4wd Uprights vs 2wd Edge uprights
 

Hey guys, I am replacing all my front ball joints, bushings, and tie rod ends next week. I cross checked all the part numbers I ordered and they match that of 4wd rangers and explorers.

So I was thinking I could stop by the junkyard and pick up some 4wd uprights and maybe the brakes, I need to look into that, and put those in just in case I decide to add 4wd later on.

I am basically wondering if there would be any problem running 4wd uprights without having the axle shafts going to them? Also since mist of you have more experience on rangers than me, if anyone has any input on this? Thanks!

David

Are you talking the spindle? And if so there was just a thread about that. It will not work. The sizes are the two are different. It is a small difference but enough that it would be interchangeable. And I wouldn't run junkyard brakes personally. I would just get new.

Here is the other thread.

https://www.ranger-forums.com/suspension-tech-36/2wd-fabtech-control-arms-4wd-130310/

Yes spindles, that is the word I was trying to think of. Are you talking about this thread?

https://www.ranger-forums.com/showthread.php?t=130310

It seems from that that the 2wd edge and 4wd have the same control arms, therefore the spindles should be interchangeable?

I think this is what you read, to me it seems as though he tried to run coil spring upper control arms on his torsion bar 2wd edge, I want to run 4wd spindles on my 2wd edge.

Good point on the brakes, i will look into what I need thanks.

Oh I didn't read the edge part. haha Yes the edge and the 4x4 should be the same.

Nice! Thanks, I know everyone says converting 4wd is too much work, but I figure I might as well plan ahead while im in there.

Do not run 4wd wheel bearing without the cv shaft, you will run them. You need to swap everything all at once. That is after you get the correct knuckles.

I am guessing knuckle is what you consider the correct word instead of spindle or upright? and how do you figure they will get ruined without the cv shaft in, can you explain more?

dude get a vocabulary lesson in automotive
Spindle and Knuckle are the same thing
https://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...ine=1326986668

I don't know why he put it in bold though? :shrug:

Do you pay attention to what was said above? Get the correct Knuckles therefor they are different. The edge Knuckle doesn't have a Axle going through it with a hub bolted on to it does it now ?

Did you pay attention to what this post is about, clearly I know they are different that is why I said I would go pull them off of a 4wd. I referred to them as uprights and not spindles or knuckles, he put knuckle in bold probably because he is suggesting that spindle and upright are incorrect words and that knuckle is the correct term. If you are going to try to be condescending you should read the whole post first.

OMG... If you want to swap over you have to do it all at once! I wouldn't use used brakes that's just stupid and just a bad idea. So just replace you ball joints grow some too and tie rode ends and when the time comes to $wd swap get the knuckles then. Get them now but dont put them on

thanks for reading all the posts above and summarizing, that totally made me understand why 4wd knuckles will get "ruined" if they don't have a cv axle in them.

For the record, there is actually a difference between spindle and knuckle:

SPINDLE:
https://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...1&d=1326989500

KNUCKLE:
https://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...1&d=1326989438

They will not get ruined. I'm not sure where this idea comes from, but I've seen many vehicles run like this. Just take the end of a cv shaft, clean it up, and slide it into the spindle. This just gives the center of the bearing more support against losing shape.

However, since you'd have to pull it all apart to put the drivetrain parts in anyway, what are you gaining by swapping them now?


And LOL Dave, gotta relax a bit. :biggrin:

my next response was go get the parts and see what happens when you do it your way. But then you spoke up

Which still wouldn't have made sense because I wasn't arguing, I was simply looking for an explanation which ME00Stepside provided

Blhde

Said they would get ruined, and I guess the deformation is what he was talking about. I haven't actually gotten under the truck to look into the 4wd swap yet, I will add all of the front drive components if I have the mounts there, but in the one post I saw the guy had to weld his own mount in, and I do not have access to a welder right now. Plus I was thinking that if I did this part now I could get it aligned and then when I add the rest in it won't have to get realigned.
thanks for the reply and the vocabulary lesson, good to know

The 4wd wheel bearings have a giant hole in the center where the cv axle rides.

1 debris will enter the hole kill the bearing
2 the wheel bearing is supported by cv

You should avoid the explorer front axles with the passenger side axle tube disconnect. If you want a live axle truck get wheel bearings and cv shafts for 95+01 explorers or 01+ rangers. If you want manual hubs get wheel bearings for 98-00 along with the cv's.

Didn't mean to create an uprising over bolding one word. So lets clarify, the knuckle is what bolt to the suspension on most 4wd trucks. Spindles are where the wheel bearing usally rides. The 4wd ranger has a knuckles and unit bearing so it has no spindle per say, but the 2wd ranger has both and commonly referred to as just a spindle. As I believe they are one piece.

Lets use the D44 for an example.

Spindle
https://catalog.foothilloffroad.com/...DAN706570X.gif

Knuckle
https://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...ine=1327009518

As you can see the ranger doesn't really fit the spindle category in 4wd trim. Just trying to show the difference not tweak peeps.