need front diff help
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New User
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: colorado springs
need front diff help
i picked up an 81 bronco. after the 1st time out on the mountain the front diff broke. i have found the entire front end off a 90 for only 50 bucks.
will the one from the 90 fit my 81. thanks for any help
will the one from the 90 fit my 81. thanks for any help
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New User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 23
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From: colorado springs
good questions. really don't know. i picked the truck up from a friend for free. did all the basic maint. to it, tagged it, and drove it just a handfull of times, then took it up the mountain. after getting it stuck a bit in the snow was rocking it back and forth and heard a pretty loud pop followed by some grinding in the front that is when the front wheels stopped turning. do know it's not the transfer case. also noticed a nice red trail of fluid in between the tracks and the front tire had some on it also. i'm guessing i blew out a seal and lost all my diff fluid.
pulled it out with a strap and a come along. it drove home just fine in 2wd
pulled it out with a strap and a come along. it drove home just fine in 2wd
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
Likes: 12
From: Bend,OR
yes you can change out the entire TTB from your 81 to the 90.
from the sound of it you probably lost an axle or ring/pinion. to make the work easier i would just change out the center section (pumpkin) and replace the ujoints in the front axles. i imagine they are probably shot. get some spicer 760x joints.
from the sound of it you probably lost an axle or ring/pinion. to make the work easier i would just change out the center section (pumpkin) and replace the ujoints in the front axles. i imagine they are probably shot. get some spicer 760x joints.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
Likes: 12
From: Bend,OR
yes front rear need to match or be very close. there should be a tag on your rear diff. respond back with this info and we call tell what gears you have.
the most common are 3.54 (front) 3.55 (rear). although there are other ratios available. if your rear diff has 3.50 gears then you would be safe running a 3.54 front rato.
the most common are 3.54 (front) 3.55 (rear). although there are other ratios available. if your rear diff has 3.50 gears then you would be safe running a 3.54 front rato.
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From: colorado springs
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
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From: Bend,OR
since you got this bronco for free and depending on what you plan on doing with it you might consider an SAS. look for a D44 strait axle from 78-79 bronco and move over the hardware.
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New User
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: colorado springs
only problem with doing a sas is it will cost much more than the 50 bucks this one is going to cost. for a truck that has plenty of cancer and almost no paint left why. on top of that i have a money pit in the form of an 07 mustang gt and an 86 lx 5.0. both of which are way further up on the priority list than the bronco
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Harrisburg, SD
Thats what I was curious about. So frames are diffferent but the suspention will swap over..? I dont think the crumple zones came around till 91 or 92. If my memory serves my my old 88 didnt have the front crumple zones
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
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From: Bend,OR
there are many ways to skin a cat or in this case run/install an SAS.
get a 78/9 D44, take out your current coil buckets and install 78/9 buckets and coils. run the 78/9 radious arm brackets and get the stock 78/9 arms extended. then you will need a track bar bracket fabed up and welded in. and your done. you can do a D60 very much the same way but is a bit more involved.
full size bronco . com has the best source for information on this topic in my opinion.
get a 78/9 D44, take out your current coil buckets and install 78/9 buckets and coils. run the 78/9 radious arm brackets and get the stock 78/9 arms extended. then you will need a track bar bracket fabed up and welded in. and your done. you can do a D60 very much the same way but is a bit more involved.
full size bronco . com has the best source for information on this topic in my opinion.