Anyone experienced your pumpkin rolling???

[micah jackson]

Just picked up a 97 Ranger 4x4. There is a thump when you hit the throttle. Upon investigation we found that the rear diff actually rolls back when you blip the throttle. We asked around and found this condition is not unheard of with Rangers. We were told that it could be weakened leaf springs. I installed and "Superior" add-a-leaf and it still seems to be rolling. Anyone else experience this condition? The Truck has 170,000.

 

[CHKNFKR]

Its called axle wrap. If you've got blocks ditch them. See if it makes any improvement.

 

[Captain Ledd]

Its called axle wrap. If you've got blocks ditch them. See if it makes any improvement.

x2 on the axle wrap. Though ditching 2" of your suspension will make the truck sit kinda weird.

Look for what's called "traction bars", the kind with a shackle on the end are the best, though there's plenty of others out there that will still work. That's generally the easiest cure for axle wrap.

*edit:

The other thing it could be is the spot welds failing on the housing, they've been known to tear loose from the tubes. Though that's generally in high power, high torque, and high traction situations.

 

[CHKNFKR]

He could ditch the block and swap in belltech shackles to regain the height.

Traction bars would certainly do the trick but would cost a hair more.

 

[straycat]

Just use a good set of lift leaf springs at the rear and you won't have any worries. Several types of leafs springs are available for your Ranger. You won't have that issue again, Bro. I never had it on any of my Jeeps or trucks.

Good luck.

 

[racsan]

i used chain with the same concept in mind as a traction bar, when going forward the force on the chain is a "pull" so it really doesnt matter if its solid rod or chain. made a bracket that attaches on top of the axle between the U-bolts for the axle attachment point, for the forward attachment point i took some angle iron, added a small peice of metal as a brace in the middle of it and it bolts to the backside of the front spring hangers. (did this while doing a front spring hanger replacement.) at the front is a threaded eye so i can draw up the tension on it. does make the rear suspension a little stiffer, but no axle wrap!

my first attempts at this used a beam clamp to the rear of the front spring hanger, it worked bout would bend the hanger. i also had a issue with the eye attachment point at the axle break. i now use a quick-link to attach the chain to the axle end instead of the lifting eye i used, and with the seperate peice of steel as the front attachment point things seem to be staying together well. lst i knew the james duff traction bar kit was somewhere around $100. ive not kept track of what ive spent with my chain setup, but im sure it would be way under. most of what i used i had laying around, only bought the thresded eye ends and quick links new.

 

[59bisquik]

Just use a good set of lift leaf springs at the rear and you won't have any worries.

I run 4" Skyjacker leaf springs on the back and have quite a bit of axle wrap. I ended up adding a traction bar to stop the axle wrap. Without the traction bar, its almost undrivable from the wrap and vibration.

 

[holyford86]

63" Chevy leaves and my axlewrap is really bad. Thinking about trying out the "Bam Bar" setup.

 

[mp3deviant721]

Mine "thumps" when you hit the throttle hard. Wanna know my free fix for this? Don't hit the throttle hard. It'll save you from hearing the noise and keep your fuel economy up.

 

[bobbywalter]

Mine "thumps" when you hit the throttle hard. Wanna know my free fix for this? Don't hit the throttle hard. It'll save you from hearing the noise and keep your fuel economy up.

i have spun the tubes in the pumpkin as well and not realized it for a spell.

i have had various traction bar setups including the chain....still use chain on engine/trans situations, but the long links seem to work the best for all around use. running 150 springs with a sploder main works ok, but i dont have much hp these days either.

 

[59bisquik]

Do a google search for Sams Offroad Bar. I cloned one of those and works very well.

Bobby,
I too have spun a tube in my 8.8. I now run a truss and welded the tubes!