97Ranger3.0
Active Member
- Joined
- Nov 22, 2017
- Messages
- 175
- Reaction score
- 67
- Points
- 28
- Location
- Florida
- Vehicle Year
- 1997
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Type
- 3.0 V6
- Engine Size
- 3.0
- Transmission
- Manual
- 2WD / 4WD
- 4WD
- Total Lift
- 4"
- Tire Size
- 33x12.5
Well, I pulled the axle out of the truck it came out of myself at a local junkyard that is now closed. The guy who owned the yard was going to be selling the lot soon and the yard was going to be turned into a solar field or whatever. So their prices were cheap, and I found the axle under an 03 Explorer Sport Trac. I don't recall the truck looking like it had been in an accident meaning that was the reason for it being there. I just assumed it was there due to timing chain failures or something (since it was a 4.0 SOHC) because it was all in tact and wasn't in bad shape. But anyway as I said I pulled it myself and didn't check because I wouldn't have thought to check that at the time, and the place is no longer unfortunately. (I really wish I had taken more stuff from there before they shut down, they were one of few places around here that still had a lot of 90s rangers). So live and learn I guess, definitely have to be more thorough with my checks of JY parts.That is a bent axle shaft for sure (a warped rotor normally wouldn't have the wheel & tire also wobbling).
I don't know how long you've had the axle, but I'd suggest check with where you got it and see if they'll give you another shaft & caliper (and also a rotor too if needed).
This is one of those things anyone buying a junkyard axle should always check for. With the number of vehicles that get decommissioned & parted out due to collisions, unseen (or concealed) damage like this is quite common.
Case in point:
When I bought the '99 Explorer axle for my BII, I originally went into a local yard looking at a nice low price on a 3.27-geared unit with an open diff (plan was for 5.13:1 gears + ARB locker). They brought the axle out, set it on my tailgate, and I looked it over, rotating all the components. BOTH sides had a wobble exactly like yours (it was obvious that it must've been involved in a pretty good collision). They took the axle back into their yard and then produced a 3.73 geared unit with a Traction-Lok diff for the same price. I looked it over, all seemed good, which is the axle I've now had under there for over 15 years.
As for how you had vibes before, and nothing seemed to change much, remember you had those bubbled-out tires before too. So this is exactly what I said earlier, you had multiple issues causing the same symptoms. As you nail each one down, you should eventually get to the bottom of it all and finally have your truck riding smooth.
That is a good point, you're probably right that I've got multiple issues going on, and at least thankfully there are a lot of things that I can rule out at this point. I will be curious how the truck drives after fixing this axle. Just gotta go get a spare one (or two) from another JY and make sure to check it thoroughly this time!