10.5" rear axle or perhaps D60 rear

[MonsterTrac]

Im looking to switch out the rear axle as part of a project I will be undergoing with the help or Cory L., and I would like to go to a D60. But he brought up the point of a possible VSS sensor on my rear axle (2001 explorer sport trac) that might not allow me to use a D60, He says I may be able to use a ford 10.5" ( from a superduty that also uses this sensor) But i was wondering if anyone knew of any effects of disconnecting the sensor and not using it.......

 

[Jason_25]

That's a pretty good idea.

If you disconnect it, your tranny's o/d on/off light will flash, your speedo will not work, and your tranny will not shift properly.

 

[MonsterTrac]

new knowledge leads me to believe that the VSS sensor is located on my transmission, Ill have to call ford. With the new tiresmy speedo is going to be useless anyway .

If my od/off light will flash, does that mean it will still function properly, as long as performance of the OD itself isnt affeced, Ill just disconnect the flashing light.

 

[Jefe]

On the 99+ Explorers, the ABS sensors (all 3) are used (by means of the ABS module) as your VSS. As long as any one of these is connected, the speedo works, and if nothing is connected the speedo and odometer will not work, and transmission shifts will be severly affected. So, yes, it would be a good idea to find a rear axle with an ABS sensor.

 

[Jason_25]

Your VSS is located on the rear axle. All 98+ explorers, rangers, sportracs have the VSS on the rear axle. Before 98, it was mounted on the transfercsase or tranny tailshaft.

Superlift makes a product called the truspeed that taps into your VSS sensor and adjusts it for the larger tires.

The transmission depends on the VSS to make shifting decisions. It will not function properly without it.

 

[soupbone]

the 10.50 is a monster! How much does it weigh? Dont new SDs used metric bolt patterns?

 

[Robb]

From this and your other thread, you have some big plans for your X. I would ballpark it at about a $10,000 SAS. Does that sound about right?

 

[MonsterTrac]

4,500 + both axles + wheels/tires. With the axles and rims Im gonna have to buy, 10 K might not be that far off. Which means prolly some bad new for cory, I was only alloting about 6 k for the project, theres no way Im going to get both axles and rims/tires for 1500. Im going to have to wait a while and save up some extra cash before preceeding.



Perhaps I might just get the Dana 60 up front, and buy two of the rims I would need to run the 40 inch tires, but buy 35inch tires to mount on them. Then set up the suspension and the steering to run 35's. That is prolly what Im going to do.

That way in the future when I finish the lift, I will already have the front axle and both of the front rims........

 

[MonsterTrac]

soupbone - yes the 10.5" is a massive axle, yes the superduty's run metric. I would be able to use the 10.5" superduty axle in the rear which would allow me to retain my VSS sensor working properly ( superdutys 97+ also have the VSS on the axle,and it is the same VSS unit. Checked with ford.

 

[MonsterTrac]

Jefe - Are you 100% shure that If I unplug the VSS sensor on my axle and dont plug it back in My transmission will not work correctly.

 

[MonsterTrac]

Do you know where all three ABS sensors are located... Would it be possible to splice the rear one on the axle into one of the other two.....

 

[IAmTodd]

The other 2 are located on/or near you front brakes. Just look for wires leading up to it.

EDIT- Sorry about that....IT WAS LATE!

 

[MonsterTrac]

can you double check that post for spelling, cant understand that. does that say, front brakes.....If so, that means I need a front axle that has the VSS sensors also....dam*it

 

[Jefe]

Originally posted by MonsterTrac
Jefe - Are you 100% shure that If I unplug the VSS sensor on my axle and dont plug it back in My transmission will not work correctly.

Its not that it won't work correctly. The computer controls the shifts, depending on rpms, throttle, current speed, etc. If it doesn't know what speed you're going it has to work with only the other info, and so may shift at the wrong times.

Originally posted by MonsterTrac
can you double check that post for spelling, cant understand that. does that say, front brakes.....If so, that means I need a front axle that has the VSS sensors also....dam*it

Yes, he meant front brakes. and No, you don't necesarily need a front axle with ABS. Only one of the ABS sensors has to be working to have VSS.

 

[CONavajo]

Well, to facillitate my SAS I bought a Super Duty as my daily driver and future tow rig. Only problem I've had so far was the VSS going bad. It caused the speedo to remain still and the tranny would shift HARD. 1st gear held till about 3k then it would unload like I dumped a manual clutch into second. So, if the new Explorers VSS is similar your computer definately uses it to determine shifts.