Ttb axel wrap?

[Alex_g]

92 4wd ranger

I had a bad clunk when I hit the breaks in my ranger and it was also present when turning with 4wd engaged. Replaced the rotten and loose radius arm bushings on the spindle side of the radius arm and now the clunk is half as bad when i brake or turn in 4wd.

Shook all the suspension parts by hand and everything seemed to check out... then I tried spinning the tires with the breaks on and low and behold my whole drivers side beam/diff rotates with the tire!

What is the name of the bushings in the open end of the radius arm that connects to the beam? I’m pretty sure that is what I need to replace or I should just save up a bit and get a bushing kit that replaces all the bushings in the front end. My Haynes Manuel doesn’t have pictures of the bushings so I’m not sure what I’m looking for and I’d rather not pull it apart till I have the new parts so I can move it around in the driveway.

 

[franklin2]

I thought the other end of the radius arm was bolted solid to the beam?

 

[franklin2]

One long bolt holds it. The picture below is a 2wd but the 4wd is very similar.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

One long bolt holds it. The picture below is a 2wd but the 4wd is very similar.

Similar in principle.

4wd has a large diameter bolt that screws into the beam from the bottom and a double ended stud that screws in from the top. The coil spring is secured to the axle via the top stud with a nut.

The big bolt like a 2wd going clear thru the axle would interfere with 4wd bits that pass thru inside the beams... like the front axle shaft.

The 1995 D35 in my truck:

 

[Alex_g]

So is the bushing I need the one in the picture bellow? Or is it steel camber/castor Insert?

 

[Curious Hound]

There is no bushing where the axle beam and radius arm bolt together. There should be no movement in that connection.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

There is no bushing where the axle beam and radius arm bolt together. There should be no movement in that connection.

+1

If you have movement there something is either loose or broken. It is just two bolts going into two threaded holes.

 

[JMF661]

Are the bushings where the radius arm bolts into the mount toward the rear of the truck bad?

 

[Alex_g]

Are the bushings where the radius arm bolts into the mount toward the rear of the truck bad?

Yes they were bad so I replaced them with some new Moog polyurethane bushings

 

[JMF661]

Sorry, I think I was confused by what you had meant. So, you haven’t replaced the radius arm bushing on the “open side”, the side which is retained by one horizontal bolt. This bushing kit?

 

[Alex_g]

Sorry, I think I was confused by what you had meant. So, you haven’t replaced the radius arm bushing on the “open side”, the side which is retained by one horizontal bolt. This bushing kit?

Those are the bushings I have replaced.
I was unsure of weather or not there were bushings in between the U shaped end that wraps around the axel beam. According to Ericbphoto there is no bushings there. Just threaded holes and bolts/studs.

 

[JMF661]

Those are the bushings I have replaced.
I was unsure of weather or not there were bushings in between the U shaped end that wraps around the axel beam. According to Ericbphoto there is no bushings there. Just threaded holes and bolts/studs.

Ah yes, this is correct. There are just threaded holes and the bolts with washers.
When you had the beams out did you give a good look at the pivot points themselves? No excessive rust or damage to the rivets?

 

[Alex_g]

No. I didn’t drop the beam. I dropped the crossmember the radius arms mount to when I replaced the bushings.

 

[JMF661]

No. I didn’t drop the beam. I dropped the crossmember the radius arms mount to when I replaced the bushings.

Does your rig have aftermarket radius arms? I thought that the cross member the radius arms were driven into was riveted on?
In either case, you’re axel pivot bushings could be in real real bad shape. I’m not certain that those bushings being bad would cause this issue.
Other than that, nothing comes to mind that would make the entire beam move with the tire in that way.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Does your rig have aftermarket radius arms? I thought that the cross member the radius arms were driven into was riveted on?
In either case, you’re axel pivot bushings could be in real real bad shape. I’m not certain that those bushings being bad would cause this issue.
Other than that, nothing comes to mind that would make the entire beam move with the tire in that way.

Somebody may have replaced them before too. Mine are bolted on because 10 years ago somebody (me) replaced the bushings.