rear axle questions

[diesel_s]

I have a 2001 Sport and as you can see below it has quite a few upgrades.......my next endeavor my sport and my newly acquired 2000 Xlt is power. I want to start safe and begin with the rear end, then the tranny, and then the motor.......my question is, what is the difference between the gear ratios...i honestly have no clue what each ratio is good for. I will say that I have quite the led foot....main reason that my ex has an upgraded suspension and is on the ground lol.......DO i need to get new gears for the rear axle? or just go buy a mustang or svt lightning rear axle or something?

 

[techieman33]

Lets find out what gear ratio you have now, there is an axle code on the drivers door sticker. That code will tell you what ratio you have now. Here is the chart to compare it too.

43 Open 3200 3.08
41 Open 3200 3.27
42 Open 4.10
46 Open 3.73
45 Open 3200 3.55
D4 Limited Slip 3200 3.73
D2 Limited Slip 4.10
L73 Limited Slip 3.73

Your axle is actually stronger than a mustang axle, and pretty similar to a lightning axle. It's not going to break, there have been 3 know failures on this site. Two of them were offroading on 37" tires, and the other was one of the fastest explorers on the site, and it only snapped after hundreds of passes at the drag strip on slicks.

 

[ericautopart]

All the above it correct, but to add to that..Jeep Wrangler owners often swap out their Dana 35 diffs and put a 2nd gen explorer diff in their if they are going to be wheelin the jeep. Ford has you covered already with strength.

 

[diesel_s]

alright, thanks guys..........but the other thing is........how strong is that transmission? should I just go ahead and get a c5 tranny or try to upgrade the stock one?

 

[Mbrooks420]

If you have the automatic, that's going to be the weak link in the driveline. Which V6 do you have?

 

[diesel_s]

the sohc vin E

 

[Mbrooks420]

Have the timing chain tensioners been replaced? If not that's the first money i'd spend on it.

 

[diesel_s]

i checked out my axle code, i've got the open 3.73 gears.....how do i convert that to limited slip or posy traction so that when i burnout, both tires and not just one breaks loose

 

[diesel_s]

the tensioners will be replaced soon, one just went out actually.........the one at the back of the motor behind the passger side fender, o yea, been meaning to ask, how many timing chains does the truck have?

 

[Mbrooks420]

I think there are 2, one front, one rear. As for the limited slip, best bet is to just buy a locker since you have the open carrier.