Gearing/Axle Swap

Explorerdude · 12-18-1999, 06:16 PM

Hey guys,
I'm getting 33x10.50 BFG All Terrain's and I was wondering if my stock gear ratio would be ok for a couple of months before I get gears... I have no idea what my stock gears are and there isn't a tab on the axle housing... I haven't looked on the door sticker yet but when I do I'll let you all know what I find out. I take it there will be some sort of letter/number code there that will tell me what gearing I have now. How do 4.10 gears do with 33's?? Is there a gear between 4.10's and 4.56's?? If I did my math correctly I think I'll need a gear at or about 4.35's...

Also has anyone done an 8.8 - 9 inch axle swap?? or a Dana 35 IFS to Dana 44 IFS... Do you think the wheel base of the Explorer would be close to that of a Mustang?? Could you feasibly take a Ford 9 inch rear out of a Mustang and install it in the Explorer?? Does anyone know the wheelbase deminsions for the Explorer?? Any input on this subject would be greatly appreciated.

Happy Wheelin',
Joe ;-)

ExplorerDude@hotmail.com
94 Explorer XLT
4" Superlift Suspension
33X10.5 BFG All Terrain KO's
Warn Manual Locking Hubs

**Maniak** · 12-18-1999, 10:38 PM

Joe,
A quick way to find out what gear ratio you have is to mark your drive shaft (I just used a black marker on one of the ears of the u-joint) and then turn a tire and count how many times you see that mark go by.
3 times is a 3.07 gear, 3 1/4 times is a 3.27, 3 3/4 times is 3.73, 4 times is 4.10

As far as I know those are the only gear ratios that were available.. If you have 3.73 you may be able to "live with" it for a little while. 3.27 or 3.07 is livable but would drive me nuts. Your rig won't be able to move out of its own way with a 3.27 and 33" tire. If you know your going to do it in a few months, its all up to what "you" can handle.

To put it in perspective, 31" tires with 3.27 gear is livable.. but 3" tires will really make it slow.

------------------
Mark
mark@legendz.com
http://mark.legendz.com
Off-Road and Motorcycle Information, Pictures and Movies

Explorerdude · 12-18-1999, 11:02 PM

I just got in for the night and checked my door sticker on the way out.

I found out I have D4 rear gears... What ever that means...

LOL I think it means 3.73's if a later posting is correct.

Has anyone had 3.73's and 33" tires before??

How much of a drag is it??

Any info on this subject is greatly appreaciated.

Happy wheelin',

Joe

ba4rnr · 12-19-1999, 11:56 AM

If you want to run 33's you will need the 4.56 or 4.88 gearset. The overdrive transmission will operate much better and not have to downshift as much, thus the transmission will last longer. 4.56 gears will be great for general off roading. 4.88's will be better if you do any rock crawling. It's better to run lower gearing(numerically higher) than the opposite, for all purposes. Do you ever tow anything? with 33's and 4.10's you won't be able to.

Explorerdude · 12-19-1999, 04:44 PM

Has anyone ever replaced the gearsets in the 8.8 Axle?? If so how difficult is it?? I'm almost certain that I'm going to get my shop to do it but I'm just curious.... With 4.56 or 4.88's, is it harder on the axles?? In other words will I break more stuff with those gears?? I do a lot of highway driving... (1000 miles every 2 weeks for 9 months out of the year... However that's only going to last for another year..) Which gearset will give me the best highway mileage?? Which gearset will be best for Rock Krawlin'??

How bout that D4 code on the door sticker?? Anyone know which gears that is??

Thanks again!!

Happy wheelin',

Joe

*SteveVB* · 12-19-1999, 08:44 PM

Joe,

Info I have on axle codes is as follows:

code diff. type ratio:1
43 conventional 3.08
41 conventional 3.27
45 conventional 3.55
D4 limited slip 3.73
(Trak-Loc)

from my 91 factory service manual so codes would be similar for all 91-94 explorers and Navajos I would assume. I read about explorer diffs marked as 3.55 which were 3.73 in FourWheeler buildup of Explorer in early 90's but have seen no other mention of a similar mis-coding.

If yours is D4 then I would guess it is a Trak loc 3.73. To tell jack up rear axle and with your hands turn one wheel- if they both turn same direction then a L/S unit if opposite then an open(conventional) unit. Mark the driveshaft at the same time and see how many times the wheel turns to make a revolution of the shaft.(parking brake off,trans in neutral, f.wheels blocked)

Have Fun

Steve VB
91 Navajo-axle code 45

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12-18-1999, 06:16 PM	#1
Explorerdude Wannabe Elite Explorer Join Date: Jul 1999 Posts: 132 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Hey guys, I'm getting 33x10.50 BFG All Terrain's and I was wondering if my stock gear ratio would be ok for a couple of months before I get gears... I have no idea what my stock gears are and there isn't a tab on the axle housing... I haven't looked on the door sticker yet but when I do I'll let you all know what I find out. I take it there will be some sort of letter/number code there that will tell me what gearing I have now. How do 4.10 gears do with 33's?? Is there a gear between 4.10's and 4.56's?? If I did my math correctly I think I'll need a gear at or about 4.35's... Also has anyone done an 8.8 - 9 inch axle swap?? or a Dana 35 IFS to Dana 44 IFS... Do you think the wheel base of the Explorer would be close to that of a Mustang?? Could you feasibly take a Ford 9 inch rear out of a Mustang and install it in the Explorer?? Does anyone know the wheelbase deminsions for the Explorer?? Any input on this subject would be greatly appreciated. Happy Wheelin', Joe ;-) ExplorerDude@hotmail.com 94 Explorer XLT 4" Superlift Suspension 33X10.5 BFG All Terrain KO's Warn Manual Locking Hubs

12-18-1999, 10:38 PM	#2
Maniak Moderator-Stock 91-94 Vail, Arizona 1992 XLT 4x4 Join Date: Feb 1999 Posts: 10,729 Vehicle Specs	Joe, A quick way to find out what gear ratio you have is to mark your drive shaft (I just used a black marker on one of the ears of the u-joint) and then turn a tire and count how many times you see that mark go by. 3 times is a 3.07 gear, 3 1/4 times is a 3.27, 3 3/4 times is 3.73, 4 times is 4.10 As far as I know those are the only gear ratios that were available.. If you have 3.73 you may be able to "live with" it for a little while. 3.27 or 3.07 is livable but would drive me nuts. Your rig won't be able to move out of its own way with a 3.27 and 33" tire. If you know your going to do it in a few months, its all up to what "you" can handle. To put it in perspective, 31" tires with 3.27 gear is livable.. but 3" tires will really make it slow. ------------------ Mark mark@legendz.com http://mark.legendz.com Off-Road and Motorcycle Information, Pictures and Movies

12-18-1999, 11:02 PM	#3
Explorerdude Wannabe Elite Explorer Join Date: Jul 1999 Posts: 132 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	I just got in for the night and checked my door sticker on the way out. I found out I have D4 rear gears... What ever that means... LOL I think it means 3.73's if a later posting is correct. Has anyone had 3.73's and 33" tires before?? How much of a drag is it?? Any info on this subject is greatly appreaciated. Happy wheelin', Joe

12-19-1999, 11:56 AM	#4
ba4rnr Wannabe Elite Explorer Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 9 Vehicle Specs	If you want to run 33's you will need the 4.56 or 4.88 gearset. The overdrive transmission will operate much better and not have to downshift as much, thus the transmission will last longer. 4.56 gears will be great for general off roading. 4.88's will be better if you do any rock crawling. It's better to run lower gearing(numerically higher) than the opposite, for all purposes. Do you ever tow anything? with 33's and 4.10's you won't be able to.

12-19-1999, 04:44 PM	#5
Explorerdude Wannabe Elite Explorer Join Date: Jul 1999 Posts: 132 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Has anyone ever replaced the gearsets in the 8.8 Axle?? If so how difficult is it?? I'm almost certain that I'm going to get my shop to do it but I'm just curious.... With 4.56 or 4.88's, is it harder on the axles?? In other words will I break more stuff with those gears?? I do a lot of highway driving... (1000 miles every 2 weeks for 9 months out of the year... However that's only going to last for another year..) Which gearset will give me the best highway mileage?? Which gearset will be best for Rock Krawlin'?? How bout that D4 code on the door sticker?? Anyone know which gears that is?? Thanks again!! Happy wheelin', Joe

12-19-1999, 08:44 PM	#6
SteveVB Elite Explorer Gaithersburg, Maryland 04 Rubicon w/stuff Join Date: Jul 1999 Posts: 2,694 Vehicle Specs	Joe, Info I have on axle codes is as follows: code diff. type ratio:1 43 conventional 3.08 41 conventional 3.27 45 conventional 3.55 D4 limited slip 3.73 (Trak-Loc) from my 91 factory service manual so codes would be similar for all 91-94 explorers and Navajos I would assume. I read about explorer diffs marked as 3.55 which were 3.73 in FourWheeler buildup of Explorer in early 90's but have seen no other mention of a similar mis-coding. If yours is D4 then I would guess it is a Trak loc 3.73. To tell jack up rear axle and with your hands turn one wheel- if they both turn same direction then a L/S unit if opposite then an open(conventional) unit. Mark the driveshaft at the same time and see how many times the wheel turns to make a revolution of the shaft.(parking brake off,trans in neutral, f.wheels blocked) Have Fun Steve VB 91 Navajo-axle code 45