Front end upgrade? Repair?

[1990 Ranger]

I have a 1990 4x4 Ranger that only the right side will engage when I put it in 4-wheel drive, and there is a grinding sound in the front when I engage the front end. I have the opportunity to purchase a 1998 complete front end - would that bolt up? Or, if anyone has any ideas how to get the left side to engage, I would be willing to go that direction. Thanks for any help with this.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I have a 1990 4x4 Ranger that only the right side will engage when I put it in 4-wheel drive, and there is a grinding sound in the front when I engage the front end. I have the opportunity to purchase a 1998 complete front end - would that bolt up? Or, if anyone has any ideas how to get the left side to engage, I would be willing to go that direction. Thanks for any help with this.

The 98 is a torsion bar setup with vacuum hubs. Not even close to a bolt in and a massive step backwards from your TTB and manual hubs.

To me it sounds like its just a bad hub on the side that dont engage

 

[scotts90ranger]

Yeah, that, you need a '90 through '97 to be interchangeable, you can include '91-94 Explorers as well

 

[1990 Ranger]

Thanks - it's strange, but when I look down the side of the truck the left side tire sticks out a little farther than the right side. Is there something that might cause the axle to not be fully engaging at the differential? I replaced the automatic hubs with manual ones, thinking that would fix the problem, and put in new wheel bearings (which addressed another problem), but it didn't fix the 4-wheel drive issue. As long as I don't engage it into 4-wheel drive it works fine. Any ideas of where I should go next?

 

[1990 Ranger]

Yeah, that, you need a '90 through '97 to be interchangeable, you can include '91-94 Explorers as well

Thanks - you saved me $125!

 

[Ranger850]

the left side tire sticks out a little farther than the right side

Front or back or both?
I've heard that he rear diff on some Rangers is not centered. Maybe the rear end has been swapped at some point

 

[1990 Ranger]

Front or back or both?
I've heard that he rear diff on some Rangers is not centered. Maybe the rear end has been swapped at some point

It's just in the front on the left side ! The side that doesn't engage when I put it in 4-wheel drive. And I bought it well-used, so who knows what all has been done with it!

 

[scotts90ranger]

The only thing that would make the drivers side stick out a little more would be a bent pivot bracket somehow, unless the body is offset to one side which would be easy to do...

Are the U joints in the front diff intact? Need to find out where the issue is, put the transfer case in neutral and lock both hubs then crawl underneath and turn the front driveshaft and see what isn't turning or where there is slop... If I was closer I'd check it out but I'm on the other side of the state...

 

[1990 Ranger]

I will give that a try - really appreciate your help!

 

[SenorNoob]

I second the body being off. I know mine is. It's weird to look at. Front sticks out one side and the rear on the other.

 

[1990 Ranger]

It's funny that the rear appears to be okay, but the front might be bent. It also might be a red herring, so I think that is the problem (being bent) when something else is going on inside. I'll hopefully have some time next week to jack it up and take a closer look at the underside.