2001 Ranger Front Diff ?

[Sierra Valley]

I have some type of noise coming out of my front end and am not fully sure what it is. It is a steady humming while the rig is moving, so wanted to check the differential. I want to know if the front diff cover will slide out if I unbolt it? Looks pretty tight with the crossmember right in front of it. Looks like I might be able to slide it to the passenger side to get out. Anybody know if this is a PITA?

Thanks

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

The differential needs to be removed from the truck to remove the cover to inspect the guts. Sounds more like you might have a wheel bearing issue to me tho.

 

[hondaxr650]

I vote for wheel bearing too. They are a common failure on those trucks.

 

[richlands55]

While driving the truck, move steering wheel slightly from side to side, noise should change or go away. Also jack front of truck up and check for play in either front wheel. If either cond. exsists, you do have a bad bearing.

 

[rickf92592]

I have some type of noise coming out of my front end and am not fully sure what it is.

 

[JohnnyO]

I vote for wheel bearing too. They are a common failure on those trucks.

Dittos. That would be the first thing I'd look at. Late-model wheel bearings are not serviceable, you just replace them.

 

[Sierra Valley]

Thanks guys. I was hoping it was a wheel bearing as well as the noise appears to be coming from the driverside. I have jacked the wheels up and didnt feel any real play in the tires. Ill tear into it and see what I find.

So you seriously have to drop the whole diff to get the cover off? WTF is up with that? How does one change the diff fluid on the front axle?

Sorry Im not to hip with this IFS stuff. This is my daily driver and I have never really had to wrench on it till as of late. Just replaced the clutch in it a few weeks ago. Thing is starting to fall apart, I also have a really bad binding noise in the transfer case when I engage 4wd and take off from a stop position. So gotta pull that apart as well.

Thanks for the help fellas.

 

[Sierra Valley]

Hey funny guy. You figure out where the noise is coming from when your driving down the road. Makes no noise when parked.

 

[exbass94]

You change front diff fluid the same way you do it the older TTB trucks: get a siphon pump and suck the old fluid out through the fill plug. Stupid, I know.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Or you take it upon yourself to do what ford should have done.....drill and tap a hole in the bottom of the aluminum diff housing and install a drain plug.

 

[Sierra Valley]

Ya pretty piss poor design. Seems they could have notched that crossmember so you could slide it out.

On another note what size spindle socket is that spindle nut? From searching it looks like maybe 32 ml or inch 1/4? I tried 1 1/4 but wasnt deep enough. Before I go buy one anybody know forsure? Bearing seems to be firm from what I can see so far, no excesive play. Gonna pull it anyways. Sure hope its not the diff.


Also in the middle of dropping the tcase. Fun day.

 

[Sierra Valley]

1 1/4 deep socket worked for the spindle nut. Pulled the wheel bearing and it seemed to be pretty solid for the most part, felt a lil ruff when you spin it but nothing major. I know its not serviceable but we did grease it up with some CTM grease where the abs sensor goes and it seemed to spin smoother after that. Havent got to check it yet since I ended up dropping the t case and pulling it apart. Have had some wierd binding noises coming from it when I engage the 4wheel drive. Once it was cracked you could see where the chain had been rubbing on the plastic piece that changes your 2wd to 4wd. So bought a used case from LCQ.com for $180 with 6 month warrenty. Will be here on monday. So hopefully get to test the vehicle out then and it will be working better.

 

[Bent Bolt]

Don't forget to check the tires for cupping. My fronts were cupping just on the inside . Sounds just like a bad wheel bearing. Rotate tires and the noise went away.