Aerostar Front Axle

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Feb 24, 2006 | 01:09 PM

copper_90680

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From: Southern California

Aerostar Front Axle

The manual says the Aerostar AWD uses the Dana 28-2 IFS axle. I have a few questions:

1) What does IFS stand for?

2) What is the significance of the -2 designation?

3) Is this different from the Dana 28 axles used in the Ranger?

Thanks

Feb 24, 2006 | 05:33 PM

aerocolorado

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copper,
Some reference material I have from drivetrain.com shows the IFS designation as indicating 'reverse rotation'. What the acronym actually stands for, I don't know. I think, but am not 100% certain, the 28-2 is for different style case and mounting unique to the Aerostar, rather than the in-axle style for the Ranger. The internal parts are the same but the case/mounts are different. Hope this is of some help.

Feb 24, 2006 | 06:05 PM

Beast12

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From: Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA!

IFS = Independent Front Suspension.

-Matt

Feb 24, 2006 | 06:05 PM

copper_90680

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From: Southern California

Hi Aerocolorado:

Thanks for the clarification. I knew you and Torsen Rick are the guys to ask about this

Gee, these acronyms are driving me crazy, even though I'm in the Aerospace business where you can't impress another guy if you don't use three acronyms in the same sentence.

Feb 28, 2006 | 07:40 AM

Torsen Rick

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From: Rochester, NY

I'm going to guess that the D28-2 designation is to distinguish it from the Ranger's D28, which is a very different assembly. The Ranger D28 and D35 (thru '97) was in a Twin Traction Beam front end.

The Aerostar's axle, though, is more like a narrowed live axle (like in the rear), that's hard-mounted to the chassis and has stubby CV-joint shafts to connect it to the wheel hubs. The Explorer's D35 went to this configuration in '95, and Ranger finally followed suit in '98.

FWIW, the later-style Explorer/Ranger D35 and the Aerostar's D28 are very similar. Unfortunately, it still isn't a direct interchange. One of the times I had my van on the lift, I wheeled a spare Ranger front axle on a cart underneath it to compare. Again, very similar in shape and proportion. The D35 is a little wider and the pumpkin is somewhat bigger. Also, the mounts are different. I'm sure if someone was clever they could figure out how to swap it in. But I can't think of why you'd need to unless you supercharged the 4.0L or something...