Trying to plan my friend's Explorer (he's a little slow... evidently I'm the smart one? what's up with that?). We are going to do a SAS on it, and we can get a Jeep Wagoneer for free. Would those axles work?

I am guessing that it has a d30 front and d44 rear, but I wouldn't swear to it.

98% of all Ranger type folks will tell you not to waste your time. How many Jeep people upgrade the D30 to a D44 for strength? The Explorer weighs more then a Jeep as well.

That said, I know of a person who is going to attempt it (he has his own fabrication business though), and I plan to do it with my BII.

Waggy axles sound like a whole lot of work compared to EB....



unless you just want to stick the Explorer body on the Waggy frame ;)

I think Wagoneers come with Dana 44s front and rear. You could use the front diff, the pumpkin is on the correct side but it is a low pinion. A better idea would be to cut down a reverse cut Dana 44 from a Ford fullsize.

Don't swap a Dana 44 in place of the 8.8" rear, that is a step backward.

Go here for more info: www.explorerforum.com

It depends on what year waggy, as pre-79 uses pass. drop, and post 79 uses drivers side. Some early, 70-72??, did use a dana 30 front.

The Waggy axle can work with some fabricating
Easiest axle to use is the early Bronco D44. Its already setup for coils, as is the Explorer. The trackbar mount is the only thing that really needs to be fabbed up on this setup.

The Explorer has a fairly stout Dana35 front axle already. A Dana30 is a step backward here, also (Many say the simple fact it being SA instead of TTB is an improvement. I, personally have found this to be only slight).

The Explorer 8.8 rear is plenty stout for even 38s with the V6. Doing anything but throwing a Detroit in it would be wasting money. Its a great axle.

That's all fine and dandy...

But nobody axe'd what year this sploder is :rolleyes:

What if it's SLA :flipoff2:

also are you goin to use leafs or coils :confused:

Originally posted by Danger Ranger
That's all fine and dandy...

But nobody axe'd what year this sploder is :rolleyes:

What if it's SLA :flipoff2:

BINGO. Same thing I was thinking. If it's Post-95, good luck sticking a steering box in there!! Pre-95 is no problem.

It's gonna be some work to get those waggy axles set up, but hell, you can't beat the price!! :D
As long as it's the driver's drop, I'd say go for it, D30 or 44. Like said before tho, leave the 8.8. 31 spline shafts, ring gear is stout, and the post 95 had discs. Damn good axle!
Leafs would be the easiest, esp on the waggy axles. Hell you could prolly just use the leafs that are currently on there!! :rasta: The D30 maybe a bit smaller then the 35, BUT you get better hubs, and don't have to fawk w/ the alignment every 2 weeks.

Good Luck!

so yall are saying that I need to find a d44 out of a bronco?

I was planning on using leafsprings on it. I thought that would be easier for what we are doing (not having to worry about designing the links and geting the draglink & panhard right, and all that crap). This is going to be a daily driver truck he's going to use for 4-wheeling.

He'll be doing mud, trails, and rocks with it, and is going to be opting for 35's. He is going to use Mud Terrains for driving, and boggers for wheeling. So we need it to be strong enough for that. And he's set on getting an Explorer.

So we need to find a ford d44 (would any other 44's work? Do I just need to find a driver's side drop d44?), right?

He is also planning on putting in a v8, and getting gears and lockers. I am thinking that a 302 should fit in it since it was an option in the explorers. What gears do you think he should go with?

Any other help would be much appreciated. Thanks guys :D

also this is a pre-95. I think that the wagoneer axle is a d44 now that I think about it. It doesn't look like a Jeep Cherokee axle.

Unfortunately, I am not a Ranger SAS guru (I haven't done it yet :( ).

A D44 out of a 76-77 Bronco is the best. You can run it with coils using radius arms from an F-150 (someone will correct me).

You can also go ful width. More stability, but it is harder to get around the trails.

Originally posted by Squanto
The D30 maybe a bit smaller then the 35, BUT you get better hubs, and don't have to fawk w/ the alignment every 2 weeks.

Good Luck!
Hmmm...
Last I checked the D30 (at least any worth considering) HAD NO hubs :rolleyes:

Slap a set of the GOOD Warn hubs on it and don't worry about it.
Never had to fawk with the alignment with my Skyjacker brackets.


Ok, back to the SA


The Explorer already has most of whats needed for the coils. You can use the coilbuckets that are there, or swap on the eB ones. Use the radius arms from the Bronco, also.
You can use '79 F-150 radius arm frame brackets, although if you were to build your own, they wont hang down as low.
As said above, you will only be required to fab up the bracket for the trackbar. This ones pretty easy. Use eB coils.
I would think getting all the hangers for leafsprings mounted, and getting the draglink around the springs is gonna be more work, I would think C-wedges for the Ford radius arms couldn't be too hard to put on the Waggy axle. Leafs have been done, though.

There should be a couple writeups at www.therangerstation.com about SASs, also. I think theres one using leafs.

Yes driverside diff is required (unless you want to change the T-case, too).

4.56 for 35s.

Hope that helps

Originally posted by 4x4junkie

Hmmm...
Last I checked the D30 (at least any worth considering) HAD NO hubs :rolleyes:



I think he is talking about the dana 30's that came in the 66-70 bronco's. Those had hubs:rolleyes:

Low-pinion, 260X joints, not sure Id say thats one worth considering, but yes, it has hubs

http://www.explorerforum.com/thaven03_rick_gallery/images/DSCF2868.jpg

http://www.explorerforum.com/thaven03_rick_gallery/images/DSCF2870.jpg

http://www.explorerforum.com/thaven03_rick_gallery/images/DSCF3041.jpg

This rig has an EB front end with progressive springs and a wristed arm. It works great on the trail and is amazingly smooth and quiet on the road. Just the way Ford should have built it in the first place.

This rig has an EB front end

High-pinion early-Bronco D44 :confused:

That deserves a couple of these:
:flipoff2: :p :flipoff2: :p :flipoff2:

Ok sorry, semi EB a '79:flipoff2: One side was shortened.

Originally posted by u2slow


High-pinion early-Bronco D44 :confused:

That deserves a couple of these:
:flipoff2: :p :flipoff2: :p :flipoff2:


Early bronco's never had High Pinion

Originally posted by John Deere Ranger



Early bronco's never had High Pinion

I think we already settled that...

Having done a SAS on an explorer/navajo once before.. here's how I would do it again.

1) find a complete d44 front end from a 1978/1979 ford full size bronco. that includes radius arms radius arm brackets, and coil buckets from the bronco

2) cut about 6-3/8" from the long side. check this number - I think it's the right one - you can use a stock axle on the long side then (not f150/bronco)

3) remove all of the TTB crap from the explorer. This includes the brackets, and the coil buckets.

4) order EB, 3.5" lift coil springs.

5) get a wristed radius arm. this will go on the passenger side.

6) order 7-degree radius bushings. You'll need these to correct caster.

7) bolt it all together.

8) at this point, decide on steering, and other crap. The calipers bolt right up - so no need for a change there. The only major change - you'll either need to get spacers with 5x4.5 to 5x5.5 conversion pattern, or replace the rear axles shafts with shafts from dutchman/moser with the correct pattern on them.

There's more, but this gives you a cheap, SAS frontend that's tough, flexes great, and rides like the original factory TTB front end!

Aquaman we have a EB with full width axles and mine has a 3 link coil rear and lots of other Ideas that might help you out if you wanna take a look at some of our crap.

I just might do that. Where are you located?

I live in Parkville. Most of our crap is over at my buddies house in KCK.

I am doing an SLA Ranger right now.

We are using a Waggy D44, Rancho 44044 front springs, scout II box, the rest is go as we get to it. You can talk to Rerard on here and see what he tells you. He recently did his 98 SLA Ranger with the same setup I am doing.

Originally posted by MXPAZ
I live in Parkville. Most of our crap is over at my buddies house in KCK. I am also in Parkville! I am over close to Union Chapel. Joe lives close to Mr Bastard (over by Walden, and Kings)

*EDIT* Joe is the guy who's Explorer this is going to be.

Here's another write up for you. This one on my 91 explorer.

demon4x4.com/tech/dana44.htm

Thought I would join in here, lots of good info. Getting ready to do a 97 with a 76 EB 44. Coil sprung and all. So I will try to keep you guys posted. But it is very possible with post 95, just a little more work.

Aquaman, you guys started that one yet?