The 1998-2011 Ford Ranger 4×4 came equipped with a Dana 35 SLA (Short arm Long Arm) front axle. Unlike the reverse rotation Dana 35 used from 1990-1997, the Dana 35 SLA is a standard rotation axle. This means that the gears from a 1990-1997 Dana 35 will not work in a 1998-2011 Ford Ranger.

The 1995-2001 Ford Explorer 4×4 also used the Dana 35 SLA front axle.

The 1998-2011 Ford Ranger Dana 35 is offset on the driver’s side and uses an intermediate shaft similar to the Dana 35 used in previous years but is not attached to the axle beam as in previous years. Instead, the Dana 35 is fixed in place between the frame rails with (3) bolts. Instead of axle beams, it uses a long arm / short arm setup and CV (Constant Velocity) shafts:

 
Dana 35 Front Left CV Axle Shaft

Dana 35 Front Right CV Axle Shaft

(Note that the left side has a sleeve for the Dana 35 intermediate shaft to slide in to.)

Manual Lockout Hubs:

The 1998-2011 Ford Ranger Dana 35 DOES NOT come with manual locking hubs. The 1998-2000 model had PVH hubs (Pulse Vacuum Hubs), but from 2001-2011, it was a live axle setup. The front axle shafts from 2001-2011 are permanently locked to the front differential. There is a manual lockout hub available as an upgrade to the PVH Hub setup, but the only way to install manual hubs on a 2001-2011 Ranger would be to swap in the axles and hubs from a 1998-2000 Ford Ranger 4×4.

There are several articles in our Tech Library that deal with the PVH hubs and possible modifications & upgrades.

(2001-2011 Ford Ranger Dana 35 Live Axle – No Hub)

(1998-2000 Ford Ranger Dana 35 PVH Hub)

Specifications:

Dana 35 SLA (Standard Rotation)

Specifications

Ring Gear Diameter 7.562 Inches
Ring Gear Bolts (8) 3/8″ x 24 RH
Pinion Stem 1.406″
Carrier Breaks 3.45 Higher / 3.73 Lower
Axle Shaft Diameter / Spline 1.125″ / 27
Diff Cover Bolts 10
Factory Ratios 3.73, 4.10
Aftermarket Ratios 3.55, 3.73, 4.10, 4.56, 4.88
Max Tire Diameter Rating 33 Inches
Pinion Bearing Preload 12-16 In Lbs (new)  6-7 In Lbs (used)
Backlash .006 – .010 Inches
Ring Gear Torque 55 Lbs Foot
Carrier Bearing Cap Torque 55 Lbs Foot
Pinion Nut Torque 170-500 Lbs Foot (crush sleeve)
Fluid Capacity 3.25 pts

Ranger Dana 35 SLA VS Ford Explorer Dana 35 SLA:

The Ford Explorer received the Dana 35 SLA (often referred to as a Dana 35 IFS) in 1995 and used this axle until 2001. While some believe the Dana 35 is the only axle used in the front of the Explorer, it actually received a Dana 30 starting in 2002. Click HERE for information on the Dana 30 Version.

The 1995-1996 Ford Explorer uses a vacuum disconnect system on the axle – which should not be confused with the PVH vacuum hubs on the 1998-2000 Ford Ranger. The axle disconnect on the Explorer relies on engine vacuum, control valves and an electrical current to activate/de-activate it. This means you can’t just install a Dana 35 housing from a 1995-1996 Ford Explorer in your 1998 and newer Ford Ranger.

(1995-1996 Ford Explorer Dana 35 Housing With Axle Disconnect)

(Axle Disconnect Diagram)

Greasing The Hub:

Some people grease the live axle front hubs on their 2001-2011 Ford Ranger by removing the abs sensor, and pumping grease into the hole.

Diagram:

 

Item Description Item Description
1 Differential housing 28 Lock – Differential Shaft
2 Ring Gear & Pinion Kit 29 Seal – Oil
3 PKG – Pinion Adj Shim 30 Bearing
4 Inner Pinion Bearing Kit 31 Bearing (Discon/Non-Discon)
5 Baffle – Pinion Oil 32 Seal – Oil (Discon/Non-Discon)
6 Collapsible Spacer 33 Shaft-Axle Assy (Discon)
7 Outer Pinion Bearing Kit 34 Motor Assembly
8 Slinger – Outer Pinion Brg. 35 O-Ring
9 Seal – Pinion 36 Cover – Disconnect Hsg.
10 End Yoke Assembly 37 Clips – Shift Fork
11 Slinger – End Yoke 38 Snap Ring
12 Nut – Pinion 39 Snap Ring
13 Cover – Carrier 40 Shift Fork
14 RTV Silicone Sealant 41 Bolt – Cover & Motor Assy
15 Plug – Carrier Cover 42 Clutch Collar (Discon)
16 Bolt – Carrier Cover (qty 10) 43 Gasket (Discon)
17 Cap – Differential Bearing 44 Shaft – Output (Discon)
18 Bolt – Differential Bearing 45 Snap Ring
19 Differential Bearing Kit 46 Bushing (Discon)
20 Case – Differential N.I. Bolt (Discon)
21 Bolt – Drive Gear (qty 8) N.I. Protection Shield (Discon)
22 Pinion – Differential 49 Thrustwasher (Discon)
23 Gear – Differential 50 Thrustwasher (Discon)
24 Pkg. – Differential Adj Shim 51 Snap Ring (Discon)
25 Thrustwasher – Diff Pinion 52 Shaft Assy.(Non-Discon)
26 Thrustwasher – Diff Gear 53 Bushing (Discon)
27 Shaft – Differential

Identification Label:

The front differential housing will have a label on the bottom of it:

The label is similar to the one found on the Dana 35 TTB Axle beams of the 1990-1997 Ford Ranger:

The sticker will list the gear ratio across the top (second from the right). If you look closely, you can see that this sticker indicates a 3.55 gear ratio (this sticker is from an Explorer Dana 35). Below the yellow section, you will see ‘F87A’. That breaks down as:

  • F = 1990’s
  • 8 = Last number in the year
  • A = Ranger/Explorer

So, this sticker came off of a 1998 Explorer / Ranger with a 3.55 gear ratio. For more information on decoding Ford Part Numbers, click HERE.

The top left corner of the label lists the DANA PN: 610642 – 2. If you look at the chart below, you’ll see that it’s a

  • 1998-1998 1/2 Ford Explorer / Ford Ranger – Non-Disconnect – CV Dana 35 Axle
  • 3.55 Gear Ratio

Build Of Material Numbers For 1998-2011 Dana 35 Axles:

DANA PN: (BOM) VEHICLE
610642 1998 – 1998-1/2 Ford Ranger
611053 2001 Ford Ranger
611222 2002 Ford Ranger – Non-Disconnect – CV
611316 2002-2004 Ford Ranger – Non-Disconnect – CV
2002645 2004-2005 Ford Ranger – Non-Disconnect – CV
2002646 2004-05 Explorer/Ranger – Non-Disconnect – CV
2002750 2004-2006 Ford Ranger – Non-Disconnect – CV
611360 2004-2005 Ford Ranger – Non-Disconnect – CV
2001858 2005 Ford Ranger – Non-Disconnect – CV
2006015 2006-2007 Ford Ranger – Non-Disconnect – CV
2006665 2006-2011 Explorer/Ranger – Non-Disconnect – CV
2007693 2006-2011 Explorer/Ranger – Non-Disconnect – CV

 

 

DANA PN: (BOM) DIFF TYPE RATIO
1995 Explorer – Disconnect- CV
610476-1 Standard 3.27
610476-2 Standard 3.55
610476-3 Standard 3.73
610476-4 Standard 4.10
1995-1996 Ford Explorer – Disconnect- CV
610581-1 Standard 3.27
610581-2 Standard 3.55
610581-3 Standard 3.73
610581-4 Standard 4.10
610582-1 Standard 3.27
610582-2 Standard 3.55
610582-3 Standard 3.73
610582-4 Standard 4.10
1996 Ford Explorer – Non-Disconnect – CV
610585-1 Standard 3.73
610586-1 Standard 3.73
1997 1/2 Ford Explorer – Non-Disconnect – CV
610644-1 Standard 3.27
610644-2 Standard 3.55
610644-3 Standard 3.73
610644-4 Standard 4.10
1998 Ford Explorer – Non-Disconnect – CV
610556-1 Standard 3.27
610556-3 Standard 3.73
610556-4 Standard 4.10
610556-5 Standard 4.56
1998-1998 1/2 Ford Explorer / Ford Ranger – Non-Disconnect – CV
610642-1 Standard 3.27
610642-2 Standard 3.55
610642-3 Standard 3.73
610642-4 Standard 4.10
1998-1998 1/2 Ford Explorer – Non-Disconnect- CV
610643-1 Standard 3.27
610643-3 Standard 3.73
610643-4 Standard 4.10
610643-5 Standard 4.56
610645-1 Standard 3.27
610645-2 Standard 3.55
610645-3 Standard 3.74
610645-4 Standard 4.10
1999 Ford Explorer – Non-Disconnect – CV
610774-1 Standard 3.27
610774-2 Standard 3.55
610774-3 Standard 3.73
610774-4 Standard 4.10
2000 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Pick-Up
611044-1 Standard 3.73
611044-2 Standard 4.10
2001 Ford Ranger
611053-1 Standard 4.56
2002 Ford Explorer / Ford Ranger – Non-Disconnect – CV
611222-1 Standard 3.73
611222-2 Standard 4.10
2002-04 Ford Explorer / Ford Ranger – Non-Disconnect – CV
611316-1 Standard 3.73
611316-2 Standard 4.10
2004-2005 Ford Explorer / Ford Ranger – Non-Disconnect – CV
2002645-1 Standard 3.73
2002645-2 Standard 4.10
2002750-1 Standard 3.73
2002750-2 Standard 4.10
611360-1 Standard 3.73
611360-2 Standard 4.10
2005 Ford Explorer / Ford Ranger – Non-Disconnect – CV
2001858-1 Standard 3.55
2006-2007 Ford Explorer / Ford Ranger – Non-Disconnect – CV
2006015-1 Standard 3.55
2007-2008 Ford Explorer / Ford Ranger – Non-Disconnect – CV
2006665-1 Standard 3.73
2006665-2 Standard 4.10
2007693-1 Standard 3.55

 

Dana Spicer Parts Catalogs:

For more Dana BOM numbers, part numbers and parts breakdown check out:

Dana Axles 1978-1998 (Including Ford Ranger)

Dana Axles 1999-2011 (Including Ford Ranger)

Dana Spicer Axle Part Number Catalog