Well, I had quite the day in the junkyards today. First time really hunting through the junkyard. I took a buddy with me who has some junkyard experience. 
We visited the two Pick-A-Part yards in my region, walked for what seemed like hours through ankle deep mud with no luck. The only wagoneer we found was a 74. (I think I will go back for the flat top knuckles and outer shafts off this waggy). On the way home, a little disappointed I decide to try another "they pull the part" junkyard, and sure enough they had two of them on the rack(one from an 86 and one from an 88 waggy).
Me: I'm looking for a 80-81 or 85-91 Wagoneer front axle.
Guy at Counter: What gear ratio are you looking for?
Me: Doesn't matter.
Guy: (puzzled look) Well we've got two, 86 or 88.
Me: How much?
Guy: Either one for $300
Me:
Neither axle comes with the leafs, one of them supposedly only has 78k miles on it. Do you guys think that's too much to pay??
And here's my other question, I measured both axles and they were 60.5" WMS-WMS. I thought they were supposed to be 62.5" according to this: http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Dana44.htm
Did I actually find the right axle? Did they come off a wagoneer? They had the track bar bracket thingy on the top of the passenger side tube like i've seen on here on others Waggy axles. Any thoughts?
Oh, and the parts puller guy that I rode in the truck with to where the axles were asked me what year I was putting it in. I told him an 02 Explorer Sport Trac. His response, "Good luck with that one". LOL. Then he proceeded to tell me that I would have a hard time matching up the gear ratio with the rear. He said in "those trucks" the ratios are different in the front and rear and the transfer case is geared to correct this. What in the HELL was HE talking about. I think he had just been sniffing too much brake fluid or something? I told him "Well, I guess I'll have to do a little more research on that one."
We visited the two Pick-A-Part yards in my region, walked for what seemed like hours through ankle deep mud with no luck. The only wagoneer we found was a 74. (I think I will go back for the flat top knuckles and outer shafts off this waggy). On the way home, a little disappointed I decide to try another "they pull the part" junkyard, and sure enough they had two of them on the rack(one from an 86 and one from an 88 waggy).Me: I'm looking for a 80-81 or 85-91 Wagoneer front axle.
Guy at Counter: What gear ratio are you looking for?
Me: Doesn't matter.
Guy: (puzzled look) Well we've got two, 86 or 88.
Me: How much?
Guy: Either one for $300
Me:
Neither axle comes with the leafs, one of them supposedly only has 78k miles on it. Do you guys think that's too much to pay??
And here's my other question, I measured both axles and they were 60.5" WMS-WMS. I thought they were supposed to be 62.5" according to this: http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Dana44.htm
Did I actually find the right axle? Did they come off a wagoneer? They had the track bar bracket thingy on the top of the passenger side tube like i've seen on here on others Waggy axles. Any thoughts?
Oh, and the parts puller guy that I rode in the truck with to where the axles were asked me what year I was putting it in. I told him an 02 Explorer Sport Trac. His response, "Good luck with that one". LOL. Then he proceeded to tell me that I would have a hard time matching up the gear ratio with the rear. He said in "those trucks" the ratios are different in the front and rear and the transfer case is geared to correct this. What in the HELL was HE talking about. I think he had just been sniffing too much brake fluid or something? I told him "Well, I guess I'll have to do a little more research on that one."
