Solved Differential Swap

[CDW6212R]

Still have O/D, who you trying to impress?

I lost 3rd and 4th gear from my last 98 Explorer, and drove it at work for over 14 months, on two different mail routes. It was not fun to shift out of D to 2, countless times a day, to keep it from 3rd(which is neutral and throws a code after a couple of times doing it). I stopped driving it only after it developed a noise at the water pump, and I bought another 98. All of that was after the AWD had locked up the year before, so that truck needs some work.

 

[Josh P]

I lost 3rd and 4th gear from my last 98 Explorer, and drove it at work for over 14 months, on two different mail routes. It was not fun to shift out of D to 2, countless times a day, to keep it from 3rd(which is neutral and throws a code after a couple of times doing it). I stopped driving it only after it developed a noise at the water pump, and I bought another 98. All of that was after the AWD had locked up the year before, so that truck needs some work.

One of those cars you drive with one leg out the door, ready to jump.

 

[ThatOneGuy99]

One of those cars you drive with one leg out the door, ready to jump.

That's what I do with my explorer any time I drive in the mountains

 

[Josh P]

That's what I do with my explorer any time I drive in the mountains

Good to know, inviting you on a weekend trip to the mountains is like going on a hunting trip with Dick Cheney.

 

[ThatOneGuy99]

Good to know, inviting you on a weekend trip to the mountains is like going on a hunting trip with Dick Cheney.

You're less likely to get shot, just more likely to die in a horrific accident involving a cliff after the duct tape holding my tie rods together comes apart. Thank god Colorado doesn't have vehicle inspections, that'd be interesting

 

[CDW6212R]

I put my front driveshaft back in for a few snow days in 2019, to carry the mail on a mountainous route in Wears Valley. I made a video until the memory card was full, of that slow path at the top of the Settler's peak section. I posted it online but didn't tell many people, no no for employees. That snow was minor and caused no big trouble for anyone with good tires.

 

[ThatOneGuy99]

I put my front driveshaft back in for a few snow days in 2019, to carry the mail on a mountainous route in Wears Valley. I made a video until the memory card was full, of that slow path at the top of the Settler's peak section. I posted it online but didn't tell many people, no no for employees. That snow was minor and caused no big trouble for anyone with good tires.

That's pretty much what I've been relying on, we put falken wildpeaks on it and so far they haven't disappointed.

 

[CDW6212R]

Tires are everything, and those are harder to get now too, and a lot higher then the 8.5% inflation rate they lie to us about.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Tires are everything, and those are harder to get now too, and a lot higher then the 8.5% inflation rate they lie to us about.

when i orded my tires last year it took em months to get here! count be happir with my open country at3s though!

 

[ThatOneGuy99]

The wildpeaks were in stock here luckily, but they were something like $1000 or just over I can't remember, because of course I got them at the peak of the shortage

 

[DintDobbs]

@ThatOneGuy99 I'm gonna throw in my 2 cents, even though you're probably already set by this time.

Cent 1: I have a spare set of 196k 4.10's front and rear waiting to go in somebody else's diffs, since I changed to 5.13's... Shoulda hit me up! xD

Cent 2: Don't listen to the LS haters on ice. I drove almost bald tires with my center, front and rear LS auto-4WD (essentially AWD) 14 miles on nothing but smooth ice, stuck around 30-35 MPH and never slipped out once. Stuck 3rd gear the whole way, since the 4.10's hold 3rd at that speed. Decided to take it on the back roads to see if I could get it loose, and at least on mine (which had closer to 160k at that time) I could clearly feel the diff clutches engaging and the rear end (and front, if you're a clown) would probably try to break loose if you didn't know when to let up, especially with taller gears; but with your OHV's limited torque, you should have plenty of warning. Practice before you trust your skills, respect common sense, and praise the Lord that he gave you the understanding that physics still apply even when you are behind the wheel of a car. So many people drive these things without any idea whatsoever of what makes them work.

 

[Mbrooks420]

No one’s hating on limited slips. It is a fact that they are more apt to slide under throttle. That said, I’d still want one.

 

[Mbrooks420]

@ThatOneGuy99 I'm gonna throw in my 2 cents, even though you're probably already set by this time.

Cent 1: I have a spare set of 196k 4.10's front and rear waiting to go in somebody else's diffs, since I changed to 5.13's... Shoulda hit me up! xD

Cent 2: Don't listen to the LS haters on ice. I drove almost bald tires with my center, front and rear LS auto-4WD (essentially AWD) 14 miles on nothing but smooth ice, stuck around 30-35 MPH and never slipped out once. Stuck 3rd gear the whole way, since the 4.10's hold 3rd at that speed. Decided to take it on the back roads to see if I could get it loose, and at least on mine (which had closer to 160k at that time) I could clearly feel the diff clutches engaging and the rear end (and front, if you're a clown) would probably try to break loose if you didn't know when to let up, especially with taller gears; but with your OHV's limited torque, you should have plenty of warning. Practice before you trust your skills, respect common sense, and praise the Lord that he gave you the understanding that physics still apply even when you are behind the wheel of a car. So many people drive these things without any idea whatsoever of what makes them work.

What limited slip do you have in the front?

 

[Fix4Dirt]

What limited slip do you have in the front?

iircthe only d35 ls was a torsen... ar least as of last year that was what i found. though iirc GoFast at one point i heard had a tloc front... though ive never heard of it elsewhere, so not sure

 

[ThatOneGuy99]

So I finally got to switching the rear, pulled the cover and looked at the gears fully, turns out the spider gears are chipped and chewed up. So do I return this one and grab the sport Trac one and switch the drum brakes out or buy a new carrier for this one? The other gears and backlash is ok

 

[Fix4Dirt]

So I finally got to switching the rear, pulled the cover and looked at the gears fully, turns out the spider gears are chipped and chewed up. So do I return this one and grab the sport Trac one and switch the drum brakes out or buy a new carrier for this one? The other gears and backlash is ok

depends, if you get a new carrier, you have to reset everything as if you regeared. however, i have another idea if you can put up with it, and auto locker replaces the spider gears..... but thats on;y if youre fine iwth the locking/unlocking etc

 

[ThatOneGuy99]

Sounds like back to the junkyard I go, I really don't like auto lockers

 

[Mbrooks420]

I don’t think converting the drums is that bad. I’d go that route.

 

[ThatOneGuy99]

I don’t think converting the drums is that bad. I’d go that route.

I just absolutely hate working on anything brake related

 

[CDW6212R]

I just absolutely hate working on anything brake related

You can just carefully hang the calipers with the hard lines, up and away from the rearend, and swap the rear completely. You could swap all the rest of the brake parts out from under the truck, the backing plates etc, plus the parking brake linings etc. That would let you leave the brake fluid intact, not losing any fluid. I would still bleed the brakes fully, rear and front, old brake fluid is very bad.