dana 35 ring and pinion or spider gear stripped

[muddin76]

I own a 96 ranger 4x4, dana 35 front with 3.27 gears. When I lock into 4wheel my transfer case locks,I cant move front drive shaft. The wheels and axles lock(manual hubs). I can jack up the front however and with force, turn the front tire and axle. I feel a little grab but then its free. I cant decide if its the ring and pinion or the spider gear that stripped. I found a great deal on a ring and pinion. BUT, would it more likely be the spider gear. I have read where the ring and pinion are most likely to fail. Any suggestions without having to pull the truck apart? I dont want to pass on a good ring and pinion deal, but dont want to buy something I probably dont need.

 

[gotmudd]

I own a 96 ranger 4x4, dana 35 front with 3.27 gears. When I lock into 4wheel my transfer case locks,I cant move front drive shaft. The wheels and axles lock(manual hubs). I can jack up the front however and with force, turn the front tire and axle. I feel a little grab but then its free. I cant decide if its the ring and pinion or the spider gear that stripped. I found a great deal on a ring and pinion. BUT, would it more likely be the spider gear. I have read where the ring and pinion are most likely to fail. Any suggestions without having to pull the truck apart? I dont want to pass on a good ring and pinion deal, but dont want to buy something I probably dont need.

start with your hubs first, pull them and make sure that the hub gears aren't stripped

 

[4x4junkie]

If the axle shaft turns with the wheel (hub good), I would say most likely spider gears.
Spider gear failures in the '93-'97 frontends don't seem to be all that rare for some reason.
Ring & pinion failures are very uncommon though.

 

[bobbywalter]

cracked spider that didnt explode could do that i guess...



your saying with one tire off the ground and both the hubs locked, it will spin the axle but not the driveshaft with the case in 4x4 right?

did you try the other side. switch sides...if the other does it too then its possible the pinion, but a 327 would seem improbable unless run out of fluid or something.


likely exploded spiders...they were always dyin on me.