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

fill me in, what do i gotta do

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Old 02-02-2011
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fill me in, what do i gotta do

ok so i picked up a solid axle, free of charge. im not sure what it is, im told it could be a dana 40, but it is a leaf under set up, it has the higher pitman arm(end broken off), its 6 lug, and its missing the short side axle.

is this a good setup to use or should i just junk it? i want to make this a summer project when gas is too expensive lol so if someone could give me a list of the basic things i need. i would prefer mostly bolt on and less welding, even though i know some things will have to be welded
 
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Old 02-02-2011
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are you going to be running leaves? or coilovers?

You also realize you being coil sprung 2wd it will look like **** unless you cut the frame out where the coils are and plate it up.
 
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Old 02-03-2011
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i was thinking leaf springs bc it might be easier but i have no clue whats the best or easiest, thats why i posted on here haha
 
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Old 02-03-2011
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No such thing as a Dana 40 front, no pitman arm on axles, they are on steering boxes.....not off to a great start SASing a truck....

Looks like a Dana 30 (maybe 44? from Wagoneer?) from YJ/CJ if it is spring under....
 
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Old 02-03-2011
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Originally Posted by coleary15
i was thinking leaf springs bc it might be easier but i have no clue whats the best or easiest, thats why i posted on here haha
well... first you need to decide what you're gonna do the SAS for and what tire size are you gonna run, that's gonna decide what axle you need.

leafs aren't really easier... just kinda more simple and cheaper.

other than that just look at trepaul86's SAS thread. I would say that's the best thread on this site for leaf spring SAS.

If you can't read that thread and understand exactly what everything is and how everything is done then you aren't ready for a SAS.

Basically you need to post more info.
 
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Old 02-04-2011
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i would like to keep my 31" tires bc i just bought them, i gues im in over my head
 
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Old 02-04-2011
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Originally Posted by coleary15
i would like to keep my 31" tires bc i just bought them, i gues im in over my head
Sounds like it. Take it from me, I was thinking about SASing eventually until I realized I had no clue what I was doing really. At first it's like "Oh all I need is an axle, t-case, springs, and shocks." Then you realize there are tons of little things plus angles, and measurements, and math.
 
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Old 02-04-2011
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i can do the angles and measurements, im confident in that, but i wanna collect all the parts i need first so im not running around trying to find stuff half way through the build. i guess i need to think about it some more
 
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Old 02-04-2011
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Originally Posted by coleary15
. i guess i need to think about it some more
Yes, start by reading all the SAS threads.

Can you weld? Know anything about suspension geometry? Fabricate custom parts?

Its not one of those things you just bolt parts on, way more involved than that.
 
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Old 02-04-2011
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Originally Posted by coleary15
i can do the angles and measurements, im confident in that, but i wanna collect all the parts i need first so im not running around trying to find stuff half way through the build. i guess i need to think about it some more

Inevitable. You'll miss something no doubt. Took me a month and I was certain I had everything I needed when I started.


Originally Posted by 04blackedge



Can you weld? Know anything about suspension geometry? Fabricate custom parts?

Its not one of those things you just bolt parts on, way more involved than that.
The geometry is very important. If you don't know all about caster, camber, and toe then your truck will drive like ****. It has to be perfect.






And don't forget when you're looking through everyone's SAS threads that you're frame is different than any of the guys on here that have SAS'd their trucks. You've got those goofy integrated coil buckets that will screw you up along the way.
 
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Old 02-04-2011
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Originally Posted by RazorsEDGE
And don't forget when you're looking through everyone's SAS threads that you're frame is different than any of the guys on here that have SAS'd their trucks. You've got those goofy integrated coil buckets that will screw you up along the way.
I can't wait to do mine.... I've got it all figured out... lol
 
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Old 02-05-2011
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Originally Posted by coleary15
i can do the angles and measurements, im confident in that, but i wanna collect all the parts i need first so im not running around trying to find stuff half way through the build. i guess i need to think about it some more
yeah you will have to have stuff made midway thru. Like driveshafts and stuff. No way to avoid it. You won't have all the information to have stuff made until it is sitting on the axles.
 
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Old 02-06-2011
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Could I just buy a wrecked 4x4 explorer and set my body on it lol I guess I won't SAS it after all
 
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