broke axleshaft how do i fix

[scottybeach]

Ok I looked through the sight and didn't see a thread on how to replace an axle shaft on my ttb ranger I sheared the knuckle off at the u joinnear the tire how do I fix my screw up and is this common

 

[legoms013]

Your statement is un-clear. Did you break the axle shaft and knuckle or just the axle shaft?

 

[scottybeach]

If I look from the front the knuckle on the shaft is gone as far as it looks I have not torn into it yet I need to get it to ly house but.don't know if I.caan.drive it I drove it on the. Trailer

 

[scottybeach]

Just enough to.get it on the road

 

[scottybeach]

If I look from the front the end of the shaft closest to the tire is sitting on the bottom of the beam I can move it up and down without anything holding it in place

 

[4x4junkie]

Sounds like just the shaft is broken then, not the knuckle. You can drive it around in 2WD no problem as long as the broken shaft won't bind up your steering.

You have to remove the wheel > hub > rotor > spindle, then finally the broken axle shaft. Assemble in reverse order.

Do you not have a manual for your truck? (Haynes, Chiltons, etc.)

 

[scottybeach]

I have a dealer manual that my buddy got me but its for the 2.8 ranger I'm not sure if everything is the.same. is it common to break the shafts I'm only running 3 inch lift and 31s

 

[4x4junkie]

For any Ranger '83-'89, the front axle (Dana28) is all the same.

The Dana28 is not a strong axle at all, people have broken them even with small stock P215/75R15 tires.
I would suggest a swap to the later Dana35 frontend from a '90-'97 Ranger or '91-'94 Explorer if you're wheeling it offroad. The D35 has a lot in common with the D44 used under F-150s and would easily allow you to throw some 35s on it if you wanted (31s it'll just laugh at).

Some info here:
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/4wd_Front_Axles.html
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/D28_D35_swap.html

 

[scottybeach]

Thanks for the info I have decided to sas my ranger I am going to run a 70s f250 narrowed down in the front and swap to leafs all the way around and go to 35s thanks for the help though