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  #1  
Old 03-02-2010, 05:42 AM
big green big green is offline
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Default bronco 2 front axle

i was wondering if somebody could tell me if a front solid axle from a 1981 bronco 2 would fit in my truck?
also how hard would it be to install on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being extreamly difficult?

do i need the whole front end from the bronco?
thanks
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1999 ranger 4x4 supercab, 4.0L
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  #2  
Old 03-06-2010, 05:30 PM
Yrac Yrac is offline
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Default Re: bronco 2 front axle

Different kind of suspension, so that would be 10.
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  #3  
Old 03-06-2010, 05:34 PM
01_ranger_4x4 01_ranger_4x4 is offline
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Default Re: bronco 2 front axle

i dont think they made the BII in 81 and if they did it didnt have a solid axle. BII's had the TTB axle.
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  #4  
Old 03-06-2010, 11:28 PM
camodown camodown is offline
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Default Re: bronco 2 front axle

you need to do a lot more researching before you tackle putting a front axle in your truck
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  #5  
Old 03-07-2010, 07:38 AM
big green big green is offline
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Default Re: bronco 2 front axle

the owner told me it was a 81 broncoII but its acctually a 73 full size bronco, witch does have the solid axle.
and i have a buddy that gona help with that, if i choose to do the swap
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1999 ranger 4x4 supercab, 4.0L
-3 inch PA body lift
-16 inch pro comp alloys
-33x11.50 BFG all terrain
-Go Rihno roll bar with 4 KC Daylighter lights
-weston bull bar
-dual exhaust,
-air box mod, tightend throttle cable.
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  #6  
Old 03-07-2010, 01:21 PM
bagdranger bagdranger is offline
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Default Re: bronco 2 front axle

If you go over to therangerstation.com theres a tech section there. look under the dana 44 and theres a few pages of info on the solid axle swap it you need more info. The was the 44 is set up on the old broncos were a coil spring with radius arms like the old ttb. The straight axle 44 was replaced with the 44 ttbs in the 80s. However the older boncos from the 70s were about the same track width as the rangers today. Its about the best to use if your goin to SAS your truck. Its the future upgrade on my 85.
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  #7  
Old 03-07-2010, 05:49 PM
RazorsEdge RazorsEdge is offline
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Default Re: bronco 2 front axle

First why do you want to do a SAS? What exactly is the goal here?

Second, are you prepared for the fab involved with the swap, are you ready to completely cut off your front suspension and all related brackets?

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  #8  
Old 03-08-2010, 06:20 PM
big green big green is offline
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Default Re: bronco 2 front axle

not 100% sure if im going to do it, but i want a cheaper way to lift my truck, and i want a more solid front end.
my brother-in-law is gona help me with this, he works at a body shop that deals with dump trucks and other heavy machinery so access to all tools needed. and we are just going to take everything off the front of the bronco and put it on my truck.
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1999 ranger 4x4 supercab, 4.0L
-3 inch PA body lift
-16 inch pro comp alloys
-33x11.50 BFG all terrain
-Go Rihno roll bar with 4 KC Daylighter lights
-weston bull bar
-dual exhaust,
-air box mod, tightend throttle cable.
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  #9  
Old 03-08-2010, 09:16 PM
RazorsEdge RazorsEdge is offline
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Default Re: bronco 2 front axle

Quote:
Originally Posted by big green View Post
not 100% sure if im going to do it, but i want a cheaper way to lift my truck, and i want a more solid front end.
my brother-in-law is gona help me with this, he works at a body shop that deals with dump trucks and other heavy machinery so access to all tools needed. and we are just going to take everything off the front of the bronco and put it on my truck.
If cheap is your goal, then a SAS is not for you. It can definitely be more solid depending on the fab work. Please understand, working at a body shop that deals with dump trucks does not qualify you for a SAS. You must have an in-depth understanding of how suspension works and what makes it work correctly. You need to understand panhard bar angles and how they correspond with drag link angles, caster, and toe and what each one will do to the driving characteristics of your rig if any one of which is out of whack.

If you think you'll simply 'take everything off the front of the bronco and put it on your truck' then you are horribly mistaken, in for a big surprise, and you'll probably turn your truck into a lawn ornament. From the look of your post you have a lot of research to do, please don't start something like this if you don't know what you're getting into.
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2003 F-150 Regular Cab Sport 4x2 4.2L

1988 F-350 Regular Cab 4x4 5.8L
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  #10  
Old 03-08-2010, 09:40 PM
camodown camodown is offline
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Default Re: bronco 2 front axle

Quote:
Originally Posted by big green View Post
not 100% sure if im going to do it, but i want a cheaper way to lift my truck, and i want a more solid front end.
my brother-in-law is gona help me with this, he works at a body shop that deals with dump trucks and other heavy machinery so access to all tools needed. and we are just going to take everything off the front of the bronco and put it on my truck.
please no, I doesn't quite work like that, also cheap and SAS shouldn't be in the same conversation
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  #11  
Old 03-09-2010, 05:42 AM
big green big green is offline
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Default Re: bronco 2 front axle

its something i'm looking into, but could i not just take the suspension from the bronco make brakets for everything that needs brakets and use the coils from the bronco.

also wouldn't it be the same as doing a coilover conversion and adding a solid axle??

and roughly what would it cost to do this? keeping in mind i have access to the bronco for free.
__________________
1999 ranger 4x4 supercab, 4.0L
-3 inch PA body lift
-16 inch pro comp alloys
-33x11.50 BFG all terrain
-Go Rihno roll bar with 4 KC Daylighter lights
-weston bull bar
-dual exhaust,
-air box mod, tightend throttle cable.
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  #12  
Old 03-09-2010, 01:09 PM
RazorsEdge RazorsEdge is offline
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Default Re: bronco 2 front axle

Quote:
Originally Posted by big green View Post
its something i'm looking into, but could i not just take the suspension from the bronco make brakets for everything that needs brakets and use the coils from the bronco.
If you're a good fabricator and you understand the tolerances of suspension, then it can definitely be done. You'll have to address the steering as well though and you won't be able to use the bronco parts or your ranger parts.

Quote:
also wouldn't it be the same as doing a coilover conversion and adding a solid axle??
Not even close. This is the kind of question that makes me think you are no where near ready for this kind of swap. Please do some research on whats involved here.

Quote:
and roughly what would it cost to do this? keeping in mind i have access to the bronco for free.
Even if the donor axle is free the swap will still be expensive. You'll have to rebuild the axle. Seals, bearings, new gears, install kit, carrier depending on the carrier break, brakes, brake lines.

You'll probably need extended radius arms (Are you good enough to custom fab these? Are you prepared to shell out $800 for the cage arms?) New radius arm bushings to set caster.

You'll need a steering box, custom power steering fittings, custom power steering pressure hose. Custom tierod and draglink. Custom panhard bar. Custom radius arm mounts.

I'd say you'd be looking at spending $3-5K easy.

You need to check out some SAS threads to get an idea of what kind of work it takes. R/F has plenty of good build threads for 98+ rangers. You can also check out TRS and explorerforum.com Just make sure whatever you're looking at is for the 98+ ranger or 95+ explorer and not the older models.
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2003 Ranger Edge Regular Cab 4x4 3.0L

2005 F-250 Super Duty King Ranch 4x4 6.0L

2003 F-150 Regular Cab Sport 4x2 4.2L

1988 F-350 Regular Cab 4x4 5.8L
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  #13  
Old 03-09-2010, 03:06 PM
big green big green is offline
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Default Re: bronco 2 front axle

well thanks for all your help in clearing this up, i understand it a little more now.
i thougt it was just a matter of swaping parts and some fab work, i guess its a little more then that.
thanks again, you may have saved my truck from being a lawn orniment.. lol
__________________
1999 ranger 4x4 supercab, 4.0L
-3 inch PA body lift
-16 inch pro comp alloys
-33x11.50 BFG all terrain
-Go Rihno roll bar with 4 KC Daylighter lights
-weston bull bar
-dual exhaust,
-air box mod, tightend throttle cable.
Reply With Quote
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