What gears can I use to make my X faster?

[Jason94sport]

I have heard putting in different gears in cars will make a car run faster. What can I put in the X to do this? ALso, will I have to change the front as well?

 

[jimbo74]

yes front and rear gears will need to be changed unless you never plan on using 4x4....and do you want faster topend speed or faster acceleration?

 

[Jason94sport]

I'd rather have faster accelaration to say 70MPH. I don't like driving high speeds in an X(or anything that has a high center of gravity)

 

[SteveVB]

what do you have now?

Depends on what you have now, size of tires and type of trans, engine mods.

Generally lower (higher numbered) gears( say 4.10) will give quicker off the line times where as higher (numbered 3.07) will give greater top end cruising speed. Automatic vehicles can usually run less gear due to the torque converter multiplication.

A lower geared 4.10 with stock size tires would give you better acceleration at the cost of MPG, and still run 70mph at 300 rpm or so. But it depends on what you start with.

 

[Rhett]

From what you say, (you want up to 70 mph speed) it sounds like you want a lower gear...that is, a gear ratio that will give you more punch off the line. I would suggest 3.73 or 4.10. If you are starting with 3.08 or 3.27, then 3.73 would give you what you want. A 3.73 ratio would be more of a compromise between mpg and highway driveablility. On the other hand, a 4.10 gear ratio would give you less mpg, but would be quick from 0-40 mph.

 

[Jason94sport]

All my mods are in my signature. I run stock tires, & will not go any bigger. I do not off road(mayby some light dirt/grass) I will be moving back to NYC so snow is a given. I'm not sure what gears I have now, but if 4.10 will be good, that's what I'll get. Gas milage is not a concern with me. I already have to run 93 due to the chip, & I have another car I drive too, so milage gets split between the 2. Now when looking for these gears, what do I have to know? Like the rear is a ford 8.8 right? So any 4.10 set for the ford 8.8 will work? Or does it have to be for an explorer? The front is what? Dana 25, or 35?

 

[SteveVB]

Yea 4.10s would give ytou some get up and go.

Rear is Ford 8.8 , and the front is a Dana 35 IFS.

I checked not too long ago and from memory Gears about 200 from Summit Racing for the rears,
For the front 185 or so from Drivetrain Direct for Genuine gear, or 225 for Danas
Plus you have install costs.
Good luck and have fun.

 

[Jason94sport]

I just checked my factory gears, & they suck! Code is 41, which is a open 3.27. This explains why I did all these performance upgrades & my X is still slow! Couple more questions, If I change gears to say 4.10, or 3.73 will my speedo be correct? When I use my 4X4 will it function correctly also. Will the change, hurt my drivetrain?
Thanks

 

[Rhett]

3.27's. welcome to the club. I am eventually going to change mine out for 4.10s as well. I have thought about 3.73 but I might as well do it right. 3.27 is a real highway gear, but for our trucks it makes no sense...the powerband of the 4.0 motor is more in the 3000+ rpm range, and with 3.27s the tran shifts before it is there. Amazingly, Ford also put a 3.08 in some Explorers. That's really mismatched with the engine.

4.10's or 3.73's won't hurt your driveshaft, and other parts. Many Explorers come from the factory with 3.73's and some with even 4.10's and they do just fine with the same driveline components.

I believe you only have to adjust the speedometer if you change the size of the wheels and/or tires you are running.

 

[Jason94sport]

Well I have a manual tranny. Does that make a difference?

 

[Rhett]

I'm pretty sure gears are gears, whether you have manual or auto trans. The front and rear ends don't have anything to do with whether the trans is manual or auto, except that many manual trans Explorers seem to have lower gearings (like 3.73 or 4.10).