Check your rear end, nobody will check it for you...

More broken parts on the Freeranger


When I drove the Ranger the first time I immediately noticed that it sort of banged into gear and reverse. A thump, like sloppy engagement. I could tell this happened on deceleration as well, but not with the clutch in. So it was related to the direction of travel.

A visual check of the rear diff revealed a leaking pinion seal and about an 8th of a turn of slop before the diff engaged. Unfortunately I was preoccupied with engine needs and getting the seats finished so I did not spend much more time on it. I now know I should have opened the rear cover immediately instead of assuming what it was.

I changed the pinion seal, and greased the driveshaft, replaced both u joints, and the slop was still there but not quite as bad.  

A video showed similar slop from worn spider gears. Again, I should have opened the rear cover before buying them. Live and learn. 

As I removed the cover ready to install the gears my heart sank... The cause of all the slop and noise was a broken center pin, wallowed out carrier and broken pin bolt. 

Check your rear end...



Yeah, that's not good at all.

No salvaging that entire rear end... Yet another shot part after 250,000 miles. If you overlook the small problems they turn into bigger problems.

Sadly the rear brakes were brand new, but I was hoping to find a direct swap from the parts yard.

A day later and a whole lot dirtier, I was able to pull a 7.5 Rear end from a 2000 Ranger. Surprisingly, it is a Trak Lok limited slip with 10" drum breaks. Sadly this means my newly replaced brakes are useless to me, but the 10" drums look like they are in decent condition. 

Ford 7.5 Limited Slip

Luckily I'm able to return the spider gears, but it looks like overall its an old rear end going in to replace an old broken rear end.

Ford 7.5 with 10" drums from a 2000 Splash Ranger



Using all the tools... I'll clean up later...

After install it's been very smooth and feels as it should. Too bad the 2.5L 4 cyl doesn't have the power to really use the track lok. No twin patches of smoky rubber... 
Nothing flashy, but it works now.





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