1989 RANGER XLT 4WD 5SP REAR END HAMMERING

[BUXTER]

Just bought this last week - "Clanked" so badly I just had it towed straight to shop after 100 yard test drive - I had shop gut the Front Auto Locks for future upgrade & help diagnosing the Hammering - Its definitely Rear End SLAMMING so hard WE THOUGHT it was Front End as the whole Truck hammers - What is hot setup for 'new" Rear End ____? - Again someone has been in Rear End previous & obviously failed miserably - I'll report on Diff Code fm Sticker.

 

[Curious Hound]

Depends on how you're going to use the truck. What are your goals? Would help to know what you have now - engine, transmission, differential gear ratio, tire size.

 

[Snoranger]

My advice is the same for anyone with a decent 2nd gen supercab... sign the title over to me and drop it off at my house.

 

[BUXTER]

AXLE CODE 86 from Door Sticker - SPRING CODE E F - 15 inch wheels - I'm sure there's a Code breakdown somewhere here on this GREAT Board - 2.9 Cologne V6 - 5 Speed - I'm a LONGtime Ford & Lincoln guy, have 5 on the road & a couple "projects" - Body was straight & a relatively rust free NC Truck, recent Clutch & full Brake system - 95K miles but surely rolled over - Price was right & it looked so sad I just could'nt just leave it sitting there...

 

[RonD]

Welcome to TRS

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

In axle section are the codes, seen here: https://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/axle_codes.shtml

86 is a 7.5" OPEN, with 3.73 ratio

You have to match ratio to front axle, on 4x4s

7.5" and 8.8" Ranger axles are interchangeable so you can use either, same drive shaft flange

Also the frames and mounting are the same from 1983 to 2011, but...........

In 1993 and up Rangers were 2" wider, so axles were 2" wider, same frame and mounts just wider body
So on your 1989, a 1993 and up rear axle would have the rear tires 1" farther out on each side

A limited slip(L/S) rear axle would a nice upgrade, 3.73 ratio of course, and it was the most common ratio on Rangers
7.5" or 8.8" doesn't matter

Rangers came with either 9" rear brakes or 10" same hoses and connections, try to get "new" axle with drums included

2010/11 Ranger had rear disc brakes, and can be used but some extra work is required with E-brake and hoses

 

[BUXTER]

Got the new wider 8 inch rear end with Drums installed thanx to the awesome info above - New Rear end just has flange... what where is correct U Joint seat for existing driveshaft ?

 

[RonD]

Old one should just have had a flange as well???

Rangers used 7.5" or 8.8" rear axle and both used 2.5" spaced flat flange hookup

"1310 Series Ford Flange Yoke to fit Ford 7.5 inch and 8.8 inch rear ends.
Designed for the SMALL Ford bolt pattern typically found on most Ford and Mustang 7.5 and 8.8 rear ends"

 

[4x4junkie]

There's a cutoff for the small pinion flange vs the larger flange (I think 1990, after which will be the larger flange). If you have 1310 u-joints, you should only need to swap the u-joint flange on the end of your driveshaft for the larger one to have it fit.

That said, this might be a good time for the '98+ one-piece driveshaft swap. If you can find a steel shaft from a '98-'00 truck, will have the correct ends on it to fit yours (assuming the rear axle you used is from a 1991 or later truck). Later aluminum one-piece shafts can be used too, but you will need to swap your t-case output flange for it to fit (get the one from the donor).

Lots of good info here:

One-Piece Rear Driveshaft Swap ('90-'97 4WD Supercab) - The Ranger Station

Extended Cab 4×4 Rangers used a two-piece rear driveshaft through 1997. In stock form, the only problem with the 2-piece shaft is that the rubber carrier bearing bushing can fall apart and need to be replaced. No biggie. However, Lifting … Continued

www.therangerstation.com

 

[BUXTER]

New 8.8 Rear Diff came with Pinion Flange for large U Joints - I bought what was supposed to be a "1986-2004 Mustang Ford Performance M-4851-C Pinion Flange for 8.8" Axle" BUT it has the same small spline as my old 7.5 Pinion Flange so it will not slide on the 8.8 Diff - It MAY be labeled wrong on Ebay OR did I buy wrong part to begin with____?? - Pic attached - What Pinion Flange PN do I need to be buying to mate 8.8 Diff Spline to SMALL U Joints___? - TIA

 

[4x4junkie]

AFAIK all 8.8" pinion splines are the same, so I'm thinking it was listed wrong.

What U-joints do you have? (1210 or 1310-series)? If 1310, you don't need to change the pinion flange, you just need to swap the driveshaft flange (unfortunately I don't have a PN# handy... anyone else?). Any 1991-1997 Ranger should have the part you need on the rear driveshaft.


If you have 1210 joints though, you'll likely have to drill & tap the pinion flange since no conversion parts are available that I know of to mate a 1210 to a 8.8".

See here:

8.8 in a first gen 2.3L

I mentioned this in my driveshaft post in the General Discussion forum, but I wanted to ask here as well since it's axle related. I read something in the tech library about pre 1990 driveshafts not working with the Explorer 8.8" axle. Pre-1990 Ranger Driveshafts Will Not Bolt Directly Up To...

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