Welp she gave. I was driving it in 4wd to take the majority of the load off the rear, so I could get it to my buddy, Shawns, this afternoon after work for him to take a look at, and it gave. Blew a hole the size of a quarter through the dif cover and am concerned now about the T/C. It locked up pretty nicely and we had to force it onto the tow truck.

Now, next question... is there a standard problem with the rear of the Ranger's and if so is there a class action lawsuit I can jump on? Is there a recall or was there a recall for the 8.8 31 Spline?

 

Do I smell a Detroit soon.... no wait thats just differential fluid I'm smelling.

I do however think that the carnage will be replaced with a Detroit Locker. Why? Because L/S is over-rated!

 

From the other thread you have about the rear, sounds like something was chewed up and snapped off, then for the hole to happen got lodged between the remants of the carrier and cover and finally shot it through the cover.

Just a guess...

 

Ummm, ouch...

 

yeah, thats what I'm thinking.

 

i do believe there was a recal on the earlier versions of the FX4 with a 31 spline Torsen axle if the truck was a manual tranny......i think they swapped out the axle....

i would call a Ford dealership and ask about an axle recal for a FX4....

 

Thats what I thought with the manual. Wonder if there were a few that made it into the auto's, since mine was built November of 01.

Buddy of mine has a 28 spline sitting in his shed, but the 31 spline torsion wouldn't work with it, would it?

 

It seems like I remember a recall for 02 FX4 Rangers, too. These trucks had the 31spline 8.8" rear axle, like yours. Ford recalled the trucks only with manual transmissions because they were more likely to shock-load the carrier or something. Automatic transmission trucks were not recalled.

I doubt Ford will do anything, but it might be worth a try.

Agreed

 

After a couple of field failures, Ford did a stop sale/stop delivery/recall for the Torsen on all the FX4 manuals that were built through about Jan 2002. However, they did not recall the FX4 automatics from that period that were built with exactly the same axle. Obviously, this was a questionable decision.

 

Well theres your problem . and yes over rated get an OXlocker or ARB Air