02 Ex XLT Front diff questions

[Phoenix99]

Hi , here are my Qs:

I got a recently rebuilt rear end 3.73 IRS limited slip. But I want to redo the front , whats in the front , 8.8?

Do I order the 8.8 rear kit and will fit?
Does it have clutches in the front as well?
Does anyone have the exploded view of the whole unit?
I heard about some guys @ Ford that are locking the front due to the planetary gears that goes haywire on higher speed (vibration) Anyone got infos on this?

Thanks

 

[glfredrick]

Your front axle is a Dana 35, and about half of it is Ford specific. Certain parts will interchange with any Dana 35.

Some lockers will work from the Jeep line, but check the side gears in the carrier. That is the difference between the two versions of the Dana 35 carrier that are out there (in Jeeps and Fords).

If you want to re-gear the front end of an explorer to 3.73, the simplest and cheapest way is to pull an entire pig (the part that holds the gears to the pressed steel axle housing) from a donor vehicle and swap it in. No real special tools or experience is needed, and 3.73 is a SUPER common gear ratio. They're everywhere.

Ford never made a limited slip for the front axle, so the best bet for a lot of traction is a lunch box locker (lock-rite, auusie, etc.) or even better, a selectable locker like the ARB. Realize that any locker in the front axle will make the truck hard to steer -- especially in slippery conditions like ice or wet snow. They tend to want to keep going straight ahead.

 

[Phoenix99]

Alright , thanks

 

[dkchrist]

be careful the front maybe a dana 30, IIRC the new gen explorers use a dana 30 not the dana 35 of earlier ex's