'97 5.0 Explorer AWD. How much tire can spindles and diff handle?

[ExplorerMax]

Finally ready to spend the money. Going with a long travel kit and fiberglass fenders/bedsides. Prefer to go with a manual t-case instead of the AWD. Lift is no problem, axles are no problem. My fear is running 35s or 37s on the stock spindles and the stock front diff. Realistically, can they handle it? Are there even gears for it? I may just remove all the AWD components and go straight 2WD. Not planning to race Baja or crawl Moab, but still want to play in the desert and the dunes, or maybe the mountains, without destroying anything or replacing bearings every 3,000 miles. I'm probably hoping something will work when it realistically never will....... Opinions?

 

[410Fortune]

can handle 35's YES
37's will hit your HVAC box and or firewall
Depending on the actual rotating diameter of the tire (some 35's are actually a 34, etc etc) AND depending on the wheel (backspacing)

The front diff is a SLA Dana 35, they are very tough, many members here have been running 35's on them for years. How they hold up depends very much on vehicle weight and you the driver. Rough driving in the desert with 35's can put LOTS of strain on these suspensions and frames...but they will hold up!!!!!
The wheel bearings and ball joints are the weak link here, use FORD or TIMKEN wheel bearings ONLY