Any shops familiar with re gearing Rangers? What about lockers?

[D K]

I have a deposit down on a base, non FX4 high mileage Ranger and before I pull the trigger, I would like to see what it would cost to put in a locker or lockers both front and rear. Anybody have any recommendations? Would be helpful, thank you in advance.

Sponsored

 

[airline tech]

Somewhere on here (search) a few members have swapped in a (Rear Locker) and wired it separately with a switch, and if I recall the (Front Locker) has also been done.
They find a salvaged truck with the rear locker option and swap it in, and I would have to review this again but the reason for the separate switch was to bypass the Can Bus control of it and what factory wiring is still present in the harness and more specifically what As-Built changes needed to be made.
It's not really a popular mod
Welcome fellow AMT to the forum, there are a few of us here

 

[rang19ca]

Welcome and good luck on your adventure.

 

[JohnnyO]

I have a deposit down on a base, non FX4 high mileage Ranger and before I pull the trigger, I would like to see what it would cost to put in a locker or lockers both front and rear. Anybody have any recommendations? Would be helpful, thank you in advance.

I wouldn't worry about the gears, if you adjust FORCAN for the larger tires the tranny will adjust for it.
The Bronco has the same rear axle and can be had with higher gears but I'm not sure about the front.
As mentioned, you can swap in a locked rear from a wrecked truck but you're on your own to wire it.
Easier would be ARB lockers, they make both front and rear. The rear requires that you get a new carrier and a 3.73 ring and pinion for a Jeep Gladiator (also uses the same axle) because the ring gear is welded to the carrier instead of bolted as they usually are. This is from ARB's instructions.

 

[TxOTRRanger]

Welcome to the forum. Hope that this all works out for you.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

If you have a refundable deposit, you may be better off looking for a truck that already has the rear locker. It should have 3.73 gears.

Getting a rear locker installed is expensive, especially if you have to get new gears since the factory ones are welded to the carrier.

The factory locker on the Ranger is actually quite good and is not gimped like most factory lockers.

By Gimped, I'm referring to the fact that most factory rear lockers require you to be in 4x4 Low Range before you can enable them.

The Ford locker can be engaged pretty much any time up until about 20mph. High range, Low range, 2wd, 4wd, it doesn't matter.

 

[TxOTRRanger]

If you have a refundable deposit, you may be better off looking for a truck that already has the rear locker. It should have 3.73 gears.

Getting a rear locker installed is expensive, especially if you have to get new gears since the factory ones are welded to the carrier.

The factory locker on the Ranger is actually quite good and is not gimped like most factory lockers.

By Gimped, I'm referring to the fact that most factory rear lockers require you to be in 4x4 Low Range before you can enable them.

The Ford locker can be engaged pretty much any time up until about 20mph. High range, Low range, 2wd, 4wd, it doesn't matter.

The 2wd F150 that I sold to my Dad has a factory locker in it. I used it a few times during the 5 years that I had the truck.

 

[D K]

Somewhere on here (search) a few members have swapped in a (Rear Locker) and wired it separately with a switch, and if I recall the (Front Locker) has also been done.
They find a salvaged truck with the rear locker option and swap it in, and I would have to review this again but the reason for the separate switch was to bypass the Can Bus control of it and what factory wiring is still present in the harness and more specifically what As-Built changes needed to be made.
It's not really a popular mod
Welcome fellow AMT to the forum, there are a few of us here

Thanks mate. Nice to meet you. Yeah, I am following down a path that hopefully I won't regret lol. I would like an LSD or Posi in the rear that is engaged automatically (regardless of speed, etc.) and a manual locker up front.
I might be going on a wild goose chase, but that's what I am aiming for anyway. Since I have started researching this, I understand that Eaton has a front E locker option avialable for the front M190, so if that in fact is the case, then I am stoked. I would like to stay away from the M210 swap if at all possible since it will probably be cheaper to go with the Raptor at that point.
I don't like the rear locker at ALL since it has 2 modes: 0 and 100. That sucks. With a limited slip, you have some lock all the time and it makes the truck a lot mor pleasant to drive ALL the time. Keep it in 2wd in the light stuff (and you actually get 2wd) and when it gets tougher, then you can add to the existing 2wd. With the E locker in the rear, you have 1wd, unless you manually lock, then you get 2wd. Shitty option as far as I am concerned.

In the front I want the option of an open diff, so an Elocker is perfect. Helical could work also, but if you have a wheel up in the air, you are back to an open front diff. It sucks.

So, anyway, that's what I am thinking at the moment...

 

[D K]

Yea, but that's not very accurate either.
The gear set that is welded is only the 3.55.
That uses a 39 tooth ring gear, so it becomes more difficult to work with.
3.73, 4.10 and 4.56 are all dealing with a 41 tooth ring gear which is bolted, not welded.
Fortunately, the turd I am looking at has the 3.73, so that's a bolt on, servicable gear.

If I am incorrect on this, please correct me as I am just finding out about all this.

Going from 32" to 35" is an additional 10%, so I am really looking for a 4.10 (one tooth up on the pinion) to have the same ratio.

I am really hoping to stay away from the junk locker in the rear and going with a posi or an lsd, provided they have the option or capacity to go to a 100% lock with a 35".
Maybe they do, maybe they won't??
If they do, I am golden.

For the front, I am seeing options for the M190 (need to be confirmed) for an E locker. For this application, that would be perfect. Open diff when not needed (no weird handling) and 100% lock when needed. Front isnt something that I would need a variable rate of lock. Cool.

Thanks for your reply.

I wouldn't worry about the gears, if you adjust FORCAN for the larger tires the tranny will adjust for it.
The Bronco has the same rear axle and can be had with higher gears but I'm not sure about the front.
As mentioned, you can swap in a locked rear from a wrecked truck but you're on your own to wire it.
Easier would be ARB lockers, they make both front and rear. The rear requires that you get a new carrier and a 3.73 ring and pinion for a Jeep Gladiator (also uses the same axle) because the ring gear is welded to the carrier instead of bolted as they usually are. This is from ARB's instructions.

 

[D K]

A 2wd with a proper locker is 100 times more effective than a 4wd with open diffs.

Did I say 4wd?? I meant 1wd, sorry about that...

The 2wd F150 that I sold to my Dad has a factory locker in it. I used it a few times during the 5 years that I had the truck.

 

[JohnnyO]

I don't like the rear locker at ALL since it has 2 modes: 0 and 100. That sucks. With a limited slip, you have some lock all the time and it makes the truck a lot mor pleasant to drive ALL the time. Keep it in 2wd in the light stuff (and you actually get 2wd) and when it gets tougher, then you can add to the existing 2wd. With the E locker in the rear, you have 1wd, unless you manually lock, then you get 2wd. Shitty option as far as I am concerned.

I'm of the same mind, I'd prefer an always-operating limited-slip. I don't go off-roading any more but I need to go in the snow. As mentioned earlier, the Jeep Gladiator uses the same M220 rear axle so there may be limited-slips listed for the Jeep, but I don't know for sure.

Yea, but that's not very accurate either.
The gear set that is welded is only the 3.55.
That uses a 39 tooth ring gear, so it becomes more difficult to work with.
3.73, 4.10 and 4.56 are all dealing with a 41 tooth ring gear which is bolted, not welded.
Fortunately, the turd I am looking at has the 3.73, so that's a bolt on, servicable gear.

If I am incorrect on this, please correct me as I am just finding out about all this.

2019+ Rangers all have 3.73 gears, there is no 3.55. I was going off of ARB's instructions that say the ring gear is welded. I've never taken one apart myself. It says you also need aftermarket axle shafts.

https://view.publitas.com/arb-4x4-accessories-1/air_locker_application_chart/page/8-9

 

[D K]

This could be true, but it would conflict what I have learned so far. I need to delve into this even deeper then.
There is definitely literature that states: with 53R, you get 3.73 gears. This would indicate that you 'didn't' have 3.73 gears before...

Also, I was for sure told by a vendor that for the front, a locker was 'only' available with a 3.73:1

This would indicate that there are other ratios available and it was my understanding that the other ratio was 3.55:1
Maybe it was a 3.31:1? I have heard that ratio mentioned also.

Again, I am just trying to find shit out.

2019+ Rangers all have 3.73 gears, there is no 3.55. I was going off of ARB's instructions that say the ring gear is welded. I've never taken one apart myself. It says you also need aftermarket axle shafts.

https://view.publitas.com/arb-4x4-accessories-1/air_locker_application_chart/page/8-9

 

[D K]

Also, to add on to the above, Ford performance has this available: https://www.americantrucks.com/ford...ear-pinion-kit-513-gear-ratio-m-4209-513.html

How would that be installed if the factory gear was welded?

Sponsored