway bar and was hoping the d35 was a little wider so I don't have to buy all 5 new wheels. Just the one steel one with one that matches the stock aluminum ones. From what I understand it is.

Do they even make 28 spline Lockrs of any type? I'm planning on air front and rear because my b2 is my dd and I rather not deal with the qwarks that auto lockers have and it snows where I live. from all the reading I have done they aren't the safest.

4x4junkie · Mar 22, 2016

All D28 TTB axles are 58" wide (not to include the so-called D28/35 hybrid axle)
All D35 TTB axles are 59.5" wide (including the D28/35 hybrid axle)
All Ranger rear axles '83-'92 are 56.5" wide
All Ranger rear axles '93-'11 are 58.5" wide
All Explorer 8.8" axles '91-'01 are 59.5" wide.

8.8" 28 spline lockers are fairly plentiful, but 7.5" lockers are fewer (the Detroit Locker is available for a 7.5", but much of the rest are lunchbox (drop-in) types... no selectable types that I know of).

I do believe the brake backing plates are interchangeable between Ranger 7.5s and 8.8s, so any brake swaps should be doable either way as well.

Nerdrage88 · Mar 22, 2016

Bingo exactly what I was looking for. That post in itself should be a sticky. So it looks like I can get all the stuff I need from a 95-97 ranger. From the trans back with mustang rear disc brakes.

Not part of this post exactly but I think I'm going to keep the 2.9 but m5od bw1354 front d35 rear 8.8 front drive shaft and modified rear drive shaft unless the one I got will work but I think the ranger is completely different. it should be 900 times easier and cheaper just to use the ranger one.

So I guess you could call it a resto-mod since the d2 is pretty much a short first gen ranger to begin with. Ok now I'm rambling

Anywho thanks for the help I think I know what direction to take with my resto-mod.

Late model 35 ttb knuckle on early model 35 ttb

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