Yarly.

Trying to figure out the best option out of these two, asking for opinions and more thoughts on this.

Start with the IFS:

Pros:
keep front end stock
easy to get parts from other rangers
ABS
Manual hubs

Cons:
Lift with Tbars ew.
CV shafts
90k miles on current IFS
Open Diff (atm)


SFA(d30):


Pros:
Easy to upgrade stronger(bout same strength as d35 stock)
No CV's
get rid of old stock parts/bushings
gain some lift
Keep current bolt pattern
Add locker on install
Manual hubs?(do d30's have manual hubs?)

Cons:
Most expensive way
extensive work to the front end(steering, etc)
have to regear front/rear
have truck downtime for install




there was some other info i can't remember but you guys can add your information.

i'm more than likely keeping my truck on 33's, 35's would only be if i found a good deal and if i had the SFA.

i'd like to gain a few more inches of lift without a body lift. and i don't want to lift up my IFS since pretty much everything is original with 90k miles on it.

Also i'd like to add some type of locker to the front, i've thought about swapping in a new front axle with 4.10s along with an expo rear end with 4.10's and adding a locker, i have manual hubs so it wouldn't be to bad for steering on the road.

but if i'm doing that much work, why not go SFA and have it be better.

 

the biggest con on the whole list is the d30. xj's and yj's and tj's slay that axle and they are considerably lighter than a ranger. it simply will not last. however there are other options. much greater ones at that. narrowed 44 is probly your best bet on it, you can get spacers/lug adapters with just about any configuration possible. if you going to do major surgery, do home work. lots of home work. all signs will say stay away. however i do like that you are thinking and weighing options. keep at it!

 

Ryan's truck has held up to the D30 just fine.

 

Usage and hold up varies according to the driver and his/her style of driving.

With some drivers, a D30 will work fine with 35's on the Rubicon.

Others can't get out of the driveway without breaking one.

I suggest the OP determine what kind of "torture" he will put a D30 axle through (wheeling goals ect). If it only ever pounds pavement....sure a D30 will be fine. But if it will actually go offroad....stay away from the D30 if you can help it. Once you start playing offroad and loose the sense of "I'm gonna baby it" the D30 will break and leave you stranded.

Though many have swapped it in, IMHO its not worth the effort to put a D30 under a Ranger EVER. I would only ever consider a D44 out of a 3/4 ford/chevy truck, since a Ranger is 125% of a Jeep, and 65% of a fullsize mid-seventies pickup.

But hey, this is America, do what you please

BTW, I'd probably just stick with the stock stuff and run 33's.

 

i was just going to say something about razor's truck lol OP has a 302 under the hood making it a little heavier and exert more power in 4x4 but i'm sure if built right, it will hold up and last pretty well.

 

My D30 has held up to more that I ever expected it to. I think its tougher than people give it credit for. That being said, I still wouldn't recommend it for the lead foot types or larger tires than 35s. The biggest reason I personally would never use a D30 again is because of the width. With coils there just isn't enough room for the brackets you need, where you need them.

 

it wouldn't be anything hardcore at all, nothing extreme crawling ha.

basically the main idea would be to get away from the CV shafts and gain a little more room for the front tires.

the bonus for the d30 is that its just the perfect width, and same bolt pattern, i'd have to change nothing really. i have the size tires i want already.

also its pretty much the same as the d35 in the ranger which is the same as the d35 in the explorer with the 5.0's

plus then it would make the truck less of a DD for me. i don't use it that much the way it is. its paid off and really a toy.

 

Well, if your not going to do any hardcore off-roading, then a d30 would probably be alright for ya.

ME...im dead set on a d44. I might not do any extreme crawling, but if I ever do, then I have the extra beef under the front. And you also have a 302.

 

I say go for the D30. If you end up doing more then you thought you can always swap in a D44 or bigger. Like Ryan said people under estimate the D30.

 

Well, I personally wouldn't bother hacking it all up to stick a different axle under it 'just because.' The axle you put under it will have some miles on it too, and you don't know how easy they were. You know what your front end has been through (maybe that's why you want to get rid of it!)

I know you said you want a front locker, but add the rear one first, and see if you actually need more. Yes, it would be nice, but will it be worth the cost? My No-Slip has been awesome in my truck, really made a huge traction difference.

 

Most people rebuild the axles completely before they put them in. So essentially it will be a brand new axle when it goes in.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by 98liftedranger

Most people rebuild the axles completely before they put them in. So essentially it will be a brand new axle when it goes in.

yeah if i went with the trouble of putting a d30 under it, it would be rebuilt and pretty much new.