'99 Explorer, front hub conversion?

[freelancer]

Have a '99 Explorer, 4X4, IFS, with full time front axle. TERRIBLY hard on fuel. Am looking for information for front hub conversion to free-wheeling, manually locking hubs so I don't have to drag that diff. around all the time.
Have an '80 F-150 4X4 (carb) that is easier on fuel than this modern high-tech FI wonder.
Also, is it possible to change the "chip" on this Explorer? Maybe an economy chip would improve mileage without sacrificing too much performance.
Any suggestions or comments?

Thanks, freelancer Dead Link Removed

 

[mrjones98e]

yeah sure you can but , you are still pulling that transfer case and the front axles. I am sure they make a conversion . go to auto zone or napa and ask them or go to a shop that would know the front hub pattern. hope this helps you , as for the chip you can get all kinds of performance chips but I dont know about gas mileage chips , try a hypertech power programer, they might have something for an explorer. what is the gas mileage in yours ,is it a v-8 it must be. My v-6 sohs in my 98 eb gets anywhere around eighteen to twenty five miles a gallon with at two inch lift and thirty two inch tires, and still runs like a scalded dog

 

[freelancer]

Thanks for the comeback, I'll check them places out.
Its a 4.0L, V-6, mileage about 10 -14 MPG (US). If I could get closer to 20 I'd be happy. Dead Link Removed

 

[freelancer]

Did some checking this weekend and verified my suspicions that the transfer case is in 2 wheel drive until 4 wheel is called for. The only thing turning the front driveshaft is the differential which is being driven by the front axles. Like I said if I could get free-wheeling hubs it would take a load off.
Heard back from Warn, they don't make a kit and have no plans to. Dead Link Removed

 

[Paul Gagnon]

You could probably adapt something to work. Maybe a YJ manual hub kit.

But I would be willing to bet it is your gearing that is causing the high fuel consumption. What axles gears do you have?

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Paul Gagnon
Calgary, Alberta
"No Brain, No Pain"
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[freelancer]

3.73 Dead Link Removed

 

[Paul Gagnon]

I have 3.73s and 235/75R15s on my '98 and it is a real pig on gas! It was much worse when it had the original 225/70R15 tires.


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Paul Gagnon
Calgary, Alberta
"No Brain, No Pain"
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[slow-demon]

Just a thought.. The '99 Rangers uses hub locks. The suspension is basically the same as a '99 explorer. The hub locks on the Rangers is vacuum actuated. So a lot parts are needed to modify an explorer to use the rangers's hub locks.

 

[Jim F]

Even if you are able to get the hardware to free wheel the front end, the auto Control-Trac system will attempt to transfer power to the front if needed when going 0 to 35MPH. If I remember right, there is 5% power to the front normally (no wheel slippage), a little more with heavier acceleration (no wheel slippage) and then 2WD drive after 35MPH. I am not sure if the 2WD maintains 5% power to the front at highway speeds.
You might have to reprogram the 4WD module or get the module from a 96. The 96's have a 2WD position no auto mode.

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Exploring CA
98 XLT 4X4 4.0L SOHC

 

[freelancer]

Thanks Jim, I'll check into that. I had been told by a Ford mechanic that because there was no differential in the transfercase, wnen its in 2 WD its in 2WD. The only time it goes into auto 4WD is when excessive slippage is detected and then the transfer case shift motor is activated to shift to 4WD. My thinking was to put a switch inline with the motor and only turn it on when the (hope to be obtained) freewheeling hubs were locked.

 

[Jim F]

Here is a link that is verrrry informative. It explains the Control-Trac system to a tee. I have read a lot of stories from people who have had people at Ford (sales, service, etc.) and they all have different answers regarding the Control-Trac systems onthe 97-00. The most outrageous was the comparision between the All-Wheel drive and the Control-Trac. But I wont get into that here. Go to the following link and be impressed, I was.

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Hope this explains is better than one I did in my previous post. I too was concerned about the extra stuff I was dragging along everytime I drove the truck to work until I realized that the system that is on our trucks is a pretty sophisticated traction control system.
Anyway, my 2 cents.

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Exploring CA
98 XLT 4X4 4.0L SOHC