New Member from Milwaukee, WI

[Danno1985]

Greetings,
Recently picked up my first Ranger, a 2010 XLT 2.3L/5-speed/2wd with 77k on the clock. My last two trucks were older Yotas, but my family was always a "Ford house" growing up, so the Ranger feels like an old friend. Didn't really see myself getting a 4cyl nor a 2wd, but this one just felt great and really won me over with the 5-speed and how clean it was for a local truck.

So far, with winter nearly upon us, I've replaced the stock tiny all-season tires with 235/75r15 Blizzak DM-V2s for winter. It definitely improved the stance a bit, but I'm spoiled by how much higher my Tacoma sat, so I'll probably be looking at a mild level/lift, maybe a (gasp) body lift so I can clear 31" all-terrains without them looking stuffed. Last owner installed an AirLift air suspension in that back - that's cool; definitely something I would've looked into myself. I also put a 2004-5 mesh grille on, and have Fluid-Filmed the crap out of the undercarriage, rockers and cab corners in preparation for "road salt season." Otherwise, I plan on just enjoying this thing for many miles and years.

 

[pjtoledo]

great looking truck.

there is a point of interest, your rear axle is an 8.8 with disk brakes and big bearings? the internal carrier is only 28 splines. some see the big bearings and think it's 31 splines.

 

[Danno1985]

Huh. I guess I had assumed it was a 7.5" but I'm gonna have to take a look under there later. Seems like there'd be more options if, say I wanted to add a locker if it were an 8.8" yeah? Honestly, I was surprised to see disc brakes in the back - that's a nice bonus.

 

[Ranger850]

It sure is black

 

[pjtoledo]

Huh. I guess I had assumed it was a 7.5" but I'm gonna have to take a look under there later. Seems like there'd be more options if, say I wanted to add a locker if it were an 8.8" yeah? Honestly, I was surprised to see disc brakes in the back - that's a nice bonus.

probably should check what it actually is. when roll stability came out the rear end changed to 8.8 with disk brakes. I pulled one from a 2010 at a yard a couple years ago thinking I scored because it had the big Explorer sized outer bearings, then found it was only 28 splines.

 

[19Walt93]

Rear disc brakes didn't appear until 2011.In my opinion they're useless,if you're braking hard all the weight is on the front wheels.The 2004 I had used rear drums that I removed once a year for state inspection and to dump out the dust,I disassemble the rear discs on my 11 once a year,grind the rust off the rotors and slide points,and lube all the slides or they freeze up.NH road salt doesn't help a thing.The rear discs and traction control almost convinced me to keep my 2004.

 

[Danno1985]

Rear disc brakes didn't appear until 2011.In my opinion they're useless,if you're braking hard all the weight is on the front wheels.The 2004 I had used rear drums that I removed once a year for state inspection and to dump out the dust,I disassemble the rear discs on my 11 once a year,grind the rust off the rotors and slide points,and lube all the slides or they freeze up.NH road salt doesn't help a thing.The rear discs and traction control almost convinced me to keep my 2004.

Hmm. Mine was sold as a 2010 but maybe it's a 2011 MY; I'll have to check the build date. It definitely has discs though... and, yeah. I'd be inclined to agree with you about the rear discs, that's why I was surprised to see them on this truck. It always makes me laugh when car reviewers complain about the new Tacoma or whatever still having outdated drum brakes in the back, but with so little weight in the back there's just no reason for them.

So far I've driven through one "snow event", thanks to the Blizzaks I never noticed the traction control kicking in, but yeah, I remember how annoyingly heavy-handed that system was in my Crown Vic.

 

[19Walt93]

To add insult to injury,they didn't use the Explorer rear disc setup that was used from 95-01 and would have fit,they designed a new system from scratch for one model year.Ford engineers don't talk to other design teams,we had a parts & service meeting with a Ranger engineer after the pulse vacuum hub system came out(98,I think) and I asked why they didn't just use the Explorer IFS 4x4 system instead of that rube goldberg design.He said he didn't know anything about Explorers.Dealer techs and service managers are expected to be familiar with all the products so we can fix the stuff they dream up.