Can I swap a 4X4 rear end into a 2wd ranger? Please stop me if I'm wrong but I assume its limited slip or locking or some junk like that?

Am I barking up the wrong tree here? Should I stick to trying to find and modify an explorer rear end?

 

There is no difference in rear ends from 2WD and 4x4 Rangers, either could be ORDERED with a limited slip, but didn't come with limited slip unless it was part of a "package"
4x4s did tend to get limited slip more often as an added option when built, but its not a given

You can look at the AXLE code on the drivers door label to see, look here: https://www.therangerstation.com/tec...le_codes.shtml

The Letter and number = limited slip

2 numbers is OPEN

Same for Explorers, limited slip was an option, not a given, for 2WD or 4x4

 

I know it was an option, I just wasnt sure how a Ranger 4x4 rear end worked. So they are they all LS or did some come locking? Where they an option on non 4x4 Rangers?

 

All Rangers came an OPEN differential, 2WD or 4x4, no differences

Some 4x4s and 2WDs came with Limited slip just as part of a package, or a customer could add it to any Ranger, 2wd or 4x4, when ordering

There were no factory Lockers in Rangers until 2019/20 Rangers, these are options as well


Open axles send power to the easiest to turn wheel, so once one wheel starts to spin it gets ALL the power

Limited slip allows 1 wheel to spin but the faster it spins the more power is sent to the other wheel, so transfers power to the wheel thats not spinning/slipping

Open and limited slip are the same as far as housings and axles, easily swapped from one Ranger to another, only the differential setup was different internally

Lockers simply lock both wheel axles together, which is good for traction but you also CAN NOT go around corners, so for straight driving only or for low traction surfaces, i.e. gravel, dirt, mud, but in snow and ice they can get a little scary, lol

Limited slip is best for street and off road, a locker that can be selected on or off is also OK, but more specific use than limited slip

 

Thank you. So if I find a limited slip diff on any ranger (of same generation) it should swap on top mine no trouble?

 

Yes, or from a 1994 to 2009 Mazda B-series pickup, same exact axles as Rangers