Crazy 4wd problem, maybe front axle issue (Updated Jan-20) ?

[madmax]

1989 Bronco II
2.9 5 Speed
Manual Hubs

4:56 gears in rear stock in front.

Just bought it, got home and it started snowing so i wanted to go play.
Locked the hubs in and got it in it and put into 4hi. Light came on in the cab saying 4x4.
Moves freely about 1-2 feet then it feels like the whole front end locks down. If i keep giving it gas it will stall the motor. It feels like i am pushing the front wheels. Take it out of 4 wheel drive it moves freely again in 2wd, until i put it back into 4 wheel drive and then the same thing. Rolls 1-2 feet and locks up.

Gears maybe messed up? U joint? What should i do to diagnose?

Thanks in advance.

[Ranger Dave]

WTF,ya gotta have the same gears front and rear, HELLO

[tekatlarge]

Without the same gears front and rear you rig will try to fold itself up. Keep pushing and things will break!

[madmax]

Ok thats exactly what i found out today from a friend that wheels alot. He also told me not to put it back in 4wd until i match the gears or something will break! I am going to count my front gears and then off to the junkyard for a matching rear axle, until i can afford to gear the front. What is normal gear ratio for a stock front and rear axle for a Bronco II ?

Thanks guys

[Ranger Dave]

345,373,411

[04sd]

The axle code should be on the door....


http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Axles.html

[Ranger Dave]

The axle code should be on the door....


http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Axles.html

cant allways go by the sticker, door could of been changed. been there done that,wasent good

[Cornhusker Brute]

Check your front and rear for a tag. This will tell ya what gears ya have. If the tag is gone ya gotta pull the front and rear and count the teeth on ring and pinion. Good luck..

[Ranger Dave]

Check your front and rear for a tag. This will tell ya what gears ya have. If the tag is gone ya gotta pull the front and rear and count the teeth on ring and pinion. Good luck..

ya dont have to count the teeth, jack up one rear tire(for a open rear),turn it two revolution and count how many times the drive shaft go around

for a posi, 1 revolution of both wheels,so 373's = one rev of the wheels and about 3 3/4 turns of the shaft.
for a open, 2 revolutions on one wheel, so 373' = two rev of the wheel and about 3 3/4 turns of the shaft,or one rev of the wheel and 1.865 turns of the shaft

[Cornhusker Brute]

Hey Ranger Dave. That is probably a good start but I thought while he was tearing it apart anyway he would be sure what gears he had. Sorry I posted my suggestion....

[Ranger Dave]

Sorry I posted my suggestion....

post all ya want

he can deside how he wants tado it

[madmax]

Thanks all, it turned out to be 3.45 gear ratio and i just so happened to have a set out of a mustang. Worked perfect. And now 4wd works. But it is struggling to turn over my 35s now lol. If i do the Dana 35 (Explorer) front axle swap do you have to shorten the front driveshaft? I have a 6 inch BDS lift on my Bronco 2. And if i do that would it be alright to put my 4.56 gears back in the stock rear, if i put 4.56 gears in the Dana 35 (Explorer).

I have seen where guys with the 6 inch suspension lift did not have to modify there front drive shaft at all.