OK few questions about my new ranger it is a 2000 3.0l with 4x4 and it is a automatic

1. Since my 4wd is a push button 4high 4Low does this mean i have vacum hubs?

2. If it is a vacum hub is thier any way i can just swap out the Manual hubs?

3. if my ranger has vacum hubs does this mean it has live axles?

4. if i installed manual locking hubs will i be able to get rid of live axles?

5. What are my choices for a new Front Differential that can handle more abuse but will be a easy swap out?

6. Should i pass up a explorer 31 spline 8.8 and just buy a 9in rearend?


well thats about all of the questions i can think of atm..
but please everyone try to answer to the best of yalls abilities and if you are lucky enough to know of posts that might be helpful to me please just link me to them

THANKS FOR THE TIME!!

 

how hard are you going to be on it to decide between the 9" and 8.8"
-the 9" is going to be wider.

-if you have vacuum hubs no you don't have a live axle
-no the push button does not mean you have vacuum hubs, pull the tire/wheel off and its an easy decision as to what you have.. if a big plastic thing sticks out its vacuum if its an axle nut holding the cv shaft in then its a live axle

-i would highly recommenced swapping out the vacuum **** for the manual hubs

-no, there's no easy way to swap in a new front axle for more strength

-no, if you have the live axle you cant put on manual hubs unless you swap out the wheel bearings, steering knuckles? and cv shafts with the vacuum setup then put manual hubs on it



i sense a mini-me comin up through the ranks

 

i pray to god it doesnt have live axles!! because i dont wana break anything and not be able to drive home to fix it.......

how much is your guestimation on what ti would cost to swap a live axle to a manual?

 

ya i kinda a 9in would be too much unless i was going to sas... so ima go with a 31 spline 8.8 with disk brakes

 

that should be plenty strong, i've broke some stuff in my 28 spline but its always been driveable.

-bent the axle shaft
-the l/s unit is a bunch of pieces of metal floating around the diff
-teeth are missing off the spider gears


most of the damage except the bent axle shaft are most likely due to me having the manual and dumping the clutch on hill climbs etc.

 

Yes, you have vacuum hubs.
check this out:

http://therangerstation.com/tech_library/99hubswap.htm

 

i wasn't sure if 2000 had both or not..

 

ok so that write up from TRS states that i can use manual hub assembly off any 1995 and newer Explorers?


if i did this swap would this increase strength to my axle since i would be using all explorer parts?

The Explorer axle goes all the way thru the hubs and is secured by a 32mm nut on the outside of the hub which makes it stronger than the Ranger axles

 

no

it swaps you over from the vacuum setup on the ranger to the live axle setup off an explorer

 

well i guess best time for me to do this swap is while i have my 4x4 torn down when i install the rcd lift umm one question...

someone give me a guestimation on how much parts will cost for the swap? cuz im kinda starting to go down hill.... lol i think ill have just enough to pull this off

 

I think 200 was the last year of the vac hubs.

 

ah ****, not the manual off the expo, the live axle


sorry


anywho
my tires/wheels were $1400? i also got a hook up at discount, but then $100 of that was tire warranties
gears installed - $1100
lift installed - $3000


so your just paying for the gears to get installed
~1500 tires
~1100 gears installed
~2300 RCD
~250 body lift
~200 expo axle + rebuild stuff
~500-1000 lockers



idk, anyone care to add something?

 

it is the last year.. i just want to say they started phasing the live axle in during the 2000 model.. but i'm most likely wrong

 

im praying to god that my ranger dont have live axles cuz ima be ticked... but same time itl be a new experience doing a manual swap =)

but its a little penny

 

my 2008 is a live axle

 

well if it holds out for a while but if it starts getting annoying ima swap it out..

ok going to sleep its 1am... i got work in the morning..

people keep posting... and give me their opinions

but i appreciate yalls help so far!!!

 

its 1230 and i have to be at school at 7 to keep working on my solid axle lol

 

Since it's a 2000, it more than likely has vacuum hubs...which means....you can swap to the AVM manual hubs. I'm actually considering a '00 and older swap on my live axle truck JUST so i can do manual hubs.

Front axle swap? it's the same axle acrosst the board....D35. If it's still got cv shafts, it'll break eventually if your hard on 'em. BUT....ranger's do have a decent IFS. Your only real option is a solid axle swap imo.

Explorer 31 spline.

 

alright thanks for everyones tips and help ima strip my 4x4 down tonight and see whats all their and pray to god it isnt live axles..

 

Ford started to have warranty trouble with the Pulse Vacuum Hublock system and decided to axe it during the 2000 model year in favor of live axles from the Explorer. That means that you could have either type on your 2000 Ranger.

It's easy enough to tell the difference. Rangers with PVH hubs have a vacuum line running from the vacuum reservoir through the PVH solenoid to the knuckles; live axle trucks do not.

 

WOW you guys are way off on alot of your info... FIRST most 2000 made are live... I have found its actually been hard to find a 2000 that is a PVH then live..

Richard its REALLY simple to find out if you have live or PVH... go outside if you have stock wheels just pop off the center caps..

if you see a plastic looking thing like so:



you have PVH...

if you pop it off and all you see is a large 32mm nut then you have live....



Now if you want PVH and you have live.. get strapped in for some money spending..

2) PHV CV shafts: $130 (approx)
2) PHV wheel bearings: $280 (approx)
set) AVM hubs: $150 (approx)

Total: $560 (approx)

 

If it is live axle leave it. Nothing wrong with live axle and no added benefit if you break it on the trail for getting home.

would be silly to spend 600+ to swap to manual hubs, the payout is so small.

 

^^^ agree'ed i am not swapping it out till i wear out my wheel bearings or CV shafts..

I have live...

 

thank god for internet on cell phones these days.. lol well im at work and all but ya if its live axles then i can live with it that price isnt realy that bad i could easily do the swap but i might as well wait until i wear out the old setup if it is live axle then switch to manual

im pretty sure i will wear everything out in the next two years before i go to college in indiana for RV Management and other stuff.. lol "taking over my dads business so he can retire when i get outta college"

 

where in indiana?