1988 ranger STX axle swap 4WD

[Malakav]

Hey all my pinion gears in my front axle are shot bad. What vehicle would have the same front axle that I can just swap it out with? looking in the salvage yards was wondering if anyone had a list. Also is an STX would that matter? I just wants the easiest swappable one.
Any help apriecaited

 

[86 slo-vo]

find a first gen explorer...should be an upgrade from your d28 to a 35

 

[Malakav]

Does it take any modification? what years are first gen? What about a bronco II 88-90 axle? Just want the easiest swap.

 

[stegomon]

from 1983-1989 ranger or bronco 2 will have the dana 28 that you have. that will bolt right up....if you are just looking for the front pumpkin that will what you want to look for.

but if you want the whole front end ..as in axles rotors hubs i beams yada yada. you really want the dana 35 from any late 1990-1997 ranger or 91-94 or first gen exploder. some 90 bronco 2s do have a dana 35.

the dana 35 will bolt right up BUT you will need to make your front drive shaft shorter by 1 inch. and you need a new driver side inner tie rod.

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[AllanD]

any Dana28 front axle from 1983 through the end of November 1989 (1990 model year) Ranger or bronco2 axle is essentially identical to your axle with no material changes.

a 12-89 (1990 model year) to 1992 RANGER (up to 1994 on Explorer) front axle will require some minor changes
(steering linkage and driveshaft modification) to fit but the larger Dana35 front axle uses larger shafts and axle u-joints and is far more "robust".

If you get the complete steering linkage with the donor axle the steering is a non-issue.

a 1992-1994 Ranger Axle MAY be a "hybred" which is essentially a d35 housing and OUTER shafts with D28 internal parts but is otherwise the same

THE axle to go for and deal with the changes is the 1995-97 Ranger front axle. This may or may not be a Hybred (it won't be if your donor is a 4.0 truck or any
Ranger with 3.73 gears) but for the extra work of that driveshaft modification AND the additional burden of replacing both front brake soft lines will gain you the later (superior) two-piston brake calipers and interchangeability on calipers and pads up to 2003.

Why go the simple route of simply "Replacing" when for a little more you can improve or upgrade at the same time?

BTW on a ranger 1988 or earlier you wantthe "ABS" style front soft lines that are specificed for 1995-97, if you had an '88-94 you'd specifically need the 1997 Non-ABS front brake hoses.

Frankly I consider retrofitting the two-piston brakes to my 1987 supercab THE best thing I've ever done to my truck.

And considering I've also converted my truck from 2wd to 4x4, added additional fuel tanks AND swapped in a 4.0 engine that is saying an awful lot more than it would at first appear.

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