Left front axle replace

[10strokin]

Hi all, just picked up an 87 Ranger 2.9 5 speed 4x4. It has a broken off left front axle, but runs fine down the road in 2 wheel. My question is what all is involved in replacing the left side axle, and how hard is it to do at home? I have a decent amount of knowledge, just looking for info from the Pro's here. Thanks in advance for replies and help! Matt

 

[scotts90ranger]

take off the tire, pull brake caliper, pull off rotor (go to an auto parts store and grab a hub nut socket for a Dana 44, they'll know what that is most likely), pull off the spindle (might take some persuasion if it's really rusty at the mating surface, give it some well placed wackes from as many angles as you can get with a dead blow hammer or small sledge and a 2x4), pull out broken axle shaft, reassemble.

If it's your first attempt at getting one of these that far apart it'll probably take 2 hours or so, under an hour if you've done it before...

 

[Earl43P]

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Dana28Rebuild.html

 

[cvar]

If ya wanna see some pictures of that, here's mine: http://imgur.com/a/d8skq

I have a 1997 model with Dana 35, so my locking nut may look different than yours, but most of the rest is similar. After taking off the brake caliper & rotor, the only thing left is removing the spindle. That's the only real hassle. For that, a BFH with flat 1" chisel works swell, if you don't have a puller. Once the spindle is off, the axle-shaft just pulls straight out, by hand, without any tools. It'll take about 2 hrs, half of which is trying to remove the spindle with a BFH & chisel.

 

[10strokin]

Awesome! doesnt sound too bad at all. Thanks all for the quick replies!