D35 Spindles - Where to source

[Maui-sprint]

I ordered a set of spindles for my '91 4.0 with the D35 from Jegs. Two months later I get a message they have been discontinued, I assume from Spicer.
Anyone know of another vendor that carries them? If not, are there any other options? Can they be machined and used with an alternate set of wheel bearings?
Sourcing a decent set is next to impossible out here let alone even finding a D35 for sale.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Bronco Graveyard usually has them.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Bronco Graveyard usually has them.

Out of stock... I looked earlier.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Out of stock... I looked earlier.

They were out when I needed them too, but did get them back in after I found used ones.

 

[Jim Oaks]

We're going to get to a point where we're doing D44 knuckle swaps just to be able to get new spindles.

And yet, someone makes chromoly D28 shafts.

 

[Shran]

We're going to get to a point where we're doing D44 knuckle swaps just to be able to get new spindles.

And yet, someone makes chromoly D28 shafts.

My buddy down the street used mid 90's Bronco spindles, hubs, and rotors on Dana 35 knuckles. You then use the Ranger caliper and pads. It is almost a bolt on deal, you just have to machine the rotor diameter down a bit. Really slick, I would much rather go that route than a full knuckle swap.

 

[Jim Oaks]

My buddy down the street used mid 90's Bronco spindles, hubs, and rotors on Dana 35 knuckles. You then use the Ranger caliper and pads. It is almost a bolt on deal, you just have to machine the rotor diameter down a bit. Really slick, I would much rather go that route than a full knuckle swap.

I've heard this discussed before, but I don't think we've ever had anyone do it to document it.
I've also wondered about using the parts from a Dodge Ramcharger Dana 44 because they had a 5x4.5" wheel bolt pattern. For those that don't know, I used a wheel hub from a Dodge Ramcharger as the spare tire mount on the bedcage in TRS-2.

 

[Shran]

I've heard this discussed before, but I don't think we've ever had anyone do it to document it.
I've also wondered about using the parts from a Dodge Ramcharger Dana 44 because they had a 5x4.5" wheel bolt pattern. For those that don't know, I used a wheel hub from a Dodge Ramcharger as the spare tire mount on the bedcage in TRS-2.

Here's some pics:

Gen 1 version 2.0 build

Playing with wheel choice for the 5"x5.5" swap. I'll be using 16" Dodge 1500 wheels with the centers enlarged to fit the front hubs, the off set works nice with the 1.25" spacers I need to use to change the rear bolt pattern and I already have a almost new set of 265/75-16 tires. There are also...

www.explorerforum.com

I have heard about using Dodge parts too but I don't know of anyone that actually did it. Very hard to find old Dodge parts up here, that might be why.

There are tradeoffs with any method, I was going to do the Chevy spindle/hub/brakes route (AKA the mappyjack method) when I was thinking about racing my Explorer and just live with 6 lug wheels but you have to cut up the D35 knuckles quite a bit. Guess it really just comes down to what parts you can round up. I wish there was an easy way to get 5x5.5 bolt pattern on an RBV rear axle without adapters.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Here's some pics:

Gen 1 version 2.0 build

Playing with wheel choice for the 5"x5.5" swap. I'll be using 16" Dodge 1500 wheels with the centers enlarged to fit the front hubs, the off set works nice with the 1.25" spacers I need to use to change the rear bolt pattern and I already have a almost new set of 265/75-16 tires. There are also...

www.explorerforum.com

I have heard about using Dodge parts too but I don't know of anyone that actually did it. Very hard to find old Dodge parts up here, that might be why.

There are tradeoffs with any method, I was going to do the Chevy spindle/hub/brakes route (AKA the mappyjack method) when I was thinking about racing my Explorer and just live with 6 lug wheels but you have to cut up the D35 knuckles quite a bit. Guess it really just comes down to what parts you can round up. I wish there was an easy way to get 5x5.5 bolt pattern on an RBV rear axle without adapters.

That's more of a 'Look at what I did' than 'Here's how it's done', but at least it's some visual reference.

If you were going to be starting a build, this would be something cool to plan into the build. Then you could factor in getting 5x5.5 wheels as you go, versus wanting to upgrade to the Dana 44 spindle and hub and have to replace your wheels as a result.

 

[Shran]

Yeah I wish I had more info. He told me the only thing you have to do is machine the rotor down so that it's the same diameter as a Ranger rotor. Just happens to line up perfectly with the Ranger caliper bracket after that.

 

[Jim Oaks]

I think there was a variation of this where people were making a bracket to space out the caliper.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Let me check my stock, if I have a spare good set I'll just send them to you... you've given me enough stuff I can help out if I can . I'll let you know sometime this weekend...

I need to stock up on a couple spare complete axle assemblies when I get a chance, these things used to be dumb common but now all the first gen explorers are gone...

 

[Maui-sprint]

Let me check my stock, if I have a spare good set I'll just send them to you... you've given me enough stuff I can help out if I can . I'll let you know sometime this weekend...

I need to stock up on a couple spare complete axle assemblies when I get a chance, these things used to be dumb common but now all the first gen explorers are gone...

That would be awesome Scott and much appreciated. Will be happy to pay the shipping!

 

[scotts90ranger]

I looked through where I thought I had parts and unfortunately I don't have any spindles on hand (I'm not in the mood to disassemble the garage where I might have parts...)... well I found one that looked questionable and I have one unknown, if I have another it's likely questionable too...

I don't know how much of a hurry you are in but I'll try to get to a junkyard or two in the next couple weekends after I check their inventory...

 

[Maui-sprint]

My buddy down the street used mid 90's Bronco spindles, hubs, and rotors on Dana 35 knuckles. You then use the Ranger caliper and pads. It is almost a bolt on deal, you just have to machine the rotor diameter down a bit. Really slick, I would much rather go that route than a full knuckle swap.

So if I source mid-90s bronco spindle, hub, and rotor (Im assuming from a D44) I should be good to go? Can I use the existing D35 axle shafts with this set up? Im assuming the answer is "no" and would have to use the D44 outer shaft mated to the existing D35 inner shaft via u-joint? Are the D44 parts readily available or are they impossible to source new like the D35 parts? I need to do something because Ive got a ton of play in the rotor/spindle right now. This is my daily driver. I have all the parts for a 4" lift plus new tires and Im reluctant to start it until I fix this issue.