92 Ranger rear wheel spin.

[Scourge]

Sorry If I have this posted in the wrong section, but I have a 92 Ranger XLT V6 4.0 with 4wd with 4 BF Goodrich MT tires.

The problem I keep having is the famous rear wheel spin. I have 4 50lbs sand bags in the back but keep having issues with the rear wheels not grabbing traction whether it is going up a dirt / gravel driveway or offroading. Yesterday I attempted to pull my friends ranger out but my rear wheels kept spinning and not grabbing traction in grass. This also happens in 4wd high and low. Anyone have any idea on what could be going on or is this just common? My truck just definelty seems to struggle with the wheel spin compared to my friends ranger that is the same year.

Also I don't know if it could be affecting it, but the rear abs that is in the rear diff is broken and not working properly and I have the anti lock light stuck on. Could this possibly be the problem?

Thanks for any assistance!

 

[Curious Hound]

The abs sensor has nothing to do with wheel spin on that truck.

Grass, whether wet or dry is slippery. It can be a problem for anyone. You most likely have open differentials unless someone has swapped axles or installed lockers. So at best, you can put power to whichever wheel spins the easiest on each axle. If you want both wheels on an axle to receive power equally, you need a locker in the differential.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Mud terrain tires are made to spin and throw. Not really "bite".

Toss a set of BFG A/Ts on it and youll notice a world of difference. I got them on both my 2wd 3/4 tons and have yet to get stuck.

 

[pjtoledo]

how old are your tires? what pressure are you running?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Another trick is to slightly engage your e-brake.

 

[91stranger]

What would the e-brake do if he has excessive wheel spin? Try to stop the side that's spinning so it can spin the other side? Is this like that cars movie where you have to turn right to go left? How stuck is your friend's truck if you have 4wd and are spinning out? Sounds like there's more to the story than we know.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

What would the e-brake do if he has excessive wheel spin? Try to stop the side that's spinning so it can spin the other side? Is this like that cars movie where you have to turn right to go left? How stuck is your friend's truck if you have 4wd and are spinning out? Sounds like there's more to the story than we know.

Slightly engaging the ebrake will put pressure on an open diff enough to "trick" the diff into thinking the wheel has more traction then it does, sending power to the other side, then vice versa.

It does work. Kinda.

Also use 2nd gear either with a manual or auto. Itll cut the torque and make it harder to spin. Ive used this trick a few times too.

 

[cbxer55]

I have a 98 with a 3.0 and a 7.5 open differential. Yeah, it's rough even on a rainy day. If I'm just slightly facing uphill on wet roads, the tries just spin. So, it's possible to change the gear in the back to a "locker" configuration, and this can go away. Mine's a street truck, not an off road. Running fairly large 255/60-15s on the back, with traction bars to boot.

But hey, dry road. I can still leave two nice long black streaks on the ground. Just doesn't like anything slippery. I'll have to try the ebrake thing next time it rains. Wednesday I believe. All day Wednesday and Thursday. Lots of rain coming.

 

[Scourge]

The abs sensor has nothing to do with wheel spin on that truck.

Grass, whether wet or dry is slippery. It can be a problem for anyone. You most likely have open differentials unless someone has swapped axles or installed lockers. So at best, you can put power to whichever wheel spins the easiest on each axle. If you want both wheels on an axle to receive power equally, you need a locker in the differential.

Thanks Eric, I will definelty have to look further into that!

 

[Scourge]

how old are your tires? what pressure are you running?

Tires are only about a year. Usually sitting at 30psi.

 

[Scourge]

What would the e-brake do if he has excessive wheel spin? Try to stop the side that's spinning so it can spin the other side? Is this like that cars movie where you have to turn right to go left? How stuck is your friend's truck if you have 4wd and are spinning out? Sounds like there's more to the story than we know.

Surprisingly their isn't to much to it. My friends truck battery was dead and her truck was on a very slight down hill in the grass. So I attempted to pull her up the slight downhill to the garage but my truck wouldn't even move her truck since my back tires kept spinning. Her ranger is stock as well.

 

[Scourge]

Slightly engaging the ebrake will put pressure on an open diff enough to "trick" the diff into thinking the wheel has more traction then it does, sending power to the other side, then vice versa.

It does work. Kinda.

Also use 2nd gear either with a manual or auto. Itll cut the torque and make it harder to spin. Ive used this trick a few times too.

I will have to try both of these on my driveway. I am always guranteed a spinout if I stop on my driveway haha. Thanks for the tips!

 

[91stranger]

You left "posi" burnout marks with an open diff???

 

[rusty ol ranger]

You left "posi" burnout marks with an open diff???

It happens when both tires have low traction.

 

[bobbywalter]

I don't think your front axle is putting power to the wheels.


Some serious misunderstanding of how shit works here.