I have a 2001 ford ranger edge edition 4x4 im wanting to do a straight axle swap on it and I only have one concern, my concern is once I install the axle what do I do with the wire that went to the old IFS axle that locks it in 4 wheel drive. do I just hide the wire out of the way? or will the truck throw a code since the wire is not hooked up or will my transfer case not engage into 4 wheel drive? has anybody done one of these swaps on this new of a truck with electronic 4x4 and have any suggestions?

Thank you I appreciate any help I can get

 

There are no wires in your stock axle. There are no wires that lock it into 4wd. What puts the truck into 4 wheel drive is merely the shift motor located on the transfer case. Your front axle shafts are always locked into place because it has live axles....no hub disconnect.

Are you mistaking the problem for the wheel bearing ABS sensors? You'll likely lose front ABS anyway with this swap...

I suggest looking through the solid axle section because there's been at least 20 trucks that are 2001+ that have been solid axle swapped and the majority of them have build threads right here on Ranger-Forums.

 

You could keep ABS if you got the correct axle. Would have to be a superduty D50/60 if I am not mistaken. Other option is a custom machined tone ring for the axleshafts.

Other than that the front axle makes next to no difference. The rear has the VSS in it and depending on rear axle choice you will have to figure that out. I chose to stick with a ford axle for simple plug and play connectors.