Ranger beams and spindles

[EvanNumberSeven]

I have a 96 ranger. I want to put the forged steel beams, which is pre 1993, on my truck to replace the cast iron beams 1993-97. There is an obviously big difference on the open end on it. So my question is, Can I put my 96 spindles on forged beams?

 

[Insanejughead]

Your best option would be to just get the beams AND spindles off of the donor truck and go from there.

AFAIK, the only difference between the two different kinds of beam setups is that the older beams had the ball joints in them, the newer beams have the balljoints in the spindle. I'm thinking about doing the same thing because I'd like to get the DJM dream beams. Once I get them, I will put the newer spindle on those beams and install them in my '85.

 

[MAKG]

The balljoint comment is the difference between 2WD and 4WD.

All 4WD beams are stamped and folded steel, NOT cast iron.

And you can't post links to images you have stored on your local disk. We don't have access to your local disk, even if your computer is on.

 

[Insanejughead]

The balljoint comment is the difference between 2WD and 4WD.

Not quite...

Both of my 85's both have balljoints pressed into the axles and the spindles are pushed up onto them with nuts on the bottom side of both the top and lower balljoint.

My 94 has the balljoints in the spindle. Only the lower balljoint has a nut on the upward side of it. The top one is held in place by the camber adjuster along with the pinch bolt.

Oh, and all three are 2wd. As for 4wd, I do not know about how they are setup, (but I will when I go pick up the 85 4x4 that I'm going to buy soon).

 

[EvanNumberSeven]

Take that shit apart

So can anyone tell me what tools I need to...

a) Take the beams out of the pivot points of an '89 or older ranger

b) Remove the spindles of an '89 or older ranger

c) Take off the radius arms of an '89 or older ranger


Take note that I would check the measurements on my own '96 Ranger, But I know that there is the chance that they arent the same.