Busted universal joint 96 4.0 liter manual 4x4

[EMSRanger]

Alright,

Well folks. How are yah? New Guy here, Rob. I have a 96 4.0 liter with a manual, 4x4 and well, in the snow storm in October in New York I busted and destroyed the universal that is on the right front by the steering knuckle. I destroyed both sides of the axle. So I couldn't put a new universal in and be done with it if I wanted to.
So, I have a couple question to all you Ranger folks out there...

1. This is a dana 35 front axle in this unit right? NOT a 28?

2. Does anyone have one thats in fairly good condition that they may want to sell for an ok price. Ford wants a RIDICULOUS amount of money for it. I paid 1600 bucks for this truck and I'm not about to spend that much money for the part.

3. Do I need to seperate the ball joints from the axle to do this job? From what I see on the diagram from Ford it looks like if I remove the hub rotor and wheel assembly from the spindle, I should be able to just slide it all out ... Is that about it? Or do I have to seperate the ball joints? I was kinda trying NOT do to that if I don't have to, I know there is a slip yolk on that side so I should be able to undo the boot and all and slide everything out and slide the new one in with new seals and bearings and all.

4. Anyone do step by step instructions on the forum here or no?

Thanks for all the help in advance folks. I know forums are a wealth of knowledge.
-Rob

 

[scotts90ranger]

A junk yard or someone from here that's close to you is probably your best bet, depending on how close you are to Pennsylvania you might want to send a message to AllanD on here, he has spare parts for about any Ranger

On changing the shaft:
-Jack up the turck, remove tire
-remove hub
-remove brake caliper
-remove wheel bearing lock nut(s), if auto hubs you will need a magnet and channel lock pliers, manual hubs you will need the special socket (go to a parts store and ask for a hub nut socket for a Dana 44, they'll probably look at you less silly)
-remove rotor (will just pull off now)
-remove the 5 bolts holding the spindle to the knuckle, I think they're 15mm heads, if you have ABS it might be slightly more complicated
-remove the spindle, this can be tricky especially in the rust belt. I take a dead blow hammer (rubber hammer filled with lead shot) or a block of wood and a regular hammer and pound around the outside up, down and side to side, one fairly light wack at a time as to not jam it since it's a press fit for about 1/8" or so. The proper way to do it is a slide hammer and a spindle removal tool that threads on the end, you might be able to rent one from an auto parts store.
-pull the shaft out like you are thinking
-reassemble

 

[EMSRanger]

SWEET thanks for the info man!!! Should be a relatively easy deal then.... I will see if that fella AllanD has something laying around. I DO have the ABS and that is a seperate issue althogether hahaha

 

[trail B2]

One of the things we have ahead of the Jeep guys there are a lot of spare parts everywhere.

 

[EMSRanger]

Well thats good!!! Cause I need a fender and bed for it too!!!

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Won't you also have to drop the pumpkin in order to remove the inner shaft?

Richard

 

[EMSRanger]

negative i believe there is a slip yolk on the stub shaft on the passenger side and then a shaft, then universal and then the spindle shaft.... I could be wrong though... and If I have to drop the pumpkin I won't be a happy camper and will most likely go punkin chunkin with that axle lol

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Since you are there you might look into this to keep it from happening again.

http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/May06/dana35_ujoint_snapring.htm