A shout out to another Gen 2 Explorer owner. I'm from the other side of the Evergreen state (Spokane). Keep asking questions, reading manuals and take the YouTube videos with more than a few grains of salt. Some are great, helpful and correct. Others are, well, I'd rather not offer more of an opinion.
I've had a 1997 XLT with SOHC from its delivery date. Sold it at 180k and it was still running strong. It was a very reliable truck, although I always worried about the cam chain issue even after the local dealer did their "fix" early in the truck's life. Most of the issues I had during my ownership were self-caused because I tried to make it "better". But that's how one learns. Some are improvements while others are "rabbit holes".
A piece of specific info should you decide to change bearings, seals, lube, etc in the rear axle. The Ford 8.8 axle assembly is very robust and should serve you well. From very recent experience working on an 8.8..... Should you decide to change bearings and seals, be sure to purchase high quality ones, manufactured by SKF, Torrington or Koyo. I had purchased a set from one of the common parts stores and once the "no name" bearings were installed, the axle shafts would not fit completely into the bearings. They were a few thousand's under size in their bore. Fortunately, the store refunded my money and I bought Koyo that were stamped made in the USA. They fit as they should, the shafts slid fully into place and the axle is back together.
Another point on the 8.8. When you remove the axle shafts, you'll find (or maybe not find) a small o-ring that rests in the groove where the C-clip is installed. The Ford shop manual says don't damage them. Of the three 8.8 axles I've repaired, these o-rings were missing on all, likely broken and flushed out during a fluid change. I recently discussed this with the parts manager at a local Ford dealership. He told me the o-rings are there for 2 reasons - 1) to hold the C-clips in place during assembly at the Sterling (?) axle plant and 2) to keep the C-clips in place should the axle move out of its recess in the differential carrier. I can't imagine the latter happening without some other major failure occurring within the axle assembly resulting in much bigger issues than the loss of a C-clip.
Keep on exploring and enjoy your ride.
