Seeing as that I have a 4x4 changing gear ratios is more difficult and much more expensive. I would like to go to 3.73 or 4.10 but I really want limited slip in the rear. I was thinking about swapping the rear end for one with limited slip and just getting a new ring and pinion for the front. What would be the easiest way to go from open differential to l/s? What other years could I choose from? I have a 94 4.0L with 3.27 open difs. How difficult is it swapping rear ends and how difficult for the front ring & pinion? How much would labor be for each of these? From what I heard you have to get the ring & pinion aligned precisely or you'll be breaking stuff. The rear end swap seems like it's just a matter of jacking the truck up and laying on jackstands via the frame and undoing some bolts (suspension to frame and the driveshaft) and moving around lots of weight. Seems like a bit of grunt work but seems like it's not too complex for the common moron. Thanks for the help!

-RI

I posted a bunch in the last month on my failed gear change. Largely because I had defective gears out of the box. What ratio you choose will depend on what RPM your engine develops peak torque, where you do your driving and what tire diameter you have.

If it is a matter of just adding Traction-Lok then most of the time it is not that big of a deal to swap out carriers since you are not changing pinion depth.

If you have the 8.8" rear end, then you have the option of going to Tru-Trac instead of Traction-Lok for better traction. I have had both and believe me, the Tru-Trac unit is most excellent!

Not sure on the front end what to tell you. Get advice from every reliable source that you can before you do anything with that one! A friend got the complete axle assembly for the front of his truck and swapped it out instead of doing a gear change.

Also, if you put in new bearings or gears, I would strongly advise you to drive it about 25 miles and change out the fluid. You would be amazed at the metal fragments in the fluid that soon.

Let us know how it works out. ><> Ed

You could look for a wrecked 4x4 Ranger/Maz in the junkyards, if you can find a complete rear axle it would probably cost less than the labor on getting new gears installed in your axle. Many older 4x4's had 3.73 l/s rears, and many newer ones had 4.10s, some with l/s some open. You could do the rear axle swap yourself, but the front axle is another story. I was quoted nearly $500 from 4WheelParts for the front swap alone including gears, because the front suspension has to be dropped in order to swap the gears out. It's not at all a cheap upgrade, but definitely worthwhile. If you got 4WP to do the front, say $500 for that, and $350 or so for a rear axle to do yourself, and you can have it done under $900.

I'd say definately have the fronts done somewhere, there is a lot more to it than you think. As far as rear, search wrecking yards for one that came stock w/ 4.10's and L/S. One off a ranger will bolt right in, and buying a complete rear from a yard will end up being cheaper then re-gearing and adding L/S to yours. OR if you wanna be REALLY cool you could get an 8.8 out of a 95+ exploder that came stock w/ 4.10's and L/S and put that in. It is 1.5" wider and has disk brakes, BUT you will have to have new spring perches welded on .75" closer to center on each side (exploder has sringes under the axle) and you will also have to weld shock mounts on becuase the exploer oes are on the spring plates, but it is worth the extra work. Steve :afro: