Not sure if this will open up a can of worms or not but I will be HAVING 4.56 gears installed with Master Rebuild Kits as soon as they get here. I ordered Yukon Gears and Rebuild Kit with Timken Bearings a.png with new rear wheel bears and seals.

I also will have the alignment cams added to the front end at the same time, something I should have done when I did my lift but didn’t listen to the Site and now I have a two year set of KM2s that are no good for anything but the trash heap and maybe a spare.

Are there any additional items for the front that should be replaced while the re-gear is happening ?
Anyone that has re-geared their trucks or had their trucks re-geared please let me know if you ran in to any troubles ?
Anything I should watch for or tell my mechanic to look out for ?
Any alignment issues afterward, I will be getting an alignment as soon as things are back together.

Any comments please just post.

Thanks a head of time for anything that will keep me in the straight and narrow this time.

ltr

 

It is advised to change your diff fluid after about 500-1,000 miles after gear change in case there is any metal shavings after the break in period.

 

Just ordered the new gears, master rebuild kits, an OX, wheel bearing and seals for the 8.8.
Should be here by weeks end.
Local mechanic will do the work, I just don’t have the time.

Still trying to figure out the best route for the OX Actuation Cable, rough measurement is 102”… seems long.

Anyone ever do the OX on a short bed or any Ranger, what length cable did you run so I have an idea if my length is OK.

Also, there appears to be a shortage of Front end 4.56 gears for the Rangers and its D35IFS; why does Ford do this to us. Should be a nice D44 straight axle, would be easier.

 

Get the axle seals for the front and rear axle housings. My truck only had 40K on it when I re-geared but I had a seal on the front axle and rear axle start leaking only a few hundred miles after the gear swap. Wish I would have done them when I had it all apart.

 

Pinion seals as well if your install kits didn't come with them.

 

Thanks for that.
I ordered the Master Kit that includes the pinion seal but I am not sure of the axle seals on the front, I will take a look see.

 

It will not include the front axle seals. I am pretty certain of that.

Sounds like you have everything else pretty well squared away. Should be a smooth install for your mechanic.

 

As I'm sure you know, take her easy for the first few hundred miles. No long distance or anything like that.

 

Thanks, I sent an e-mail to the supplier to add axle seals but that should be an easy pickup at a local auto parts store like NAPA.

Having it done foe me because I just don't have the time anymore, I don't know where I had the time to work.
The move has added a list of "To-Do's" that will keep me going for the next three months, full time...

Hopefully in a week or two as the truck can make it in the shop it will be re-geared and a little more fun to drive, AGAIN !

Ltr

 

I disagree with this. Ive always regeared then drove however I wanted. I once put 4.56s in my F150 then drove a 10+ hr trip through the mountains.

I have also regeared then went straight to wheeling with my ranger. No ill effects.

 

Yukon suggests a 30 minute drive with a cool down of twenty minutes then repeat.
Then you can take it easy and drive as you normally would.

I would think if the gears are setup properly then it shouldn’t matter.

 

My warm up consists of a nasty burnout. If it survives that you know they are right. :)

No seriously though I take no precautions. I have done several vehicles and axles.

D44s
D30s
Jeep JK front and rear
2005 F150 front and rear
2006 F150 front and rear
Dana 60s front and rear
Explorer 8.8s
Ford 9s

with ratios from 4.10s to 5.13s. Never had an issue or noise yet. Only one issue was a faulty pinion nut on my front D60, kept coming loose.

 

I didn't take any precautions when mine were done either. Just drove it as normal. Of course my Ranger isn't capable of really nasty burnouts.

 

Considering most of my driving is 15 to 20 minutes, then a short stop, cffee or what not, I think normal driving will work for me too.

Hopefully the gear package will be here tomorrow.
Problem now is the front Yukon Gears… Yukon states early October for production or maybe it is availability; that $ucks !

No four wheeling until the front gear set is in...

 

Have you tried other vendors?

 

I contacted Randy’s R&P, Summit Racing and Complete Off Road.
All say the same thing, not avaialbe at this time.
Randy’s is the only one that stated early Oct for delivery; the Sevice Guy supposedly contacted Yukon.

I am looking around and will accept suggestion on any supplier for the Yukon Front Gears.

 

I guess I mean does it have to be Yukon gears?

 

Got the OX Locker but but nothing else, wtf !
Was told three business days for the parts.
Need to go track it.

 

Retirement allows for your mind to concentrate on what you enjoy and you take it to the max and I admire you for that.Good luck with your project Bud.
Bob C.

 

Got the front gears and the Ox Locker Cable.
Now all that is needed is the time at the shop.

Hoping for a quick install.

Front end alignment and new rims and tires coming too !

Let’s see what’s next ?

 

Here is something I have run into and think it needs mentioning.
Also, maybe someone else has seen this.

The diff was going to be install in the 8.8 31 spline axle when it was noticed that the locker/bearings/OEM spacers-shims were too wide, approx. 0.200 +.

Was wondering if anyone has run into this before when doing a locker or LS in their rear diff.

I talked to OX and they said the shim packs for the the 8.8 fords were pretty big.
They said to remove the OEM shims and replace them with standard thin shims... that's a lot of shims.

My solution is to have the OEM WIDE shims machined down approx 3/32 on each side and then use regular shims to fill in and adjust.

Any comments, please...

Need opinions s soon as possible.

Thanks
Ltr

 

Food for thought I have Yukon 4.56 front and rear so they do exist.

 

Sounds like it's just an availability and/or short-term current production run issue to me.

 

What did you use for a rear diff ?

When did you do the gear change ?


Yukon will have gears again, just when is the question and it isn't just the guy I bought from it is everywhere I asked.

 

I didn't run into any issue when I built the 8.8 on my last truck. The shims are pretty weak though, I snapped one clean in half but luckily a friend who's a ford tech brought home a huge tote full of misc. sized shims