1999 Ranger missing SO many 4x4 parts? Help UPDATED

[Eric Walls]

I am very, extremely frustrated. I know basically zero about 4x4 system’s. Just bought a 99’ Ranger with the stupid vacuum actuated hubs etc. 3.0L 4-speed auto (with no reverse go figure)
So I crawl under the truck and the front passenger side axle isn’t there, even worse the long metal “tube” that is attached to the front differential on the passenger side is also gone, the front diff. Is just open on the passenger side with about 3-feet of open air where the metal tub should be. I also don’t see any of the Vacuum stuff underneath that should be there for the hubs to work I will post detail pictures tomorrow. I need help identifying what 4x4 components I’m missing? If I truly am missing as many pieces as it looks like, I’m gonna cut my losses. I’ll update this with Pic’s tomorrow

 

[Eric Walls]

Some undercarriage pic’s as promised. Any help or Guidance on what 4x4 parts are missing and what I should order to get my 4x4 working.
probably will do Manual locking hubs, as I dont want to troubleshoot the vacuum hub system. Thanks

 

[Eric Walls]

Edit: Front passenger side axle is gone, an the front Differential on the passenger side is open an leaking Diff? Fluid out the open end.
looks like the front “prop” shaft. / front drive shaft is also completely gone.
No idea the condition or functionality of the front Hub’s, or if there still the stock hub’s.

 

[RonD]

Welcome to TRS

Good page to bookmark here: https://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/index.shtml

Lots of articles on Ranger info and repairs

1999 Ranger will have Dana 35 SLA front drive system, seen here: https://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/dana_35_sla.shtml

Used from 1998 to 2011 in Rangers
1998-2000 used different axles and wheel hubs
2001-2011 just had the axles bolted to wheel hubs, so always locked, called Live Axle

If it still has PVH(pulse vacuum hubs) they will look like this: https://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Apr04/offroad.shtml

Manual hubs for 1998-2000 look like this: https://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/AVM_hub_swap.shtml

The 1998-2011 front driveshafts are the same so replacement should be easy to find, the front drive shaft is the same length, regardless of regular cab or extended cab

And both front axles are available new, or used

car-part.com is a good place to search for used Ranger parts, uses your Zipcode to find parts in your area


Hard to say what the previous owner was doing as far as why he was removing parts
Propeller joint was a known issue so that may be why front drive shaft was removed, but with unlocked hubs and transfer case in 2WD front driveshaft wouldn't be spinning so????

Front axle could have been failed CV joint but if that wheels hub was unlocked and front drive shaft was removed then there would be no reason to remove it?????

There may be more issues, but this may also have been a "parts truck", he removed these parts, and other parts, to use on another Ranger and then sold it "as is"



Does the electric 4WD system work?
Can you shift into 4high and 4low, won't hurt anything to try that
You should hear a relay behind the radio "click" when you turn the dash board switch, and hear the shift motor turning

Flashing 4WD lights when you try to shift transfer case means the electric motor on the transfer case is not moving, which can just be a blown fuse in engine fuse box

No relay "click" can be blown fuse in cab fuse box or failed Relay Box, the dash switch never fails, and the 4x4 Controller(GEM module) also rarely had issues(1995 to 2000), possible just not as likely

 

[Eric Walls]

Welcome to TRS

Good page to bookmark here: https://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/index.shtml

Lots of articles on Ranger info and repairs

1999 Ranger will have Dana 35 SLA front drive system, seen here: https://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/dana_35_sla.shtml

Used from 1998 to 2011 in Rangers
1998-2000 used different axles and wheel hubs
2001-2011 just had the axles bolted to wheel hubs, so always locked, called Live Axle

If it still has PVH(pulse vacuum hubs) they will look like this: https://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Apr04/offroad.shtml

Manual hubs for 1998-2000 look like this: https://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/AVM_hub_swap.shtml

The 1998-2011 front driveshafts are the same so replacement should be easy to find, the front drive shaft is the same length, regardless of regular cab or extended cab

And both front axles are available new, or used

car-part.com is a good place to search for used Ranger parts, uses your Zipcode to find parts in your area


Hard to say what the previous owner was doing as far as why he was removing parts
Propeller joint was a known issue so that may be why front drive shaft was removed, but with unlocked hubs and transfer case in 2WD front driveshaft wouldn't be spinning so????

Front axle could have been failed CV joint but if that wheels hub was unlocked and front drive shaft was removed then there would be no reason to remove it?????

There may be more issues, but this may also have been a "parts truck", he removed these parts, and other parts, to use on another Ranger and then sold it "as is"



Does the electric 4WD system work?
Can you shift into 4high and 4low, won't hurt anything to try that
You should hear a relay behind the radio "click" when you turn the dash board switch, and hear the shift motor turning

Flashing 4WD lights when you try to shift transfer case means the electric motor on the transfer case is not moving, which can just be a blown fuse in engine fuse box

No relay "click" can be blown fuse in cab fuse box or failed Relay Box, the dash switch never fails, and the 4x4 Controller(GEM module) also rarely had issues(1995 to 2000), possible just not as likely

Thank you so much! Currently discovering new things by the day.
the front passenger side (same side with missing cv axle) has no hub at all, it’s just open air where the vacuum hub should be.

 

[RonD]

Many decided to change PVH to Live Axle just to get rid of any hubs, auto or manual, one less thing to break, lol

Article here on doing that: https://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/99hubswap.shtml

Price it out and weigh the options

Issue is also, does the front differential work, and does the transfer case work?

 

[dvdswan]

Welcome to the site.

 

[planeflyer21]

I went through the hassle of replacing the vacuum hubs once. The new ones stopped working after only a few months.

After reading through all the pages on the links provided to you by RonD, I opted to go with the later live-axle setup. Not too difficult.

Now I have 4 wheel drive when I engage it, no issue with leaks, no wondering why I can't climb a tiny little hill.

Live-axle is my suggestion. Ford ditched the vacuum hubs for a reason.