gearing???

[KWT2000]

everyone running big tires what gear ratio is in your expy??? im running 35`s with 3.55 ratio and around town it does ok but on the hiway the slightest hill it drops a gear and really struggles to hold 65mph... would changing the shift points with a programmer help or should go with lower gears? and if so which ratio 3.73 or 4.10???? thanks in advance

 

[tonydiv]

I have 3.73 and 35s. Mine still needs to downshift on most highway hills.
I'd go with something more in the 4.10 to 4.30 range to make it run more like it did with stock tires.

 

[nvycrmn]

i have the 3.55 with 35's too and i have the same problem if you are gonna stick with 35's i would go with 4.10 but no bigger than 4.56 then you start runnin too high rpm.

 

[walnuts4x4]

yeah 3.55 suck... especially with 37s... but with 35s I would probably run 4.10 to be conservative or go with a 4.56 if you want some real power... I am gonna run either 4.56 or 4.88s when I get some cash... My 97 4.6 F150 with 38x15.5s had 4.88 and it was perfect....

 

[KWT2000]

4.10 is what im gonna go with. ebay has ring&pinion and bearing kits for $170 or should i stick with a local gear shop???

 

[walnuts4x4]

I only go to my local gear shop... i have no clue on shimming and setting gears in plus i dont have the dials to put them in...

 

[tonydiv]

It's not really that hard of a job. There's only a few special tools needed. It's mainly just frustrating, because you may have to pull it apart 5 or 6 times until you get the right contact pattern. It's not very fun if you're laying on the ground, if you have a lift, it ain't so bad.

 

[Lane24]

I have 35's and 3.73. Never been an issue. Power to spare.

 

[KWT2000]

Lane, do you tow anything with your expy?

 

[Lane24]

Just my fat a$$. I"m coming from my lifted Explorer that had a 5 inch lift, 3.27's and 31's, and it was a dog. No power, awful mileage. So the 5.4L with 3.73's feels like a dream to me.

 

[KWT2000]

awww that is an upgrade in power.....

 

[KWT2000]

my local gear shop quoted $650 for all new seals, bearings, ring and pinion for front and rear... he also thinks the clutches should be changed in the rear??? extra $75... he said if money was tight i can try to find the front diff at a junk yard with the 4.10 i might limited slip hmmm