My story of Frank the Shitbox ranger

[Frank the sbox]

Just to start off my name isn't Frank, that's the name of this Frankenstein of a ranger. I bought it in May of 2021 as my first truck. It had some obvious issues, mainly a very short wooden bed (which it still has). After purchasing it my dad and I did a tune up on it with brand new spark plugs, ignition wires, fresh oil, fresh coolant and some more wrenching. When I had first bought it it was having a misfire. We learned this was because the people who had it before me, who made this the amalgamation it is, had reversed the ignition wires on the entire right bank. It also had every single spark plug at .26 (Their supposed to be at .52-.56). Needless to say it ran so much better after said tune up. It was my everywhere driver while I got my license and after. I had done mostly just daily driving and one time I had accidentally mounted an embankment causing the muffler to become so loose it shook the mirrors. My dad and I got it to sit better but it still wasn't the greatest. Sadly, due to some shoddy work from the previous owners, I engaged my parking brake, attempted to disengage it. Then whilst attempting to unlock the brake it made a very loud grinding sound. I can only drive it in 4x4 now, whenever I try to shift it back into 2x it makes the grinding. That's the story for now, thank you for reading.

 

[rumblecloud]

Hi (Frank)! Welcome to TRS.
I'm not that familiar with the '91 model year, but I can assure you there are many here who are and will be along to read your story and offer advice -- that is if you're looking for advice.
Not sure what effect the E-brake would have on the drive system other than locking the brakes, but since you're able to drive in 4x4, the brakes aren't locked.
Sounds like the system isn't fully disengaging. Is it still auto-locking or has it been converted to manual locking?

Let us know what you need.

 

[Frank the sbox]

It was converted manual locking, my dad says it might be the transfer case which based off of what your saying would make sense. Thank you

 

[rumblecloud]

Hey...not so fast!
Let a few others offer some more pointed advice.
How often was the 4x4 option used prior to this happening? A lot of times the shift motor stops functioning from lack of use and simply cycling it a bunch of times will shake it loose.
So it doesn't have to be the Transfer Case proper...it could just be the shift motor - fairly easy to take care of.

 

[Frank the sbox]

It actually doesn't have a motor its a manual shift transfer case, and it was used maybe once by me for a very short period of time

 

[rumblecloud]

Good information to know. Helps others with their advice.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

" I engaged my parking brake, attempted to disengage it. Then whilst attempting to unlock the brake it made a very loud grinding sound. I can only drive it in 4x4 now, whenever I try to shift it back into 2x it makes the grinding"
I'm confused. So when you tried to release the emergency (parking) brake, IT made a large grinding noise.... Did the brakes release? If they did, why did you need 4x4 to drive away?

 

[Frank the sbox]

I don't know what made the grinding noise, I only know it came after I disengaged the brake

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

So why did you need to put it 4x4? Just re-read...so you need to have it in 4x4 for the grinding noise to be gone? The noise is there in 2x4?

Did you try to isolate where the grinding is coming from? Needs two people. One to drive very slowly, and one to walk beside the truck listening to where the sound is coming from.

 

[Frank the sbox]

I haven't really been able to isolate it down but it does sound like it might be coming from the transmission or transfer case area.

 

[Ranger850]

Sadly, due to some shoddy work from the previous owners, I engaged my parking brake, attempted to disengage it. Then whilst attempting to unlock the brake it made a very loud grinding sound. I can only drive it in 4x4 now, whenever I try to shift it back into 2x it makes the grinding.

What "shoddy work" was done by PO

 

[Frank the sbox]

They had spliced together the ebrake cable from the bronco 2 brakes to the ranger cab and it got very rusty on the inner brake drum

 

[superj]

Welcome to the club.

Maybe lay under and work the transfer case shift lever around. Maybe it didn't come out of 4x4 fully

 

[2 bronco 11s]

Have you attempted to adjust the Shifter on the transfer case? Also see if there is a bushing on the lever where the shifter goes into on the transfer case. Just a thought.

 

[Rimjam]

You shouldn't be driving a '91 in 4WD all the time, especially on dry pavement. Your system (in 4WD) powers both front & rear driveshafts the same, it's hard on components especially around corners. At least disconnect your front driveshaft 'til you isolate your problem. In fact that might help you find it.