Changing Gears from 3.27 to ?

[JamminG4Jim]

I am planning to Lift my explorer so it can handle the Kelly AWR 33X12.5/15's that currently wait in the garage.

I'm no good at rear end work, so i've been asking around at the local shops to get an idea how much it'll cost to change the front and rear gears to either a 4.10 or 4.56 ratio...Some places estimates are $1300+!!!! Jeez!

Is it absolutely neccessary to change the gears (3.27 now, with a A4LD Automatic) when I put the tires on? How bad will it be if I didn't do it right away?

Your comments, Please...

 

[kvo]

No, it is not absolutely necessary to change gears but it is strongly recommended. You could still use your 3.27, it'll just put more stress on your drivetrain to run those big fat meats (33") and you'll have almost no power for anything, especially in stop and go traffic and on hills.

Check out on-line places (West Coast Differential, Reider Racing, etc.) where you can buy the front and rear gears (along with the installation kits) and take it to the shop for installation since that can save you some costs on the gears. I got mine from Reider Racing a few years back and had them installed at a local shop, all for about $1100, but that was about 4-5 years ago. $1300 sounds right for gears, installation kits, installation, and taxes.

BTW, if you're going to do gears, consider adding a rear locker (or both lockers) in order to save your installation cost in the future.