Hi,

I'm looking at an '01 Ranger 4x4 for sale and have a question about the diff lock (that the owner can't answer). He drives it around 100% of the time with the diff lock engaged. When I asked him to unlock it he said it won't move in 2wd with it unlocked. When it's unlocked it will only move in 4wd. It runs and drives fine otherwise...no strange sounds or vibrations at all.

To me this makes it sound like one of the rear axles is broken. Why else would it not move in 2wd with the diff unlocked? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

Well I've determined that the driver's side rear axle is broken. Can anyone tell me how hard it is to fix the rear axle? Is it just a matter of removing a few bolts and sliding the axle shaft out, or do you have to take apart the diff as well?