Best Differential and gears for a 2WD

[OneBadExpSport]

Hey guys, I'm in the market for a new set of gears and a locking differential. I running 33s on 3.73 gears and plan on moving up to 4.56. I curious as to which brand gears (with prices) I should choose and if any of you have had any problems with a specific brand.

The other, more important question is what locker should I get. I'm sure all of you will tell me to get the ARB locker, but $900 is almost 2/3rds the cost of a good used dirtbike that I'm hoping to get. I guess my options are the auto-lockers. Are they any good or should I just wait and invest in a selectable locker?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks a lot
Brian

 

[Alec]

My first question is: how tough are the trails you go on? Do you try to keep up with comperably equipped 4WDs when you go out like I do, or do you just go fool around and not try anything really hard? Also, how much time do you spend on the highway? Since you are 2wd, you do have the option of 4.30 gears. That's what I'm running with my 33s and really like that ratio, 4.56 would be too low for me. I'm currently running a Yukon (brand, not truck) gearset and it's very high quality. They are expensive though. Genuine and Richmond gear are also good brands. If you get your gears from Randy's Ring and Pinion, they may give you the Yukon gears for $180 like they did for me.

I'm currently running an Eaton limited slip in the rear and like it a lot. Many people also like the Powertrax and it's brethren. I don't know much about lockers though.....

 

[OneBadExpSport]

I want to go hardcore offroading and scare the pants off of my gf without having to worry about slipping and rolling over. I have a factory limited slip and i'm very disappointed in it which is why i'm not even considering the limited slips. I'm very curious about how you're able to keep up with the big boys with your 2wd and limited slip, ALEC. I know you have a supercharger. If i were to make the basic mods like intake, exhaust and chip, would I be able to hang with the 4 wheelers with just my factory limited slip? How are the aftermarket ones better? Should I get a new limited slip or auto-locker?

Also, I've never seen 4.30 gears, which would be perfect for me. I've only seen 4.10 and 4.56 gears.

Thanks a lot

Brian

 

[Alec]

4.30 gears are available for the 8.8 diff, but not the X's front diff. That's why you have that option but 4wds don't.

Without low range or the gobs of torque that I have, 4.56s would be a better choice for you offroad. However, you will most likely get less mileage on the highway and will be at fairly high rpms all the time if you have speed limits in your area of 75.

You'll need a locker to try to hang with 4wds with 33s. Like I said though, I don't know much about the various lockers so can't tell you which to get.

Remember that I have to use power and momentum as a substitute for low range. 2wds have to be driven with a different style offroad, and that style often means that you have a greater chance of breaking parts than a comparable 4wd. You'll need great underbody protection, and also good bumpers with nothing hanging from them. This is because you'll need to get speed to go up steep inclines and would totally scrape off an airdam or low fogs. After you get your rig set up, go on some easy runs to get the feel for your rig and what you can do. You may find that your 2wd with 33s is best going on the trail with 31" equipped 4wds.

Good luck!

 

[OneBadExpSport]

Hey Alec, How much horsepower and torque does your explorer run at now with the supercharger? I've also been looking for a safari rack. How much did you get yours for?

I've decided on the PowerTrax No-Slip with Yukon 4.56 gears. Randy's had the most reasonable price at $645 plus shipping with the ExplorerForum 5% discount. I was going to purchase it today, but my guilty conscience told me that I'm still $1000 in debt, so I'm going to wait till I'm $500 in debt before I make my purchase. Thanks for all the advice.

Brian

 

[Alec]

I have about 230+ hp and 275+ tq at the wheels.

There is a group buy for the roof basket from Explorer Express on right now. Check out the group buy forum.

The Ptrax and Yukon gears are a good choice. I'd also recommend getting a stud girdle diff cover, but that's also more $$$.

 

[Gopher]

Theres also 4.88 which is what i'm going to change to in the near future along with the powertrax or detroit. I was going to go 4.56, but then the 4.88's just seem that they would work better. I just put on 35's.
When i had the 33's and 4.11's it wasn't bad, but the 4.56 would of been better. We dont have the power that Alec has, so we have to make up for it in gear.

 

[DocVijay]

Just htought I'd add in. I just swapped to some 4.10 gears and an Eaton LS differential. So far it's worked OK, but Ihaven't doen anything really crazy yet. I have had an instance or two where even the LS diff let one wheel spin, so the locker (or semi-locker PowerTrax) may actually be the better choice. For me it'll do for now, as in a while when I get my 2005 F-350 the X is going V8, front SAS and coilovers all around.

 

[DocVijay]

Oh, and I also got one of the Ford Racing stud girdle differential covers. The extra support can only help.

 

[Gopher]

Bjorn,
To trick the l/s when you're offroad is to set up parking brake. Put a little tention on the brake that way it tricks the l/s to lock up. Still not going to fully lock up, but sometimes it helps just that little bit you need. I'm gonna go to full locker. I think for the most part a good l/s will do what most people want. It works for me, but i want more of an edge and also when i run the wash i want the rear to slide more. Which a locker will give. But try the parking brake. Just put a little tention on it.

 

[DocVijay]

I'll try that. Yes you're right, the LS will do "most" of what I want. Truth is that I spend 90% of my driving on nice paved roads, so an automatic locker can be a bit unweildy. Also, other than the new Detroit Electric locker, most of the real lockers are open diffs when unlocked. I'd like the benefit of an LS when unlocked. Problem is htat new Detroit is about $700-800 itself.

Anyhow, in a year or so the ol' X will be metamorphosing into a true beast. At that point she'll have lockers front and rear.

 

[Shagnasty]

So uhm... doc? You're going full 4wd? Planning a SAS? If so, let me know so I can buy your used lift spindles?

Thanks ; )

 

[DocVijay]

Originally posted by Shagnasty
So uhm... doc? You're going full 4wd? Planning a SAS? If so, let me know so I can buy your used lift spindles?

Thanks ; )

Absotively, posulutely. That's what I'm planning on. Since I'll be ripping the front apart for the SAS, I may as well throw in a V8 and make it a 4WD as well.

I'll try and remember about the spindles. When you read a post by me about my new F-350, remind me and I'll ship them out.

 

[Shagnasty]

If you need extra hands, let me know... Sounds like one heck of a project!

 

[DocVijay]

It will be quite a project. It's going to have to wait until the new F series trucks come out (2005 models), so it'll be while. Also, by then we may not be living in Texas any more. But if we are, I'll use all the Texan (or anyones) help I can get. Can't wait!

 

[OneBadExpSport]

Hey Alec, would I be able to get as much horsepower as your ex with an intake, chip, and exhaust. My SOHC V6 spits out 205 hp stock. With those three mods, I should definitely be able to get 25 extra HPs. It doesn't sound as mean as a "Supercharger" though. That's pretty bada$$ how you have one.

Brian

 

[Alec]

With intake, chip, and exhaust you may have close to 225-230 at the flywheel, while I have at least that at the rear wheels; so no. However, it will help. Get the 4.56s to help even more, though your mileage will suffer like I said.

I've never had a problem with my LS not working when I wanted it to (when the tranny was working right). It always transfers power when I need it to, and the Eaton LS will actually transfer more power to the wheel with traction than just 50%.

 

[OneBadExpSport]

I called up one repair shop and they told me I'd have to change the carrier if I move up to 4.56 from 3.73. Does that sound right?

The cheapest install price I found was $275. Anyone install theirs for less?

Finally, what brand gears do you recommend? I'm deciding between Precision Gears and Yukon, but other suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks a lot
Brian

 

[DocVijay]

I spent $300 to re-gear and have the diff installed, so $275 is fine.

I got the Ford Racing gears. So far they are fine.

 

[Shagnasty]

where'd you get your lift spindles doc? I may not be able to wait.