Which Gears to install???

[thompsonsd]

I'm new to the Explorer board, and I'm looking to have some more fun. So I'm pretty well decided on Gears as my next Mod. I have Axle Code 45 for non-limited slip 3:55 gears right now. I'm bouncing back and forth between the 4:10 and 4:30 Gear sets....

I'm afraid I won't see much difference if I just change to the 4:10's, but I don't want to totally kill my MPG's either... I also pull a very heavy trailer sometimes (about 6,000lbs) and want to save the transmission some wear.

Please give me your opinions on these Gears!!

 

[Redrig]

Welcome to the site. First of all are you 4wd or 2wd? Because if you have a 4wd you cant use 4:30 gears. Also are you gonna increase in tire size? If not 4:10 gears will be a good improvment.

 

[FROADER]

Welcome to the site that is going to brake your bank, you just don't know it yet! The mod bug is pretty powerful. If your keeping the same size tires then the 4:10 should be fine. Like Redrig said if you're 4x4 you can't do the 4:30s. It's either 4:10 or 4:56.

 

[unclemeat]

Gears are a big commitment. $500 to $600 per axle, Speedometer calibration $300, plus the MPG thing. I have a 4.10 axle ratio on my 04 Ranger with 31s. MPG loss is about 2 MPG. Tons of power and torque. Engine RPMs can be estimated by 4.1/3.55 x RPM(old) = RPM (new).

A cheaper power mod is the intake and exhaust.

 

[thompsonsd]

I'm a 2 wheel drive, and I "might" decide to go with slightly larger tires. Not being a 4x4 I don't want to try to look too big... So it's a hard choice.

Another reason I want to this swap so bad is that I want to install a Limited Slip also, epecially being 4x2 I need all the traction I can get!

So you think an Intake would make that much difference?? When I put on the Gibson exhaust I did notice a small change in power I thought, the sound definitely got better though!

One other thought I had was to change the Headers, but with the way the drivers side goes up because of the steering I thought that aftermarkets might not exist....

 

[ExplorerDMB]

Headers do exist, but I haven't heard great comments about them. Section525 should know all about them. The limited slip is a great mod and I love the one in mine. Intake will do a little bit, but nothing extreme like gears. Gears are expensive, but not if you can do them yourself. Good luck.

-Drew

 

[Creager]

Im pretty sure aftermarket headers exist, if not you can get them custom made somewhere (for big $$$!!)

if you ever plan on lifting so you can fit bigger tires then stock it then i would go with 4.33 or 4.56, if not then 4.10 would be all you need

If you plan on a limited slip go with a Detroit TrueTrac, since they have no clutches they are known to never wear-out.