all or nothing

[lumberjack]

94 ranger dana35 6'' lift 35s


alright i just jacked front end up to make sure everything is going alright up there ........
well wheel bearings are shot (no big deal) there is some play with the axle coming out of the hub. thinking its the needle bearing in it and see some obvious wear to seal... there is a small but nice leak coming from pass. side seal at the pumpkin ouch.. ok here is the ? i do want to put 4.56 gears there someday. if i tear everything down now to replace that seal at the pumkin would it just cost me to do it all over again when i get the gears (someday) or should i just repair the wheel bearing and wait. oh wait theres more is just noticed that the pinion has a lot of play in it so i need to fix that so has any been here what did you do how much did it cost what am i in for

 

[4x4junkie]

Sounds like it's time to tear it apart. A loose pinion is never a good thing (could be just the nut backed off, but could also be bearings too. Either way you'll need to check the gears for chipped/broken teeth).

BTW, I'd go 4.88 gears with 35s on it.

 

[lumberjack]

thanks now just going to wait to find a deal on gears or save the money and buy new anyone have a set of 4.56 for dana 35 and 8.8 for the rear with lim slip

 

[lumberjack]

any one with an idea of putting a fx4 8.8 w stock limit slip. could you just put new gears in and still leave factory limited slip or would i need to change it out also would that work would it keep me from buying new gears and a locker plus i would gain to 31 spline and maybe discs out back does that sound doable

 

[4x4junkie]

You can change the gears in a FX4 axle while keeping the Torsen L/S diff. The FX4 axle does not have discs though, you need a '95-'01 Explorer axle for that.

 

[lumberjack]

Thank you. Is it easier to do a disc break swap on the FX4? And will FX4 rear end bolt under '94?

 

[lumberjack]

ok called my local dealer to get a base price for a level II axle but he needs vin or axle tag to get the ball rolling just wondering if any one had one if i could get the axle tag off of one

 

[4x4junkie]

Axle bolts in, just need larger u-bolts and spring plates.

http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Fall2003/Out_with_the_old_in_with_the_new.htm

Not sure a dealer is the best place to buy one though... If you want discs, I'd just get the Explorer axle and move the leafspring perches on it (or have a fab shop do it if you don't have a welder, probably still would be much cheaper than buying a new FX4 Torsen axle).

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Explorer8_8.html

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

ok called my local dealer to get a base price for a level II axle but he needs vin or axle tag to get the ball rolling just wondering if any one had one if i could get the axle tag off of one

You what??? you ask for cheap used parts, then you even think to call the dealer on a L2 axle...

I betcha I built my 9" cheaper than that, and that's 5.13s, locker, Moser shafts, all Timken bearings, pinion guard, custom perches and mounts, new brakes, narrowed housing, blah blah blah... yeah its a list, but still cheaper than that FX4 L2 axle from Ford...

That's a lucky find, not a flat-out new purchase, just go with the 95-01 Exploder axle. swap the gears and replace the clutches in the TL(add a set of clutches while your there) and you'll be happy, and probably never break it.

 

[lumberjack]

???? thanks i guess for the advise have been looking all over this site and found the guide to axle for rangers and explorers noticed that ranger had fx4 with 4.56 and torsen l/s but explorer has 31 spline axles and are "better" but not real sure i want the discs now. unless all i need to do is change master cylinder but will look into it more when have more

 

[4x4junkie]

FX4 w/Torsen has 4.10 gears.

Stock master should be fine (it was on my '90 BII anyway). According to what I've heard, as long as you have rear antilock on yours, you won't have an issue with the discs.