Ranger Rear Axles

[NMTrad]

My 73 Ranger has small bearing axle. I was under the impression that they came with large bearings. Would getting a Marti report clear this up? Bronco Gurus educate me please.
Existing axle tag WEM-A 3FD

 

[bigmuddy]

My opinion is that the standard was the small bearing version that came in 73 and likely other years with the exception of 76-77. Or you could order with the HD version that had what we call today the med/large bearing rearend, again I believe all the 76-77 models had the large BB bearing housing that came standard. This is similar to what was used in the F150 model pickups only narrow.

My .02

 

[jamesroney]

My 73 Ranger has small bearing axle. I was under the impression that they came with large bearings. Would getting a Marti report clear this up? Bronco Gurus educate me please.
Existing axle tag WEM-A 3FD

Why do we think it is a small bearing axle? Can you post a pic of the axle tube end where it meets the backplate please?

Some people see the 10 inch brakes and assume small bearing.

Your Bronco is U151 medium duty station wagon with 4500 GVW and a 4.11 ratio 2900 lb rear axle. (code 03)

The 3300 lb rear axle is the HD one. U152
(Edit. Deleted wrong info)

Thanks.

 

[NMTrad]

Why do we think it is a small bearing axle? Can you post a pic of the axle tube end where it meets the backplate please?

Some people see the 10 inch brakes and assume small bearing.

Your Bronco is U151 medium duty station wagon with 4500 GVW and a 4.11 ratio 2900 lb rear axle. (code 03)

The 3300 lb rear axle is the HD one. U152
The 2900 lb is the medium duty one. U151
The 2780 lb is the light duty one. U150

Thanks.

I’ll get a pic of axle bearing area. I guess also what was in question is Fordification shows WEM-A only being used up to 1971.

 

[jamesroney]

Yeah, I'm not so happy with that tag either. There is a date code cast into the carrier housing on the other side of the pinion.

If you send/post a pic of the date code casting, and the housing ends...I can tell you what you have.

FWIW, Fordification (MPC) and parts catalogs don't make a distinction between the 2780 axle, and the 2900 axle. So you get a lot of wierdness when you have a 73-75 medium duty small brake, big bearing configuration. (which we all know exists...)

 

[JGbronc]

Why do we think it is a small bearing axle? Can you post a pic of the axle tube end where it meets the backplate please?

Some people see the 10 inch brakes and assume small bearing.

Your Bronco is U151 medium duty station wagon with 4500 GVW and a 4.11 ratio 2900 lb rear axle. (code 03)

The 3300 lb rear axle is the HD one. U152
The 2900 lb is the medium duty one. U151
The 2780 lb is the light duty one. U150

Thanks.

The medium duty rear axle was 74-75 only. There were only two options for 73, large bearing or small bearing. This one was originally small bearing. Of course someone could’ve changed it over the years.

The medium duty axles were 10” drums, but large bearing. The small bearing axles all had the 10” drums.

Also, those U codes you gave aren’t necessarily correct. U152 was BB axle, 1475 rear springs, and V8 engine. U151 and U153 were 1475 rear springs but no designated axle. U150 was typically no rear seat, standard springs, small bearing.

 

[NMTrad]

I have it stored about a hour from where I live so next trip down will get better pics.
Appreciate the insight.

 

[NMTrad]

I did find these pics of the axle.

 

[jamesroney]

The medium duty rear axle was 74-75 only. There were only two options for 73, large bearing or small bearing. This one was originally small bearing. Of course someone could’ve changed it over the years.

The medium duty axles were 10” drums, but large bearing. The small bearing axles all had the 10” drums.

Also, those U codes you gave aren’t necessarily correct. U152 was BB axle, 1475 rear springs, and V8 engine. U151 and U153 were 1475 rear springs but no designated axle. U150 was typically no rear seat, standard springs, small bearing.

You are right. I got my numbers wrong. Sorry about that.

Looks like it’s a small bearing housing from the pics.

 

[bigmuddy]

The medium duty rear axle was 74-75 only. There were only two options for 73, large bearing or small bearing. This one was originally small bearing. Of course someone could’ve changed it over the years.

The medium duty axles were 10” drums, but large bearing. The small bearing axles all had the 10” drums.

Also, those U codes you gave aren’t necessarily correct. U152 was BB axle, 1475 rear springs, and V8 engine. U151 and U153 were 1475 rear springs but no designated axle. U150 was typically no rear seat, standard springs, small bearing.

The 74-75 were available with the large bearing but not the HD housing like 76-77.

 

[JGbronc]

Why do we think it is a small bearing axle? Can you post a pic of the axle tube end where it meets the backplate please?

Some people see the 10 inch brakes and assume small bearing.

Your Bronco is U151 medium duty station wagon with 4500 GVW and a 4.11 ratio 2900 lb rear axle. (code 03)

The 3300 lb rear axle is the HD one. U152
The 2900 lb is the medium duty one. U151
The 2780 lb is the light duty one. U150

Thanks.

The 74-75 were available with the large bearing but not the HD housing like 76-77.

I assume you mean the gusseted housing? If so that’s late 76-77 only.

The large bearing axle with 11” drums was available every year. The medium duty axle, which was large bearing but 10” drums, was 74-75 only.

 

[EPB72]

Pics of 72big bearing