Explorer knuckle to ranger swap?

[dlevi2121]

Looked around on here can’t find a clear answer I have a 98 mountaineer V-8 AWD can I swap the front knuckles to my 98 ranger do they interchange or is more work needed?

 

[Ranger850]

Looked around on here can’t find a clear answer I have a 98 mountaineer V-8 AWD can I swap the front knuckles to my 98 ranger do they interchange or is more work needed?

What type of suspension is your Ranger? Coils or torsion bars? I have a 2wd 2001 Ranger Edge, and a 2000 awd Eddie Bauer Explorer for a donor, and all of it looks to be the same.

 

[pjtoledo]

the hubs bolted into the knuckles are different. the casting of the knuckles are the same, the Ranger knuckles are further machined for the vacuum hubs.
The explorer knuckles are not machined for vacuum hubs.
if you convert the ranger CVs/axles the Explorer live axles then you can use the knuckles.

there are significant differences between coil & torsion bar knuckles, the top hole and it's offset are the difference.

 

[dlevi2121]

I have the torsion bar on the ranger and I want to go to the explorer set up

 

[pjtoledo]

I edited my post. it was a bit unclear.

why, or rather, what is the goal of swapping the knuckles?
in the end, do you want the vacuum hubs or live hubs on the ranger?

we are assuming both Ranger and Explorer are 4wd/Awd correct?
they are both 11.25" front rotors,,,, correct?

if you just want live axles from the swap, put Explorer hubs into the Ranger knuckles and swap the CV/axle shafts.

 

[dlevi2121]

I’m swapping the 5.0 from the explorer in to the ranger and looking to go 5-speed AWD was looking for the difference in the knuckles to see if I can get a drop in the front and using the explorer rear on top of the springs that’s the end goal engine and transmission are done moving on to suspension now

 

[dlevi2121]

I’m swapping the 5.0 from the explorer in to the ranger and looking to go 5-speed AWD was looking for the difference in the knuckles to see if I can get a drop in the front and using the explorer rear on top of the springs that’s the end goal engine and transmission are done moving on to suspension now and yes the explorer is AWD the ranger is 4-wheel both have the same size brakes

 

[Innocent Fool]

I was looking at doing the exact same thing when v8 swapping from a 2001 Expo.
I stopped because it looks like some parts are different from 2001 Ranger 4x4 and 2001 Expo.

Main reason I was looking to swap was because I wanted the Expo torsion bars to go with the 5.0.
Everything "looks" the same but found out the Tie Rod ends on the Expo look to be larger and heavier duty. That's where I stopped to reassess.
Haven't decided if I really want to swap out all the running gear yet.