Front diff. on 95 + Explorer??

KSMike · November 3, 2000

Im sure this has been covered a few times, but I cant find the answer. What type of front diff does the 95 + Explorer have in it (i.e. dana 35, 44 or 8.8???) Also what is the lowest ratio gear that can be put in it? Im hoping to put a 4.56 or lower in with some type of locker. Any experiences would be appreciated. My present ride(96 Bronco) has a detroit in the rear and a true-trac in the front with 4.56 gears.

Thanks

Mike

GJarrett · November 3, 2000

Join the club; you're outta luck. There is no locker or limited slip made for our new model front diffies.

Dead Link Removed

Robert · November 3, 2000

Originally posted by GJarrett
Join the club; you're outta luck. There is no locker or limited slip made for our new model front diffies.

Dead Link Removed

How certain is that? When I checked about putting a LS in my '97 at Offroad Unlimited in Mesa, AZ they told me that they have put several limited slips in the front of late model Explorers. I don't know if he was just going by the fact that it has a Dana 35 or if he has actually done it or not. I'm thinking about regearing to 4.56s and would put a LS in the front if it was available, probably around next summer.

GJarrett · November 3, 2000

Gee, you got told the very same thing I did when I took the trouble to drop it off at 4 Wheel Parts here in Dallas and rented a car while they worked on it. They called back the next day and said oops we can't do it after all, but they didn't offer to reimburse me for the car rental fee, so I lost that money because they didn't know what they were talking about.

Go right back to Offroad Unlimited and have them put one in right now since they have "put several in late model Explorers". If they do it, I'll drive 1200 miles to have them do mine too. I am serious. If they didn't lie, I'll be there within the month. Did you read that link? We do NOT have Dana 35s!.

I repeat what I have said on several other threads. Offroad shops will tell you what they know, and they know Jeeps. An Explorer is not a Jeep. They only think they know. Go get that front locker or limited slip put in. I'll be extremely interested in the results. And I really was serious; if they can install one I will drive that far to have them do it, because no other shop in the country can that I have found so far, and I want one BADLY.

Robert · November 3, 2000

Unfortunately, I won't have the money before next summer to regear both ends and put a LS in the front even if one was available. They are the only place that I asked. I asked them when I stopped in to see if they carried sway-bar quick dis-connects for my Explorer (which according to them no one does). They had a lot of Jeeps in the parking lot, but mine was the only Explorer so I wouldn't consider them to be Explorer Experts if there is such a thing.

GJarrett · November 3, 2000

Sorry if I let a little attitude out but when it costs me money because someone lies to me it kinda sticks in my craw.

The fact is that there are at least two limited slips or lockers whose dealer cross-reference catalogs say fit our application, but they do not. A counter guy can look in his catalogs and tell you he can do it, but when the item is received it will not fit our Explorers.

You need to look that guy in the eye and ask him point blank if he really has ALREADY installed limited slips in the front of LATE MODEL Explorers. I'll bet my bottom dollar he has in fact never done it but only told you he has. If he has, there are many of us that would be interested in knowing what he installed, since we have hit a dead end. If you would be kind enough to find out for us whether he has really done it a lot of people here would appreciate it very much. There is a lot of interest in this since no one has found an answer yet.

Ray Lobato · November 3, 2000

Robert,
Both Gerald and I have gone though this and it turned out a "no can do" thing. The place where I was goin to have my gears and lockers done told me that there is a part number for a Dana 35 locker, but as it turned out that it's not really a Dana 35 diff in the front. They took it apart and lo and behold "IT'S NOT A DANA 35". We can't even get a trak-Lok for the damn thing. I have my truck parked right now because 33" tires with 3.55's is just horrible on gas mileage. So much so that I went out and got another vehicle. I lost 100 to 150 miles a tank full, and I can't change the gears until the 8.8 ARB air locker is available.
This whole modifying a 95+ vehicle has been a real experience. Everything I had done to my truck had to be modified in some way, because nothing is a direct bolt on.
The good thing for the rest of you guys is that at least now it can be done and you knoe someone that has done it.
Best Regards
Ray

P.S. I would really like to see that guys face when you tell him that "no you haven't installed a L/S in the front diff of a 95+ model"

sundown · November 6, 2000

Ok, well......

OK, well just what IS it, then? Dana 35? Ford 8.8? What?

[Joseph, read the link I provided above]Gerald

[Edited by GJarrett on 11-06-2000 at 11:58 AM]

flyguy · November 6, 2000

Me and my 94 feel sorry for you guys...

nick

mikefox · November 6, 2000

I here what you all are saying. I have to say, though, my Helms Powertrain manual for my 95 states that in 95 they used a Dana 35. I can scan this for anybody who wants to see it. Now maybe after 96 they changed it since 95-96 used a Vacuum shift motor to engage the front axle. I don't believe this is used in 97+. Correct me if I am wrong. That is why we have 2wd, 4auto and 4low and not 4auto, 4hi and 4low like 97+.

rpenner54 · November 6, 2000

Just get a hard locker for the rear and you all should be fine. I have yet to be in a rock crawling situation where I would need a front locker. I have been in plenty of snow situations where it would've been extremely handy to have one. The key for having an open front and wheeling is just turn your front tires back and forth a lot and they will bite and pull. Then hammer it!

Works for me!

I don't have a locker up front yet and I have not had a problem where people told me I would have a problem. Hell look at Matt he did double whammy and didn't have no stinkin front locker!

It just is a differn't technique.

Ray Lobato · November 6, 2000

Mike,
Ford changed the front diff in 97 from a Dana 35 to a Dana 135(special for Ford only) according to the shop that was going to put my gears and lockers in.
There was no way they could get even a Trac-Loc in my front differantial. So unless I changed the front to a 95 Dana 35 and converted the solid hubs to manual hubs, he wouldn't do it. Liability reasons.

GJarrett · November 6, 2000

So the '95s do have a Dana 35? How easy would it be to switch a '95 model Dana 35 into ours, I wonder?

Ray Lobato · November 6, 2000

I guess I could ask and find out.

Robert · November 7, 2000

How about something like this? Dead Link Removed
Since I don't have the money to do the modification right now, I didn't check into the validity of whether or not it will actually work in a '90-'98 like the specs. show. It is possible that they may not know of the difference either. Also, checking a Helms manual also shows that my axle is a Dana 35, but after talking to some people about it though it appears that the Ford Dana 35 is a reverse rotation whereas the Jeep Dana 35 is normal rotation. There's a thought. Put a Jeep and an '97+ Explorer on Jackstands and see which way the front driveshaft turns.

GJarrett · November 7, 2000

Robert, ours is supposed to be reverse also, we just haven't mentioned it in this discussion. Also, in the post above when I said "The fact is that there are at least two limited slips or lockers whose dealer cross-reference catalogs say fit our application, but they do not", Lock-Rite was one of those I was referring to. It won't work, at least for '97-'99.

Who has a '95? Can you find out if YOURS is a Dana 35?

[Edited by GJarrett on 11-07-2000 at 01:45 PM]

rpenner54 · November 7, 2000

I am thinking that if someone with the newer diff took theirs out and took it to a diff expert and had them look at it something could come out of it. I would think there would have to be some kind of an answer to this. If nothing else maybe its possible to take that diff out the entire pumkin and find another one that has the right choices for gears and lockers and stick it in its place. The only option for that, that I can think of is the F150. Its got a Reverse Cut 8.8 up front from what I know. I have NO idea if it has lockers or l/s for it but I am throwing this out there. I don't even know if it would bolt up but I would guess that it might just cause of the simularities between the two. Now granted it probably won't just bolt up, but it might come close/easy with a few mods. If some of you are really that serious about wanting one I would say your best bet is to really just take it out and go to a ring and pinion type of a shop and see what they can find out for you.

Course you can ignore me too since I don't own an newer style Explorer.

Robert · November 7, 2000

Originally posted by GJarrett
Robert, ours is supposed to be reverse also, we just haven't mentioned it in this discussion. Also, in the post above when I said "The fact is that there are at least two limited slips or lockers whose dealer cross-reference catalogs say fit our application, but they do not", Lock-Rite was one of those I was referring to. It won't work, at least for '97-'99.

Who has a '95? Can you find out if YOURS is a Dana 35?

[Edited by GJarrett on 11-07-2000 at 01:45 PM]

OK, what about Todd Curtis? Has anyone asked him how he put an ARB in his '98? http://www.4x4central.com/tc.html

rpenner54 · November 7, 2000

Tis a typo... They don't make an ARB for the front end of those. He has an ARB in the rear only. Nothing up front. He wanted an ARB for the Front but when he went to get one they didn't make them. Accually now you jogged those brain cells and I think he did the same thing you did Gerald. He had his taken out and they tried to put one in and it didn't work if I remember corectly.

mikefox · November 7, 2000

Scans I promised to do...

Here are the scans I said I would do:

page1

page2

Mine is a 95 so I feel this info to be true according to my Helms manual. If there is another way to verify this without taking it out of the vehicle please let me know and I will try to verify it.

Front diff. on 95 + Explorer??

KSMike

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GJarrett

Robert

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GJarrett

Robert

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GJarrett

Ray Lobato

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sundown

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flyguy

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mikefox

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rpenner54

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Ray Lobato

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GJarrett

Ray Lobato

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Robert

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GJarrett

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Robert

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