Gears and Lockers

[96Xtreme]

Okay, I did my research and this is what I compiled, could somebody tell me if Im right?
I have a 96 4 door 4x4 with 3.73 gears in it right now. I have 31x10.5's and I want to regear it. I do a lot of highway driving so 4.10 gears would be the best? Also I want to do a locker when I do the gears. I want to get a Powertraxx locker, Ive only read good things about them. When shopping for a locker Im looking for one with 8.8 gearing? Is this information correct? Or should I try to find a used axle with this stuff in it?
Thanks

 

[DeRocha]

3.73 gears with 31" tires is absolutely fine... Regearing is not cheap as parts and labor average $1,000 (both axles). I would only regear if you plan on running 35" tires or you have a gear fairy that can deliver the goods cheap..

 

[Bronco638]

I decided to "regear" my '96 X by swapping axles. My truck has 3.55s and I simply bought axles with 4.10 gears. Before I install the axles, I'm going to replace the carrier bearings, axle bearings and seals as well as install PowerTraxx NoSpin lockers. Then, it's a (relatively) simple swap. I originally planned to run 31s but have recently decided to go with 32s. If you're not planning to do much off-roading, the 3.73s might be OK. If you plan to take it off-road, the 4.10s will provide a little more punch. However, the step from 3.73s to 4.10s shouldn't be that noticable.

 

[96Xtreme]

Ok so the 3.73 gears should be fine but what do you guys think about the locker. I do an average amount of 4 wheeling and have had the a tire a two off the ground and not been able to get up the hill becuase of it. Do you think the powetraxx is still a good idea?

 

[dman726749]

yep, from eveyones happieness, you will ove the locker off road

 

[spindlecone]

Get The Powertrax unit, very easy install, great tech support line, you can download the entire install in PDF format off the website
Good luck

 

[DB_1]

Ok so the 3.73 gears should be fine but what do you guys think about the locker. I do an average amount of 4 wheeling and have had the a tire a two off the ground and not been able to get up the hill becuase of it. Do you think the powetraxx is still a good idea?

Let me put it this way...powertrax or any locker for that matter is never a bad idea With the tire(s) you had off the ground without a locker, it severely limited your traction because the tire(s) in the air were just spinning and the tires that were on the ground were getting very little to no power because the diff will always send power to the tires with the least amount of traction(the ones in the air).
With a locker now BOTH tires are getting traction so if you have a tire in the air the one on the ground will power you through. I should say only the diff with the locker in it will help you out. So if you put a powertrax in the rear and leave the front open, only the rear will benefit BUT it will make a great improvement overall.

 

[Bronco638]

What everybody ^^^ said.

 

[LessDirty]

I'm sorry to interupt here, but there is no reason to NOT over clutch the rear stk limited slip. Its easy and cheap and I can't think of anything that would work better other than a spool. Simply rebuild the rear locker and over shim either end of the clutch pack and use 7 to 8 clutches instead of the normal 5. If you do ALOT of off roading, don't put the friction modifier in the rear..........

 

[spindlecone]

spools are great for mudders and drag cars, but not on the street at all, you can arcweld your spyders together and get the same effect, but you will never be able to drive on dry pavement without loseing alot of rubber

 

[LessDirty]

I wasn't saying to run a spool, I was saying to over clutch the stk limited slip. Please re-read my post. I was saying that only a spool would work better. As far as welding the spiders, no thanks.

Thats great for Junk Yard Wars but not for anything I would build.

 

[spindlecone]

As far as welding the spiders, no thanks.

Thats great for Junk Yard Wars but not for anything I would build.

Was poor boys early 60s tech, in reality has the same effect as a spool, to lock both axels together, sort of direct drive

 

[GJarrett]

I'm sorry to interupt here, but there is no reason to NOT over clutch the rear stk limited slip. Its easy and cheap and I can't think of anything that would work better other than a spool. Simply rebuild the rear locker and over shim either end of the clutch pack and use 7 to 8 clutches instead of the normal 5. If you do ALOT of off roading, don't put the friction modifier in the rear..........

That's a decent band-aid, but most of us have daily drivers. It's not a "rear locker" as you stated and is in fact a limited slip that (once tightened with additional clutch packs) will grab on corners a lot more than an automatic locker like a Powertrax NoSlip that is a real locker that will release during turns while not under power. My strong suspicion is that anyone that would cram a couple more clutch packs into a TracLok will soon end up going to something like a NoSlip anyway, so the time and effort and expense would be wasted.

 

[LessDirty]

While I appriciate your oppinion GJ, I think your wrong. It costs less than $50 and it works to lock up the rear when 1 tire spins a slight bit, yes a limit slip. For those that drive on the road this is the fastest, cheapest and easist way to aid in off road use yet is strong and will spin BOTH rear tires when needed.

I am not speaking out of my "rear end" (you like the pun?) I run this SAME stock styled rear end in my mid-10 second 89 Coupe Mustang at high 120's to low 130's in the 1/4 mile. I leave on the trans brake with a 150 shot of dope. We have been doing this mod on this EXACT same rear end for 15 years.

You don't have to do it just because I said so, but it is a cheap, effective, and quality mod. Its not like "welding spiders" which is illegal in ALL forms of racing due to its poss. of locking up the rear end if it breaks and loosing control of the car. My mod (the one I explained) is not illegal and has no downside.

I just wanted to give another option to those that have to "po-boy" it yet still deserve the locking that they deserve and need. Let those that want to know how to do this get the info. and those that don't like this approach just need to express logicly why not so that we can discuss it; till then I will continue to run this setup in my Exploder and my 89 Coupe like I have for over 4 years without flaw!

 

[Bronco638]

Based on 96Xtreme's previous posts, I don't see that he has a L/S rear axle. So, how is overloading a limited slip diff any more cost effective than installing a locker? At this point, he'll need to source the L/S carrier and associated parts and then add some clutch plates. I'm not saying that your system won't work (obviously, it does) but am wonding if it isn't just easier on the wallet to buy a NoSpin unit.

 

[LessDirty]

yeah, thats a no brainer........I had no idea that Ford made a 4x4 with no LS in the rear. Can that be right?

Of course I was saying that IF HE HAS A LIMITED SLIP he could....blah blah blah blah!

I'm not trying to be a pain here, I was only offering advice, thats all. I have yet to read anything here that talks about this cheap and easy mod. For those, like me, thats just starting to mod their Explorer, its a good alternative.

If you were just dead set on running my setup, these 8.8 LS rears are everywhere. Most folks will just give then to you. I, as a matter of fact, will be giving one away this winter. This winter, I will take out my over clutched rear in the Coupe and out it in the X-ploder and my stk one in X-ploder will be put into moth balls. I will also change my rear gears at the same time to 4.56. :exporange

Best of luck with whatever setup you'll do, some are more pricey than others and some are WORTH the price while others are just poo-poo. The Auburn LS setups that some dudes use to buy for their Mustangs was WORSE than the stocker, and thats why we learned how to mod the stocker to do what we wanted.

 

[96Xtreme]

Ive been looking into the powertrax lockers. I know Im looking for one for a Ford 8.8 with 31 spline. But what is the deal with the shaft? I have found one with a 3/4" shaft and a 7/8" shaft. Which one is for explorers?

 

[Arnie897]

I did the Detroit EZ locker for $245. Just about the same thing as a powertrax. DOn't know about the shaft size though. There were no options with mine.

 

[GJarrett]

Explorers have a 7/8" shaft. I think the 3/4" shafts are in the Mustang 8.8s.

 

[nissanboy]

im gonna stir this thread up some... FOrdbeast and I both run welded rears. He has a spool though and i just welded mine. No worse for driveablility ont he street. Just chirps tires and wears them about the same as you would if you drive with your foot on the floor.

weld it up