Solid Axle Swaps General discussion of solid axle swaps for the Ford Ranger.

HillPrideRanger's OFFICIAL SAS thread

Old Dec 24, 2010
  #51  
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ha sorry i wasnt paying attention when typing "beadlocks" . and thanks, would you say its possible to ballence them enough to use them as a DD?
 
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Old Dec 24, 2010
  #52  
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Just use stick on weights.



GB :)
 
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Old Jan 8, 2011
  #53  
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so ive been doin a lot with holidays and all so i haven't posted any new news,
sense Ive got a 9" with 27 spline axles ( which will be changed beacuse i will be going from the 5 on 4.5 to the 8 lug) will be putting an e-locker or true track and 5.13 or greater, and still looking for a 44 HP with flat top knuckles but no such luck people here in colorado think there axles are gold!
 
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Old Jan 13, 2011
  #54  
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there is no 9 inch with 27 spline... doesnt exist... only 2 are the big bearing 9 inches with 31 splines and the earlier small bearing models with 28 splines... what year did the axle come out of and what vehicle??

btw, i ran beadlocks on the street with a ton of airsoft bbs in the tires and it drove fine.. and 42s wont work good on a d44 btw, or for daily driving.... ford d44s dont come with flat top knuckles either...

plus idk what your talking about getting axles out of a bronco newer than 1980.. in 1980 they switched to a d44 TTB suspension aka not a straight axle..

your only options are fullwidth d44 out of a 78-79 bronco (big bearing 9 inch rear comes from that truck)

any bronco axle from previous years will be narrow and before 1971 will be a d30 not a 44... and an axle pre 76 will have drums not disc in the front which is no good..

you need to figure out what you want for your truck and research exactly how to do it!! search and read alot more! feel free to PM me or post up any questions you have for the swap!
 
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Old Jan 14, 2011
  #55  
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thats right the 9" is a 28 not 27. it came out of a fairlane i don't remember what year because i got it so long ago,

and awesome ive herd about people doing this i just didnt know how much weight in bb's should be used

the last time i was at 4wheel parts one of the guys told me 83 to 86 broncos had flat top knuckles and i thought he would know what he was talking about.... guess not...

would you suggest a D60 be better for running something close to 42s?
 
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Old Jan 14, 2011
  #56  
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welded up the adjustable coil buckets today at lunch and here they are
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they are 5" adjustable

let me know what you guys think

Thanks
-Andy
 
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Old Jan 18, 2011
  #57  
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i always thought that idea was kinda cool....adjustable coil buckets.
 
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Old Jan 18, 2011
  #58  
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Originally Posted by HillPrideRanger
thats right the 9" is a 28 not 27. it came out of a fairlane i don't remember what year because i got it so long ago,

and awesome ive herd about people doing this i just didnt know how much weight in bb's should be used

the last time i was at 4wheel parts one of the guys told me 83 to 86 broncos had flat top knuckles and i thought he would know what he was talking about.... guess not...

would you suggest a D60 be better for running something close to 42s?


If you asking what axles to use based on tire size i think your in over your head.

Yes, if you are planning on anything bigger than 37s, and you want it to be reliable get a d60. there are different d60s, so choose wisely.

some are more desired than others, especially the 78-79 ford d60s for there spring pad widths, king pin etc. Newer axles, 91.5 and newer IIRC are BJ axles. Which are not as desirerable.

I have a 89 dana 60 in the front of my ranger, no big issues with it yet.

and 15" rims wont work on a dana 60 unless you grind the caliper down. **** that game.

go to pirate and read the dana 60 bible.

and if you go dana 60 up front, your gonna want some beef in the rear, not a skimply little 8.8 or 9"
 
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Old Jan 18, 2011
  #59  
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yeah ive made my mind up on not going the 60 rote i did more research and for what i do now it would kinda be over kill i think d44 would be the best for me
 
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Old Jan 18, 2011
  #60  
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dose anyone have a list of every car a drivers drop D44 came in? and which are best for the type of swap for our rangers? i know a 80s waggy is liked but what are my other options?
 
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Old Jan 18, 2011
  #61  
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high pinion, 76-79 f-150, and 78-79 bronco.

the f250's had 3/4ton Dana 44 with leafs, some rare f250's had d60's.
 
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Old Jan 18, 2011
  #62  
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what about other makes like the waggy and what not?
 
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Old Jan 18, 2011
  #63  
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they are low pinion. I wouldnt bother, but 80 or 81+ - something, jeep waggoneer. 6 lug IIRC.

Dont really know to much about waggy axles.
 
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Old Jan 18, 2011
  #64  
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so the ideal (from what i read) is a 77 f-150 or any f250 3/4 axle correct?
 
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Old Jan 18, 2011
  #65  
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If you get a 78-79 axle you have to use the radius arms.

F250 axle is 8 lug.
 
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Old Jan 18, 2011
  #66  
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i have to use radius arms i cant do a 3 link......? i cant grind/cut off the mounts?
 
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Old Jan 18, 2011
  #67  
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I like the idea of the Ballistic adjustable buckets, I was going to use them when I did my swap, but just decided to modify the stock ones..
 
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Old Jan 19, 2011
  #68  
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Originally Posted by HillPrideRanger
i have to use radius arms i cant do a 3 link......? i cant grind/cut off the mounts?
If you use a 78-79 dana 44 from a f150 or bronco, no. you will have to use the radius arms. You cant grind them off, they are part of the axle.

if you have a 76-77 axle, then yes you can grind them off.

if you get a hp44 from a f250 it will be leaf sprung, so you can do what you wish.
 
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Old Jan 20, 2011
  #69  
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Originally Posted by ranger
If you use a 78-79 dana 44 from a f150 or bronco, no. you will have to use the radius arms. You cant grind them off, they are part of the axle.

if you have a 76-77 axle, then yes you can grind them off.

if you get a hp44 from a f250 it will be leaf sprung, so you can do what you wish.
yeah thats what i thought because the 78 and up are casted on correct? Im thinking im gonna plan on using a 77 or a 250 axle mainly because i hear the 77s are stronger along with the 250 axles
 
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Old Jan 20, 2011
  #70  
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Originally Posted by ranger
and if you go dana 60 up front, your gonna want some beef in the rear, not a skimply little 8.8 or 9"
Not trying to start anything... but I don't feel a 9" is a weak axle. I mean you can easily pick up a set of 35 Splines for it, and it'll be beefy as you need.
 
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Old Jan 20, 2011
  #71  
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Yea I agree. The 9" is a good axle, but you can get a d60 or70, 14 bolt cheaper and not have to upgrade anything. Nothing wrong with a 9" thought.

And to the hillpride dood, just cause its f250 don't mean axles are bigger. Just bigger brakes, has leaf springs and .5" axle tubes. Same axle shafts
 
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Old Jan 21, 2011
  #72  
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Yeah I figured that, the way people drive around here ill probibly need the extra brakes, that's why im thinking about the 250 axle.. that is if I can find one... and I allready have 4 or 5, 9" so I can use the money that I would spend on a 10.25 on bullit proofing the 9"
 
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Old Jan 28, 2011
  #73  
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Originally Posted by escort_gts
I like the idea of the Ballistic adjustable buckets, I was going to use them when I did my swap, but just decided to modify the stock ones..
i have them on my 69 bronco and they are diesel
 
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Old Jan 31, 2011
  #74  
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been buying parts for the 9" and being that it has the smaller axle (28 spline), should i buy everything and put in the bigger 31 spline axles or do u think ill be fine with the 28 spline and a cheep lock right locker.... and if i go bigger engine/tires later i can always upgrade to 31 and buy a better locker??

so im really asking is one of those "what would you do?" questions

Thanks
-Andy
 
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Old Jan 31, 2011
  #75  
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go 31 from the start.if u can do it right the first time do it and dont be sorry later that u didnt
 
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