So I have a 2011 Ford Ranger Sport 4x4 that comes with 3.73 gears and an open differential.

I want to upgrade or change to an LSD differential. Looking at Fx4's for their LSD in the rear. but Fx4's come with 4:10 gears which means I would also swap the front diff with the same Fx4 platform.
There is a 2006 Fx4 Off Road rear end I found at a junkyard I can buy for $120 and all the gears and everything look to be fine. The problem is, it has rear drum brakes and I have rear discs on the 2011 Ford Ranger I have.

Question #1
Would I be able to swap with a disc conversion or could I take everything from my old axle and put it onto the Fx4 one (replacing the drum components with my disc ones)?

Question #2
Could I just leave the drums on it for now until I find a newer Fx4 rear end with discs? What would be involved in making the drum brakes work? Could I use my old brake lines from the disc brakes rear end? would I need a new parking break? etc?

 

Welcome to the forum

You should have a 28-spline axles, which matters

No, the attachment for drum and disc are different

You can pull out the OPEN differential and replace it with a Limited slip for 28-splne and swap over your Ring gear(3.73), so no changes to rear axle or gear Ratio

There are 2 Limited slip options
Many like the Torsen models but its expensive in 28-spline model, $875

You can buy the $120 axle and just used the differential part, I would rebuild it, article here: https://www.therangerstation.com/tec...-differential/
But you don't have to, just swap Ring gear
Clutch pack kits run $150-$200

Or hold out for a 2010/2011 Ranger limited slip 3.73

Try this site, good place for used parts: https://www.car-part.com/
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"LS" is limited slip but you may need to call to confirm
There is a Door Tag with R6 under AXLE if its an L/S 3.73 rear axle

 

See I would want to upgrade to the 4:10 gears anyway. So would It be worth it to then just go to a junkyard, pull the 2006 Fx4 off-road 28 spline differential and just rebuild the clutches?

Also what is the difference between the Torsen and the other LSD options?
Another thing too is I don't have the tools to re-shim a diff and make sure everything lines up. Would I be able to just pull the entire diff out of the axle and slap it in my axle/carrier? Or would I need to go to a drivetrain shop so they can shim it and line it up properly?

 

It would for sure need to be shimmed


Trak-loc(Ford) and posi-traction(GM) use clutches on each axle end that Locks both axles together all the time, you add a friction oil to the differential gear oil that allows the clutches to "slip" when going around corners so it allows for small RPM differences, Limited Slip, if one axle spins too fast(slips too much) clutches go to full time lock

Torsen uses worm gears and worm wheels to Lock the axles together when needed, when one axles RPMs get too far apart from the other axles RPM it forces them to lock together, but its an OPEN differential until then, while it's called Limited Slip its more like Limited Lock, BUT no clutches to replace, and it is a good high end "Limited slip", Ford used them on the FX4 Level II, no complaints

Personal choice is the clutch type, they tend to be more predictable in slippery conditions