Ok so today I tore out my rear end which is a 7.5 with 3.73s cuz I was going to swap it with an 8.8 axle I found with 4.10 gears and limited slip.

Well.... after more reading Im really starting to think if Im going to go through all the trouble and cost that I should probably take it one step further and go 4.56 gears since I have a 3.0 am planning to run 33 BFG mudders.

With the cost involved I want to be able to feel good about my investment and feel some damn torque in this truck for once.

I tried making some calls today but every junkyard in my area was closed so I am stuck sitting here staring at my truck with no rear end in it and hoping that Monday I will be able to find a rear dif with 4.56 gears AND possibly with a limited slip if I get lucky!!

So my question to you guys is what is the likeliness that I will find a rear end at a junkyard with 4.56's already in it? How common are they and what years and models did they come stock with 4.56 and LS?

Next question...Also once I change this rear dif Im going to have to match the front gears. So would I be better off trying to find a front dif already with 4.56 or just buying a gear set and having my mechanic put them in. Which is more cost efficient?

And FINALLY and most importantly if I do find axles with 4.56 gears... Will these axles off the newer Rangers than mine just bolt right in to my '98?

I would really really appreciate some help with these questions as I need my vehicle ASAP for work and I want to make sure I do this right the first time... Thanks

 

4.56 gearing was not an option (as far as I know) on Ranger's or Explorer's, in either a 7.5 or 8.8. Not sure about a full width 8.8 from the F-150. As far as putting 4.56's in I think if your going to be in there, I would. I have 35's with a 8.8 l/s and 4.10's and I'm going to 4.88's. As far as the your front diff. 4.56's were not available from the factory either. The highest you can go in the front diff is 4.88's.

 

I had 33 and 4.10 and IMO it was perfect. Save the money :)

I would aslo just try to find a front d35 with the 4.10 gearset. I wouldn't be too optomisitc about finding an axle with 4.56, they either want an arm and a leg for it or it's already gone.

 

Sorry for my ignorance but are you saying I cant even put 4.56 gears later on in this 8.8 4:10 axle I have found and was planning to put in? Or that I wont find a stock 8.8 axle with 4.56 from the junkyard?(which is what Id rather do instead)

 

I have 4.56's with 33's and a 4.0. It has lots of low end which I really wanted. 4.56's and a 3.0 is a nice match.

I would bet you are not finding an 8.8 that will bolt into a ranger with 4.56's not just from a junkyard but anywhere. You may find one that you will need to weld new spring perches onto. I found my rear axle on craigslist it is an 8.8 from an explorer that a guy was going to put in a jeep. If you have the time you can search for the axle you want. Otherwise the only way to get what you want is to open up that wallet and empty it out. Although with a name like richyrich you prolly can afford more than me.

 

what I meant was you will not find a "STOCK" (out of a ranger or explorer) differential with 4.56 gearing. UNLESS the person who had the truck had 4.56's installed and wrecked the truck. 4.56's were not available from the factory as an option. It's only an aftermarket thing. You can buy 4.56's and install them in your 8.8 or your 7.5, but 4.10's were the lowest gearset available FROM FORD from the factory

 

if i knew where k-town was, and had a 9" ready to go id sell ya my rear end with 4.56, l/s and MAC diff cover ha.
4.56 will be a great choice tho

 

Damn this is bad news guys, I really wanted 4.56 gears...
So now my only 2 options are go with another 3.73 geared complete rear end which the wrecker wants $300(canadian funds)(which will get me on the road by tomorrow) and then buy the 4.56 gearsets and pay my mechanic to regear both diffs, which is going to be a PITA and costly, especially the front diff being that it's an IFS... OR I can stick with my original plan and buy this 4.10 geared rear dif with l/s which they want $700(CAN) for and just have the front diff regeared to 4.10 and try be happy with that....

Do you guys think 4.10 would make me happy or leave me kicking myself? Its gonna be one or the other 4.10's with l/s or 4.56's with no l/s....What would you guys choose?

Man I dont know what to do and I have like no time to even think about it. I use my truck for work and I need to get a rear end back in this thing ASAP...

Urandaman I wish I was closer to ya and I would gladly take that rear end off your hands but K-town is Kelowna which is in British Columbia Canada :(... I wish I was richyrich....

 

well you could always re-gear later on down the road if you wanted to. If it's your DD and you need to get it together and it's your only mode of transportation then you do what you have to. What gears do you have in the front diff now? you need to have the front and rear matched another words if the front has 3.73's the rear needs to have 3.73's.

 

4.56's is pretty damn low dude. I have an 8.8 inch housing with 4.10's. It's got alot of torque especially on the bottom end. But once I hit 65 MPH i can literally watch my fuel guage drop. Ford did make a bigger housing as an option for the F150. It's a 9 inch housing how low the gears went I don't know but if you want to go that route bring your wallet bro. They aint cheap even in used condition. You best bet is get an 8.8 inch housing with 4.10's from a salvage yard. Those were in abundance because the ranger wasn't the only model to have it either. The V6 Mustangs had them to.

 

The Explorers have them as well

 

Here's my situation....

Right now I have 3.73 in the front, thats what the rear 7.5 had in in too before it **** the bed last week. So if I throw in the 8.8 3.73 which I can get tomorrow and I will be back in business and I would be happy to regear to 4.56 soon.
But I also have found an 8.8 with 4.10s which has a limited slip. Problem is they want $800(canadian) for it. Now if I go that way I cant afford to regear the front and rear diffs to 4.56. I COULD afford to regear the front though to match the 4.10, but then thats it for me, Id have to learn to live with the 4.10's and maybe hope for a programmer to give me a little extra ummph Im really looking for...

Question is would I be happy with 4.10's? Would it be worth it settling for 4.10's just to have the limited slip?...

OR would I be happier with the money spent regearing the 3.73 diffs to 4.56 and passing on the L/S axle? I can really only afford to do it one way or the other...

What would you guys do if you were in my boat or truck for that matter?

Hope you guys understood my post :)

 

hey, i have a 3.0 with the 4.56's and 33s with the 7.5" axle and an auburn posi. its the closest gearing to stock when your running 33s. its an excellant mix of power in acceleration and at idle. im glad i decided to go with the 4.56 ratio. basically, i had the money, i did it, and im happy with it! :)

 

I think we discussed this last night richyrich...did you ever find out what your stock tire size was? If it was 235/75r15 then we determined 4.13 would be the gear to return to stock mechanical advantage. The only other variable is the extra weight of the larger wheels and tires, which will probably make it feel more sluggish than stock with the 4.10s and the larger wheels/tires.

4.56 would be a good option in my opinion, unless you do alot of highway driving. The 4.56's will improve your acceleration and make things more useable in town, but it's going to hurt your highway mileage.

When I was a teenager my parents paid for my gas and let me use my dad's old work truck (85 chevy 3/4 ton pickup) as long as I kept my grades up. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the people recommending 4.56's (but definitely not all) are in a similar situation as I was in high school.

Edit to add: Oh yeah and I'm thinking if I ever go up to a 32 or 33" tire I'll go 4.56, but I have a 2.5L 4cyl and those things like to rev, heh.

 

We understood you. You have a limited budget and can regear it later. The one problem with that is that after you go that route is you could've got the 8.8 inch housing twice. regearing a housing aint cheap by any means is what we're saying. For example I know a guy down the street from me was in the same boat that you are in 6 months ago. He chose to regear at a later time with with his mustang. He finished it but instead of $850 he spent $1,700 because of the other parts he needed. He had a 1998 Mustang with the same housing. we're just trying to save you money in the long run. You won't regret the 4.10's dude I swear it.

 

Yes Jeff we did discuss this last night and I was THIS close to going with the 4.10 axle with l/s, then I did a search and read ALOT of mixed reviews on the 4.10's for a 3.0 running 32's and 33's... Lots of guys saying they wish they went to 4.56 the first time around. I dont want that to happen to me. I cant afford to do this twice.

So Im trying to get as many opinions on this as I possibly can so I can make the best decision for my situation.

What I want is some nice noticeable torque back in this truck, I dont even know what stock feels like as my Ranger has been sluggish since the day I bought it equipped with 32" BFG mudders. I thought it was just the truck but now I understand how much gears and tires play a role.
I do not do much highway driving maybe 15 minutes a day on my way to and from work. I also plan to tow a boat in the summer.

My rear diff **** the bed on me so now is the time to kill two birds. Ive had my face in the computer for 3 days in a crash course on axles, gears and tires. I have to make a decision by Monday, so Im sorry if Im asking a lot of questions but the clock is running out on me.

And yes my stock tires were 235/75/15....

 

What size engine you have?

 

Go ahead and do the 4.56's. We didn't know how much highway driving you were doing. Just don't go over 55 MPH and you should be ok as far as your MPG's go.

 

3.0 V6 MPFI 183 C.I.D. Stock tire size.

 

Oh I forgot. go to this link: www.tirerack.com enter the tire size P235/75/R15. Change the option to offroad and you can get some Mud terrain tires in that size. they're made by Dunlop and run about $112.00 bucks a piece.

 

keep in mind though if you change your rear gears to 4.10's or 4.56's you will not be able to use 4wd, unless you want to tear up your front diff.

 

I'm running a set of 4.56's front and rear with my 35"BFGs and I love it. Tho i have the 4.0. Never once regreted skipping over 4.10. I do around 40% highway driving and its not that bad.

 

This is what I think I am going to do after all. It gets me on the road today and I will still be able to use my 4WD while I save some cash for gears and hopefully a locker like you say...I was wondering about your guys opinion on the Ford Torsen lock, glad to hear you say its useless lol...

So thanks guys for helping me make the best choice...

And BTW where can a I get a good deal on 4.56 gears and a locker?