HighRoad
Active Member
- Joined
- February 13, 2008
- Messages
- 51
- Reaction score
- 1
- City, State
- Oregon
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 98' Mounty/01' Sport Trac
Hey guys, looking to compile information on IFS.
I have done a lot of searching online, and most ford ifs info leads back to this forum, which does not surprise me. But, the threads I have found, usually end us going the SAS route:thumbdwn:
You may have seen my project on here: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=373640
My goal is to come up with an option for the front differential for 2nd gen explorers/sport tracs other than the Dana 35. I am looking for more strength and gear/locker options. Makeing the CV's/axles stronger is not a problem as there are several options for going to 930 CV's and stronger axles, especially if you are changing the front suspension like I am. The problem is the front chunk.....
What I think I know:
All A-arm explorers have the dana 35 diff or starting with the 3rd gens, a dana 30. The Dana 30ifs may have some better aftermarket support??? Probably not much if any stronger???
97' newer F-150's/Expeditions have the 8.8 IFS, 28 spline. This differential has multiple locker and gear choices and is probably a decent strength upgrade. I am trying to find one to measure to see what the width and mounting points are like. Most likely the tubes would need to be shortened and obviously the mounts are going to be different. And, I believe they are high pinion, which may make the fit even tighter or necessitate lowering the differential which would not be a good option.
3rd gen explorers have 31 spline low pinion IRS in the rear. Could be run in the front when turned around backwards and be low pinion, but would need axle tubes or a support for the long side axle like a front wheel drive car long side axle. It possibly could be mounted like this off of the front cover bolts:
Does anyone know of a project where the Dana 35 A-arm IFS was replaced with something else? Any other Ideas I am missing.
Thanks for the discussion.
I have done a lot of searching online, and most ford ifs info leads back to this forum, which does not surprise me. But, the threads I have found, usually end us going the SAS route:thumbdwn:
You may have seen my project on here: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=373640
My goal is to come up with an option for the front differential for 2nd gen explorers/sport tracs other than the Dana 35. I am looking for more strength and gear/locker options. Makeing the CV's/axles stronger is not a problem as there are several options for going to 930 CV's and stronger axles, especially if you are changing the front suspension like I am. The problem is the front chunk.....
What I think I know:
All A-arm explorers have the dana 35 diff or starting with the 3rd gens, a dana 30. The Dana 30ifs may have some better aftermarket support??? Probably not much if any stronger???
97' newer F-150's/Expeditions have the 8.8 IFS, 28 spline. This differential has multiple locker and gear choices and is probably a decent strength upgrade. I am trying to find one to measure to see what the width and mounting points are like. Most likely the tubes would need to be shortened and obviously the mounts are going to be different. And, I believe they are high pinion, which may make the fit even tighter or necessitate lowering the differential which would not be a good option.
3rd gen explorers have 31 spline low pinion IRS in the rear. Could be run in the front when turned around backwards and be low pinion, but would need axle tubes or a support for the long side axle like a front wheel drive car long side axle. It possibly could be mounted like this off of the front cover bolts:
Does anyone know of a project where the Dana 35 A-arm IFS was replaced with something else? Any other Ideas I am missing.
Thanks for the discussion.