Ford Bronco and Ranger to Sport Dana Solid Axles

The Bronco SUV and Ranger pickup trucks Ford Motor Co. announced earlier this month will be fitted with front and rear solid axles built by Toledo-based Dana Corp., according to multiple media reports.

Dana revealed it won the business in an investor presentation that was first spotted by the Toledo Blade. Ford declined to comment, other than to say the new vehicles will satisfy the “most demanding off-road enthusiasts.”  

Dana supplies solid axles for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV’s rugged Jeep Wrangler. The next-generation Wrangler, which is due late this year, also will feature the Dana system.

Solid axles typically are used on body-on-frame truck platforms to enhance off-road performance, while car-based unibody architectures with independent suspensions are geared for comfort. Ford essentially ceded the midsize offroad SUV market to Jeep when it discontinued the Bronco in 1996, analysts note.

Ford’s current Ranger and Everest SUV, neither of which is offered in the U.S., employ an independent front suspension. The design is teamed with a leaf- and coil-suspended solid rear axle for the pickup and SUV, respectively.

The new U.S. Ranger is expected in 2019, followed a year later by the Bronco. Ford describes the latter as a true and tough off-road vehicle. The vehicles will likely share a platform with the current international Ranger and Everest, which were engineered by Ford’s Australia team.

Ford will build the new Ranger and Bronco at its plant in Wayne, Mich. The U.S. version of the Ranger was phased out at the end of 2011.