Im looking to sas my 03 ranger but ive been searching around and everyone says its really hard to do and around here i cant find a front axle. Do you think it would be better to find an older ranger and just keep my 03 stock?? I mean what all goes into doing a SAS on an 03. What would be better to get both front and rear axles and swap them in or should i just get a front axle and leave the 8.8 in there. NEED OPINIONS.

 

Zabeard's is a 03 if I remember correctly. Check this builds out

 

Yeah check the project logs section. I did it to my 03. Its not the simplest thing you can do thats for sure. From the sound of your post you've got a lot of research to do. Read, read, and read some more. I did research for well over a year before I decided to dive into the project. It took me roughly 3 weeks to complete.

 

this is the place to do your reading.

ive done my 03, helped on an 01, and a 04

 

zaebeard are you able to send me a link of your 03 build???

 

Its in the project logs section with all the other builds.

 

There is plenty of reading to do here. So search around and post up questions. TRS also has some good tech info. As far as older or newer Ranger. I don't remember the exact years but I want to say Ranger with the TTB (97' older) have the steering box and not a rack and pinion. You can reuse the stock steering box mounted on the inside of the frame. I would say that was a hang up on my project was the steering. Suspension is pretty basic espeecially once you've researched quite a bit and talked to a lot of people. It is a big project to get into and it gets expensive. If you want a trail rig then get an older Ranger and keep your 03' as your DD. That would be the smartest thing if you can afford it. That way if you break you aren't SOL when you have to get to work.

 

ive been looking at an older one to do it too but if i do it to my 03 it will be my DD. and Razorsedge i was looking at how you did yours and it just seems like alot of welding and cleaning up and stuff

 

Yeah you gotta know how to weld pretty good. Really you just have to know what you'll be getting yourself into before you jump in there only to realize you don't have the fab skills to finish the project.

 

yea my brother is very good at welding with a good welder would just have to get a better one. And if i would do this im not too sure what i would do about the rear like shackles or what and if i should stay with the stock 8.8 or go to a 9 inch one. And about the front what kinda d44 should i get and from what kinda vehicle.

 

I would stick with the 8.8 unless you have more funds to throw at a 9". The kind of wheeling do you plan on doing should help answer that.

There are several D44 that you could swap in. It depends on what suspension you plan on going with (coils, leafs, coilovers). Some work better with certain suspensions than others (require less work). A Wagoneer D44, Early Bronco D44, old 70ish F-150 or F-250 D44 are the more popular ones. If you don't wheel much you could get an old TTB Ranger a Jeep Dana 30 and it should match up pretty good.

https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...p-started.html

D44 Axle info
The Driver Side Differential Dana 44

Besides welding there is also some fabrication involved.

 

ill sell you a D44 setup for an 03 ranger with a 3 link front end!

its 8lug though. If you buy the 44 ill toss in a rear 8 lug dana 60 for 50 bucks!

 

how much for both???

 

Im not gonna be doing that much wheeling just here and there but I was thinking just coils?? Is that a good decision?? I was reading about doing that dana 30 would that be something to do to my truck to get just like 4 inches of lift??? and if i go that route is that pretty much the same as doing the dana 44 swap??

 

Good luck getting only 4" of lift. You might be able to work it out if you get an older ranger with the steering box mounted inside the frame. I recommend getting the D44 instead of the D30. Do it once and right. It is all up to you. Look around the forums and do what fits your needs. If you're going to put the time and effort into it at least put in a D44 unless you really think a D30 will suit your needs. It isn't terrible, but why go through the hassle of doing this swap for a D30?

Beard is a good guy. Buy whatever he has and recommends and you'll be on the right path. He has done this a few times and knows his stuff really well.

 

thanks for the kind words Bryan.

I'll let both axles go for 800. The D44 needs new axle shafts but it has high steer, 5.13s, aussie locker, 8 lug outters, 1310 yoke, and all the brackets welded on for a 3 link. Now the nice thing about this axle is if you wanted something else on it like leaf springs or coilsprings, then you can cut off all the brackets and weld on new, there is plenty of room on the drivers side outter which there isnt normally on most D44s or D60s.

The rear 60 is pretty stock and has not even been cleaned up yet. I got it when i bought my front Dana60.

If you want some pictures let me know.

 

lifts isnt dependent on the style axle. you are going to have to lift it a decent amount just to get good up travel and to fit the axle.

 

ill have to think about that but i dont really wheel that much imjust looking to get alittle bit of a lift. whats the minimum lift you can do on a dana 30 and a dana 44?? im just looking for something to get a lift and then if i wanna go wheeling i can. around here there is nothing to wheel

 

just buy a off the shelf lift kit. Its obv you havent researched this much. Keep reading.. i personally think you are in over your head.

 

I agree, it doesn't sound like a SAS is for you......

 

Get a body lift and some bigger tires and be done. There is no point in spending the money on a SAS if you don't wheel much at all. The reason you need to get some good lift with an SAS is so the truck can flex and do its thing without parts hitting.

 

im capable of doing it i just need to do some more research on it i think. it seems like you guys are putting me down which i think is bull ****

 

You may be capable, that still doesn't mean its right for you. It takes some people months to do the conversion. It can take months to work out all the bugs to make the truck feel safe to drive. Your truck will handle and drive much differently than it does now. If you aren't going to SAS it because you need the capability of a solid axle offroad, then its probably not what you want especially if you don't have something else to drive. Not saying it can't be done, but you need to put a lot more thought into this IMO.

I mean usually people do a SAS either because they want to wheel the hell out of it and the IFS doesn't suffice, or because they want A LOT of lift, as in a show truck. If you don't wheel and you only want a small amount of lift a SAS is not a very good option.

 

maybe you just need to buy a suspension lift kit...

 

Well I was actually thinking of getting a 97 and older one to do a SAS on it and still have my 03 with a bl and 33s. do you think that would work out better then doing it on my 03???