bronco ll suspension ranger suspension same?

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Nope. The b-2 2wd uses 4wd suspension parts. Ranger 2wd parts wont work.
In fact, the b-2 2wd uses a dummy transfer case.... who knows why.

Sort of…

I have an 89 BII that was 2wd and I converted to 4x4. Definitely a bit of a strange animal. Not entirely sure how it compares to the Rangers other than I know 4x4 Rangers and 4x4 Bronco II share the same suspension components and 4x4 Explorer has some similar components. I also know that 2wd and 4x4 Rangers had different frames except for Edge and Trailhead models in 98+, but that’s neither here nor there with this topic.

2wd Bronco II used 4x4 coil buckets with a 1.5” lift coil compared to the 4x4 version. The axle pivot for the drivers side beam was the same for both (speaking strictly between Bronco II versions here), but the axle pivot for the passenger side beam was different. Shocks were different length. Rear suspension was the same. The dummy case was a fully machined case, just with no guts or fluid and the sliding sleeve for engagement had a snap ring to lock it in 2wd high essentially. I want to say there was a plug hanging for the 4x4 sensor off the chassis harness and the bulbs were missing in the gauge cluster. I don’t know for sure if 83-88 versions are the same as the 89-90 versions, but that’s the differences I saw

 

[franklin2]

Sort of…

I have an 89 BII that was 2wd and I converted to 4x4. Definitely a bit of a strange animal. Not entirely sure how it compares to the Rangers other than I know 4x4 Rangers and 4x4 Bronco II share the same suspension components and 4x4 Explorer has some similar components. I also know that 2wd and 4x4 Rangers had different frames except for Edge and Trailhead models in 98+, but that’s neither here nor there with this topic.

2wd Bronco II used 4x4 coil buckets with a 1.5” lift coil compared to the 4x4 version. The axle pivot for the drivers side beam was the same for both (speaking strictly between Bronco II versions here), but the axle pivot for the passenger side beam was different. Shocks were different length. Rear suspension was the same. The dummy case was a fully machined case, just with no guts or fluid and the sliding sleeve for engagement had a snap ring to lock it in 2wd high essentially. I want to say there was a plug hanging for the 4x4 sensor off the chassis harness and the bulbs were missing in the gauge cluster. I don’t know for sure if 83-88 versions are the same as the 89-90 versions, but that’s the differences I saw

You are talking about the differences between a 2wd Bronco and a 4x4 Bronco correct? We all know the rear suspension is not the same between a ranger and a Bronco II. Just wanted to clarify that.

P.S. I didn't know they were different till I tried to bolt a ranger rearend into my Bronco.

 

[Snoranger]

Sort of…

I have an 89 BII that was 2wd and I converted to 4x4. Definitely a bit of a strange animal. Not entirely sure how it compares to the Rangers other than I know 4x4 Rangers and 4x4 Bronco II share the same suspension components and 4x4 Explorer has some similar components. I also know that 2wd and 4x4 Rangers had different frames except for Edge and Trailhead models in 98+, but that’s neither here nor there with this topic.

2wd Bronco II used 4x4 coil buckets with a 1.5” lift coil compared to the 4x4 version. The axle pivot for the drivers side beam was the same for both (speaking strictly between Bronco II versions here), but the axle pivot for the passenger side beam was different. Shocks were different length. Rear suspension was the same. The dummy case was a fully machined case, just with no guts or fluid and the sliding sleeve for engagement had a snap ring to lock it in 2wd high essentially. I want to say there was a plug hanging for the 4x4 sensor off the chassis harness and the bulbs were missing in the gauge cluster. I don’t know for sure if 83-88 versions are the same as the 89-90 versions, but that’s the differences I saw

I don’t know the extent of the differences between the 1st and 2nd gen BII, but I know the 2nd Gen 2wd didn’t use the dummy transfer case.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

You are talking about the differences between a 2wd Bronco and a 4x4 Bronco correct? We all know the rear suspension is not the same between a ranger and a Bronco II. Just wanted to clarify that.

P.S. I didn't know they were different till I tried to bolt a ranger rearend into my Bronco.

You're right. I forgot about that. Iirc the b2 axle spring perches are about 3/4" inboard compared to rangers. And possibly off center as well. I swapped a b2 rear into a ranger and always had rubbing on the drivers side when the axle articulated. I made a flat plate to sandwich between the b2 perch and the ranger spring. Its documented in one of my b2 threads.

 

[franklin2]

I tried forcing the ranger rearend to fit, which I did, and then tried to shim the pumpkin nose up, which I did. What a mess. I finally ended up going to tractor supply and buying some weld on trailer axle pads. They fit perfect on the ranger rearend tube. I cut the original ranger perches off, and then installed the rearend and u-bolts with the new trailer perches in the right place. I was then able to sit the weight of the Bronco back down on the wheels and then take a jack and lift the pumpkin snout up, on the BII it's about 9 degrees up with the double cardan joint up front.

I was then able to tack everything in place and then fully weld it. Been driving it for awhile now. Haven't noticed or figured out why the BII pumpkin is off centered. I am running the centered ranger pumpkin with no apparent problems.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

You are talking about the differences between a 2wd Bronco and a 4x4 Bronco correct? We all know the rear suspension is not the same between a ranger and a Bronco II. Just wanted to clarify that.

P.S. I didn't know they were different till I tried to bolt a ranger rearend into my Bronco.

Ehh, it depends. I forget what year, but the spring perches moved a little, now that you mention it. If I think about it I’ll try looking. Driveshaft yoke may or may not change.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I don’t know the extent of the differences between the 1st and 2nd gen BII, but I know the 2nd Gen 2wd didn’t use the dummy transfer case.

My 89 is a 2nd Gen 2wd (or rather was) and had a dummy transfer case

 

[Snoranger]

My 89 is a 2nd Gen 2wd (or rather was) and had a dummy transfer case

Really?! My buddy had an ‘89 (at least he said it was an ‘89. I never checked and he wasn’t really a car guy.) and I had a ‘90 2wd... neither had the dummy case.
Either it was a late production thing for ‘89 or my my buddy is stupid... or both.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Really?! My buddy had an ‘89 (at least he said it was an ‘89. I never checked and he wasn’t really a car guy.) and I had a ‘90 2wd... neither had the dummy case.
Either it was a late production thing for ‘89 or my my buddy is stupid... or both.

Interesting. I know it was somewhat common to swap to a 2wd transmission when the trans blew up since a 2wd trans was cheaper and easier to source

 

[Snoranger]

Interesting. I know it was somewhat common to swap to a 2wd transmission when the trans blew up since a 2wd trans was cheaper and easier to source

You can tell OEM from a swap...
The 2wd non-dummy case BIIs didn’t use the transmission slip joint. They had a drive flange that bolted to the output shaft of the trans and had a slip joint in the driveshaft.

 

[franklin2]

You can tell OEM from a swap...
The 2wd non-dummy case BIIs didn’t use the transmission slip joint. They had a drive flange that bolted to the output shaft of the trans and had a slip joint in the driveshaft.

Did they still use the double cardone joint?

 

[Snoranger]

Did they still use the double cardone joint?

Yes