Powertrain/clutch questions and a small amount of ranting

[tomjan]

Hello,

I recently bought a 99 ford ranger "off road". It has a 4.0 V6, which is a nice engine to have for the size of the truck. 5 speed manual tranny and 4x4.

Truck has 135k on it. After I bought it I replaced the clutch, slave and throughout bearing. Updated all the regular maintenance.

Question 1: Vibration and noise from 4x4.
So, the 4x4 engages and disengages ok from what I can tell. I checked the vacuum lines and they seem ok. When I take it out of 4x4 it seems that there is sometimes more noise and vibrations that before, also the truck seems sluggish as too many parts are turning, or more than before.
It just seems a little strange to me.
Not sure if I have a u-joint bad, bad transfer case, bearing or what.

Question 2:
Hopefully I can explain this correctly. As stated before, I changed the clutch and everything with it. This is a small problem, but it annoys me. When pressing the clutch down, it disengages fully within the first 1/2 of the full clutch petal stroke. after that it is just empty motion. I do not think it has air in the line as it was bled, and it is disengaging fully. is the an adjustment I am missing. It just bothers me when shifting as the comfort of it is not great. The same can be accomplished with much less motion.

Rant: Why in the world would ford put a junk rear end in their so called "off road" 4x4 model. The one wheel peel during the snow is horrible. The truck is much better suited for a limited slip. Even with 400 lbs in back it does not matter. It sucks even with an inch of snow. I would think I should be able to go through something without 4wd. First Ranger I have owned with 4wd and not very impressed. -- sorry just had to rant.

thanks for any help.

 

[adsm08]

Hello,

I recently bought a 99 ford ranger "off road". It has a 4.0 V6, which is a nice engine to have for the size of the truck. 5 speed manual tranny and 4x4.

Truck has 135k on it. After I bought it I replaced the clutch, slave and throughout bearing. Updated all the regular maintenance.

Question 1: Vibration and noise from 4x4.
So, the 4x4 engages and disengages ok from what I can tell. I checked the vacuum lines and they seem ok. When I take it out of 4x4 it seems that there is sometimes more noise and vibrations that before, also the truck seems sluggish as too many parts are turning, or more than before.
It just seems a little strange to me.
Not sure if I have a u-joint bad, bad transfer case, bearing or what.

Not sure about that one without looking at the truck myself.

Question 2:
Hopefully I can explain this correctly. As stated before, I changed the clutch and everything with it. This is a small problem, but it annoys me. When pressing the clutch down, it disengages fully within the first 1/2 of the full clutch petal stroke. after that it is just empty motion. I do not think it has air in the line as it was bled, and it is disengaging fully. is the an adjustment I am missing. It just bothers me when shifting as the comfort of it is not great. The same can be accomplished with much less motion.

Are we talking the bottom or top half by "first"?

If we are talking about the bottom, I'd say there is still air in the line. If it's the top, that sounds about right.

Rant: Why in the world would ford put a junk rear end in their so called "off road" 4x4 model. The one wheel peel during the snow is horrible. The truck is much better suited for a limited slip. Even with 400 lbs in back it does not matter. It sucks even with an inch of snow. I would think I should be able to go through something without 4wd. First Ranger I have owned with 4wd and not very impressed. -- sorry just had to rant.

Open rear end does not equal "junk" rear end. I have an 87 with a manual and an open rear. I use the 4x4 for steerage more than anything else. Only ever put it in if the front starts sliding through a turn. Just keep driving until you learn to handle it.

 

[CHKNFKR]

what he said!

 

[robertc1024]

Oh one time poster. Listen to adsm08.
Oh, and welcome to TRS. It's the best for Rangers.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Rant: Why in the world would ford put a junk rear end in their so called "off road" 4x4 model. The one wheel peel during the snow is horrible. The truck is much better suited for a limited slip. Even with 400 lbs in back it does not matter. It sucks even with an inch of snow. I would think I should be able to go through something without 4wd. First Ranger I have owned with 4wd and not very impressed. -- sorry just had to rant.

thanks for any help.

After 100k consider a limited slip a open differential until the clutch plates are replaced. Being a clutch they only last so long. Do some looking and make sure you don't have it, you might just need to put new plates in it. If not it is a fairly common option, just find another axle with the same gear ratio and switch them.

Better tires would probably help too, they usually came with fairly weak ones from the factory and people usually put on the cheapest they can get after that.

 

[tomjan]

Thanks for the reply's everyone.

adsm08: It is the top half of the clutch stroke. i figured it was normal, but I thought I would ask. The vibration is something I will have to find. I was just checking if there was a common problem that may save me some time.

I understand the open rear end is not a junk rear end. Just not what i would expect from a quality car.

Also, learning to handle it is not an issue. I was just stating that I was not impressed by the ranger. Had a Toyota and it was quite a bit better. But I do like the Ranger for certain qualities. I guess it's a win some and loose some scenario.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[adsm08]

The Ranger was never really meant to fill a "quality vehicle" position in the line up. It was generally produced to fit an "economy vehicle" slot. They are very strong and sturdy for a supposed economy vehicle though.

And 85 is right, tires make a huge difference too. What do you have on it right now and what kind of tread is left? I have had Wranger RT/S, BFG Long Trails, Daytona Timberline HT, and currently BFG All-Terrain A/T KOs. All fairly aggressive treaded tires (except maybe the Long Trails) and all were good in snow and ice. Some where better than others. With the Daytonas I got high centered with 3 wheels off the ground and managed to get myself back down without 4x4 (wouldn't have helped much, both front wheels were off the ground). Just had to be gentle with it.

 

[DRanger024]

Tires are everything in snow. My truck, with the 12.5" wide 33" Duratrac's, is great in snow for such a wide tire on such a light truck. I also have a 4.0, 5-speed and open rear. I have ZERO extra weight in the bed and have only clicked it into 4wd once this winter due to ice. Driver skill is a factor and being that you are from Madison, I'm sure you are used to snowy conditions (unless you have only been driving for a couple years). I have driven many vehicles over the years and short of my Audi which was AWD or my buick which was just a tank anyways, the Ranger is on the top of my list for good winter vehicles. You have to set it up for your climate and driving habits. Tires are a big decision and IMO should never be skimped on money wise.

 

[adsm08]

Tires are a big decision and IMO should never be skimped on money wise.

Agreed.

The difference in what I paid for my B2 and what I paid for the tires that I put on it (and I mean that I personally mounted, balance, and re-installed the wheels) won't buy half a tank of gas for the Ranger.

 

[tomjan]

As for tires, I have destinations on it. They are pretty new, 90% tred left.

As I drive it more, there is def. something wrong with the front end.

It a humming that changes noise with speed, so its something turning. Time to check the hubs, bearing and u joints I guess.

Anything I should check first or not waste my time with.

Thanks

 

[DRanger024]

I would start right there. I've never had a front end problem with my truck in the 50,000 miles I've owned it so my guess is as good as yours.

 

[tomjan]

Ok so would someone mind confirming this.

What am I supposed to find with these hubs. I have been doing some looking, as it seems that the 99 ranger had the vacuum locking and unlocking hubs. So, when the 4x4 is disconnected, I the front axles should not be turning, correct.

I have been reading that replacing the hubs with manual locking hubs is a good way to go. Would that replace the entire vacuum system for the front hubs? Though meaning that I would have to get out and lock them in every time I wanted 4x4.

Anywhere I can find a write up and pics of this. I have been searching in the tech library, but not a lot of pics.

Thanks

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Anywhere I can find a write up and pics of this. I have been searching in the tech library, but not a lot of pics.

Thanks

Just saw it last night when I was looking for something else:

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/AVM_hub_swap.htm

Or you could do a little trick for nothing but the time to do it and have the front constantly locked in like the newer Rangers (same exact powertrain so running full time won't hurt anything)

http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Apr04/offroad.htm

 

[tomjan]

Ok,

So some new developments. I checked the truck out today, and when it is moving forward, the front drive axles are moving. The driver side is turning the same direction as the tires and the passenger side is turning opposite way. What does this mean? With the hubs supposed to be unlocked, the drive axles should not be turning at all. The drive shaft is also not turning, which is good i think.

Is one hub not unlocking? Or?

Thanks

 

[Jspafford]

Sounds to me like your driver side hub is not unlocking and therefore causing the spider gears to spin twice as fast as they normally would. This would cause a vibration and noise.

I would try this http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Apr04/offroad.htm and see if the problem is better once you know both hubs are locked and everything is spinning all the time. Once you verify, then you can decide how to proceed from there.