questions about changing out the gears in the front

[peanuttbutterman]

so i have a 8.8 axle in the rear and my plan is to go to the junk yard and rip out some gears froman f-250 or expidition or something else that has as close to 4.56 gears as possible. my 1st question is, is the front a 8.8 as well? it looks smaller than the rear. my 2nd question is could i take gears out the rear and install them in the front? 3rd question is could i take a ls differintial out of the rear and install it in the front?

 

[unclemeat]

No no and no. The gears for the rear must be from an 8.8 (another Explorer). You can swap a junk yard axle with a higher gear ratio. The front is a Dana 35 IFS. You will need a ring and pinion set for a D-35. IMO if you are going to go through the expense of setting up gears, then you should use a new ring and pinion set. I am not sure but you may be able to scavenage a rring and pinion from a Jeep D-35 rear and install in the front diff. I dont think you can use the ls diff, because of the axle shaft size and spline count. You could install a Torsen ls in the front diff. I believe that there some lunchbox type lockers you could install in the front diff.

 

[peanuttbutterman]

thanks for the reply. i was really surprised to see how affordable the lunchbox lockers are. i took your advise and bought new ring and pinion gears rear was 125 and the front was about 130. the master install kits were about 75 apiece so over all not to bad. i have another question for you, because this is a budget build how hard is it to rebuild a used set of lunchbox lockers? and what safety issues would arise while driving my explorer with lockers installed because i would still have to drive it (not a lot but still enough that im concerned)

 

[peanuttbutterman]

sorry i just noticed your from Richmond. i live in williamsburg and was wondering where are the trails around here? i used to live in VB and i only know of one there but nothing i could take my explorer on as of yet. im heading to Shenandoah in the spring and running it up there if all is good by then.a

 

[ian.bridges]

well i have a few questions to ask. they have nothing to do with this post. i have a 1999 ford ranger xlt 4 door and i was wondering how hard would it be to fit a 5.0 motor in it. also my ranger has a lift on it already but i want a bigger one on it. but all i can find is for the 4.0 verion ihave a 3.0 and cant find alot of lifts for it except up to 1997 and that is two years older then i have so i have nothing it seems like i can get for it. i nbeed help for that. and my final question is what gears would be good to add to it for better speed and torgue...please io would like to know what i could do to my truck. email me asap at boywhofellonfan@hotmail.com thank you

 

[gavin]

Just an FYI...

there's really no way to do a ring and pinion install "on a budget"

tools alone for just that job will run ~$1400 or so. Unless you can find/know somebody with the proper tools and can borrow them. Then expect to spend a good ~20hrs or so if you've never done an R&P set up before.

or you might be able to find a shop that will charge around $400/ea.

oh also, depending on which install kit you got for the front, it may have the incorrect carrier shims. The Yukon master install kit for the Dana35 comes with carrier shims meant for TTB Dana35, not the SLA-IFS Dana35.

 

[peanuttbutterman]

when i said budget i meant everything thats involved with turning my beast into more of a beast not just the ring and pinion. i really don't think it will take 20 hours. the rear wont take no time at all, compared to the front(i've been researching for weeks on how to do this and will be doing it with people that have way more exp. doing this than i do. so mi fairly confident with what i've chosen to do. thanks for pointing out the shim issue i will make sure it all fits before installing.

 

[gavin]

when i said budget i meant everything thats involved with turning my beast into more of a beast not just the ring and pinion. i really don't think it will take 20 hours. the rear wont take no time at all, compared to the front(i've been researching for weeks on how to do this and will be doing it with people that have way more exp. doing this than i do. so mi fairly confident with what i've chosen to do. thanks for pointing out the shim issue i will make sure it all fits before installing.

With help from experienced folks no, it won't take near as long.

I tackled this, for the first time, earlier this year. It did take me around 20 hrs for both front and rear. Rear was definitely easy. I got it done in about a day.

The front is what I fought with for ~12hrs.

And since you have help with the diffs, that definitely makes everything cheaper if they have the tools and knowledge/experience.

 

[IZwack]

20 hrs is about right - because while you have everything out, you might as well replace the races and a few other things (axle seals, etc..). The 8.8 has is typically shimmed under the pinion bearing so every time you change the pinion shim stack, the pinion bearing has to be removed.

 

[Mountaineer1113]

You think wheel bearings would be a good thing to change out while changing gears and differential? I know some kits I've seen on Summit come with them so it might be something to think about.

 

[peanuttbutterman]

i really appretiate everyone helping me out with this, i really do. i have one last question and then i'll leave it alone. i probably read it wrong but the lunch boxes only lock up when tourqes applied right?could i install the lunchbox in the front so tourqe is only applied when in 4 wheel drive? or would the normal 2wd cause the lockers to engage?

 

[unclemeat]

The legal trails around here are the North Carolina beaches, Asseteagee Island, Crozet for rock crawling, and the George Washington National Forest. There are some special events like Big Dogs that allow legal wheeling on private land. I really like the national forest.

Swapping a 5.0 into a ranger is possible, it really depends on you skill level. There will be some welding cutting and hammering. I have never done it. You may need a new fuel pump. You will need to reuse all the sensors and computer.

I agree, that on a 13-year old vehicle, if you are going to do the gears, plan to rebuild the axles while they ar apart.

 

[peanuttbutterman]

thanks for the info. i cant wait till i go to the national park this spring, i just hope im done with the explorer by then (lift, wheels/tires, diff,ring and pinion, brush gaurd and new calipers/rotors then time for all that to break in)

 

[jturkey69]

good info to know...I didnt think it would take that many hrs for a shop to swap gears...so I should plan on 2 days of the truck being gone for a gear swap? price range?