Wanna upgrade my axle ratio | Ford Explorer Forums

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Wanna upgrade my axle ratio

Frank-D

Active Member
Joined
June 19, 2000
Messages
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City, State
Nürtingen(10miles near Stuttgart)Germany
Year, Model & Trim Level
`93 4.0 V6 4x4 4door
Hi,

I wanna upgrade my axleratio, but I need to know some things about that. What is the stock ratio from the `93 4wd Xplorer? Where to get the parts and how to do it? What for ratio you would put in for good performance and towing? But the X should run also 85 - 95mph!
 



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your axle ratio depends on what codes you have on your driverside door . look on here for what the codes mean. 4.10s are normally a good ratio but depends on what tires your want to run. this can be a hard job especially if you have never done it before.
 






Not exacltly sure what is available in Germany. My EX has 4.10:1 gearing. Fantastic for towing and 0-60. However, 95 mph would send my tachometer into the stratosphere and mpg into the dumper. No free lunch huh?
 






Don`know my ratio

1. Sorry but I don`t know ratio. I :eek: everywhere but I don`t find something. But my X was stock until I began with the modifications, so I think it would be the stock ratio. 2. I`m now running 31" tires but when they`re gone I would put some 33" on my X! 3. I had to order the parts in the USA by my own cause in Germany it`s very hard to get performance parts for Xplorers! 4. What about the tachometer? Must I calibrate it after changing my ratio?5. 3 of my friends are car mechanics so that would`nt be so hard-i hope!

Hope someone can answer my questions!
 






Frank-D

The axle ratio is sometimes on a tag attached to the rear axle cover.

There were three ratios that I know of in the "X" line, 3.50, 3.73 and 4.10. Some but not all, came with posi units.

Now, think about what you want to do with your "X" before you change the tire/gear ratios. The gears should be directly related to the tire outside diameter and your use.

If you want Autobahn speed type gearing then you want something lower numerically, if you want trail gearing then you want something higher numerically.

When you find out your existing gear ratio/tire OD then you can determine the necessary changes.
Here is how:

New tire OD divided by new tire OD equals gear ratio change (even if negative), this ratio will determine where you go with your gearing to achieve the same performance that you had as stock or at least before you changed your gearing/tire size.

Take that ratio and multiply the gear ratio that is in your vehicle now, this will give you the new gear ratio that is required.

Let's see: new tire OD = 33" divided by old tire OD = 30"; this equals a required gear ratio change of 1.1 in order to keep the same performance. Multiply the old gear ratio of 4.10 (let pretend) by the gear change of 1.1 and you get the new gear ratio of - (drum roll)

"4.51" - 4.51, I have never heard of the ratio 4.51, well you are right go to "4.56". Most companies make 4.56 gear sets.

So you see changing the ratio is a direct relation to the tire diameter you WANT to run. Make sure of the new tire diameter before doing the gear change and you will be happier in the long run.
To answer your question - there are a lot of places to get gearing; one place that comes to mind is a company called "Superior Gear". They have everything you will need for the swap. Always use a complete rebuild kit when installing the gears, i.e. new bearing, seals and gaskets. Also, when and if you decide to do the job - keep all of your shims separate. There will be shims on both sides of the carrier and for the pinion. Keep each set separate and mark them where they go when you take them out. Clean them up and measure them; this measurement will give you two things. 1) A good starting measurement for the new shim packs. 2) Sometimes you can use the old shims as is, that is if they are in good condition not burnt or dinged up too bad, they will go back in and the gear set will position right where you need it.

Good Luck on the project, it is not an inexpensive project because you need to do both the front and the rear in a 4x4 and my thought is that it should not be done by an inexperienced person without supervision.
Sometime is pays to pay for the job done right.

:us: :chug: :can:
 






Hey there,

I had a thread up, but can`t find it any more. I have the same Ex as you and the same questions.

I had no tag on the diff either!
Look on your driver`s side door for the Safety Compliance Certification Label.
At the bottom, under Axle, there should be some sort of number.

41 = 3.27
43 = 3.08
D4 = 3.73 w/ traction lock (posi)

This info is also in the owner`s manual. They don`t mention any other gearing options, but a factory order could get whatever, I guess.

I plan on going to 31" tires with the option of going as much as 32" after 2" of body lift that I`m pondering. (Just got 2" susp.)Depends how close I am to the parking lot ceiling!

I have the "41" axle code which, as we know is the 3.27 ratio.
If I had 32s on now, the ex probly couldn`t even pull a sick ***** off a toilet seat! (well, it`s a funny saying, but you get me right?)

I have opted for a 4.10 ratio (front and back of course)
Just got my 2" susp lift, and next week I got a shop to do the gears the day after I get my 31" tires on. I`m also getting a detroit locker for the rear at the same time. I`m in Canada, and the shop quoted me approximately $1600.00 CDN for all the work.
Kinda goin mod crazy right now to catch up with friends.

Neat to see someone approximately where I am in the mod quest. Good luck!
 












3.08!?!? That must be slow as heck.. I got 3.27's. I run 0-60 about just a hair under 8 seconds. I would perfer 3.73. Good balance between 3.27 and 4.10
 






how the hell do you run under 8??? i could probably not pull off a 10 with 3.73 and a sport. do you have the 5.0?
 






Modifications to the engine is the key.
 












Can someone tell me what the diffent gear ratios mean?

I would prefer off-road ability, but my truck is a daily driver so I need the highway ability and gas mileage is a defidant concideration.
 






Naga, are sure about your times, with the mods you have thats about 15-18rwhp at the most, not enough to drop your 0-60 by 2 1/2 seconds. I know a lot of people with way more mods and on this forum that don't run anywhere close to that on a 1st gen plus some have 3.73 gears or a manual. You running what guys with basic mods on a 5.0 and 3.73 gears are running. Plus your lifted which would slow you down even more.
 






To be sure, I'll need a track run. But it still seems fast over stock.
 






with your lift and mods I would put you in the 10-12 second range. As thats what others on here average with basically the same mods and a lift.

You would definitley need a charger or a large shot of nos to run close to 8 seconds. Alec has a charger and nos on his (not sure if he used the nos on his runs, but) and with his lift I think I remember him saying he ran around 16 seconds in the quarter. Our 5.0 Mounty runs the quarter in 16.2 so you'd have to have some serious mods.

You could throw in new gears if you havn't already, but you mileage might suffer, although you'd hook hard off the line.
 






tenikiwon,

The gear ratio is a relationship of the number of teeth on the pinion gear and the number of teeth on the ring gear in the differentials, either the front or the rear, both should have the same or as close as possible; the pinion is usually the larger number teeth.

The higher the number of the "gear ratio" the lower the gear ratio actually is.

3.73 Gears - Is when the pinion (attached to the driveshaft) is turning around 3.73 times and the ring gear (attached to the axles) is turning around 1 time.

The same for all ratios, all gear sets, etc, etc...

Usually the lower the ratios (4.10 or higher numbers) are better for Off-Road use but to keep things on an even keel for On-Road use to, you have to get the gear ratio to balance with the tire diameter you are running and the rpm of the engine.
What's that ??? If you have larger tires, like say 35" or larger OD, then you can run a lower ratio than if you are running a smaller OD tire, say 32s or smaller.

I hope this is not getting too confusing because it confuses me!

Good Luck, check with someone that knows the gear ratios and tire diameter relationships to engine rpms. (???)

:us: :chug: :can:
 






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