Well, I'm not very active on here because I just don't really do anything to my truck. I put an XM radio in it over christmas and thats about it. I like it but am not into spending money on my daily driver. Well, my snobby sister got this sweet 03 Edge for her graduation. Her husband somehow convinced her they didn't need it (he's a chevy guy.....I have comments but will keep them to myself) My parents can no longer afford it so I told them I will graciously take it off thier hands. So I'm actually pretty excited and want to do a lot to it. Its the 4.0L (is that part of the Edge package?) and factory installed 4.10 gears in it, so its pretty peppy. I don't need peppy though, I have my Mustang. My main question is what will be the issue with the 4 wheel drive if I change out the rear gears to more gas efficient one. I am seriously going with the lowest ones I can get my hands on. Also, can you tell me how big my rearend most likely is? I have a set of 3.23 gears in my garage, but they are for the Ford 8.8. Sorry for the long post and thanks for any info, will post pics as soon as I recieve delivery.

 

whatever you re-grear the rearend to, must be done to the front if you ever plan on using the 4wd. If you dont, the 4x4 is useless and a waste becasue of the different gear sizes. 3.23 gears seem pretty highway friendly, but i hope you dont plan on puling any loads with the truck, that ratio is pretty high for a truck

 

I agree. The stock tire size is rather tall, you really don't need lower numeric gears to get your rpms down. Do you plan to run exclusively interstate or something? Just my opinion, leave the gears alone, you won't find any that will pay for the cost of the gears in fuel savings in any reasonable amount of time. Just ease the throttle, and try to keep your tires at max recommended PSI. And most of all remember that between increasing rpms and wind resistence, efficiency's natural enemy is high speed!

 

just get some 31's or 32's, that will change your gear ratios :)

I hear swaping gears is a PITA, especially since you'd have to do front and rear

 

if you regear the rear, regear the front at the same time. If not, and you flip it into 4wd

 

^ Grenade!!!!!!!!

 

Well, truthfully I don't really plan using the four wheel drive that much. It is mainly going to be used for comuting. I'm to poor to own anything to pull so that isn't an issue. I guess if I just drive it nice it should be decent. Just from what I know about mustangs with gears I figured I could squeeze out a few more MPG with the higher ratio.

 

actually i bet your mpg will be worse if you go lower. do you do city driving?

if oyu want better mpg, go with a free flowing exhaust (borla/magnaflow), efan, bamachips programmer, and maybe some underdrive pullies.

if you got all that it would still be less than a 4wd regear