Thread: Need some info on ring & pinon gears which one to go with.

I have a 98 ranger automatic with a 4.0 about 158k miles on it its my DD.
just did a Fabtech spindle came with a body lift and some stock wheels, recently upgraded to 33s but the gas is poor what do you guys suggest.
I've been hearing 4.56s & 4.10's its not like ill be going to the desert just freeway miles basically thanks.

Ya definitely 4.56s or 4.10s. My buddy had 4.10s in his with a 4.0 manuel and it was really nice but if you want a little more bottom end then go with the 4.56s

4.56's


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4.10's for sure. I had 4.0 with 33's and 4.10's and the mileage was descent. (about 17mpg) 4.56's will give more "power" but will not be the best with mpg. Currently I have a 4.0 ohv on 35's and it sucks gas. (13mpg)

We had 4.88's in our 4.0 5speed with 33's, I thought they were perfect. We actually got to use 5th gear... haha Right now, we have horrible 3.50's in our explorer 4.0 5speed with 35's, and I'll be lucky to see 4th gear going down the pass... But just my opinion, the 4.88's in the ranger was great! Oh, and we got 19mpg highway.

so stick with the 4.10's? & what do you mean by bottom out? was looking into a stock 07 ranger rear end complete with disk brakes, then upgrade that one instead of mine but I guess I would have to make sure that its an 8.8 or does it matter thanks for the 411

if you want a relatively easy swap, get an 8.8 out of an explorer. you can find them with factory 4.10 and a factory limited slip. also, they have disc brakes, are a lot stronger, and give you an extra 1.5" of width overall just like the spindles did. all you need to do is have spring perches welded on the top of the axle since explorers are spring under axle stock.

4.10's with a 5 speed, works good. If you have an auto I'd say go with the 4.56's. For a bit more oomphh go with 4.88's.

i have 4.56 4.0 man cruising at 65 i get about 18 19 mpg. Ive gotten 20 drafting my dad towing are trailer. I would do the 4.56 i wish i went with 4.88 just for that little extra bump but oh well im happy

yea the 4.56s sound great but that's like use for like dirt and all right? the rear ens of a 8.8 from an explorer is starting to look like the way to go

you can pick them up cheap, especially on a half off day. all said and done, it shouldn't be any more expensive than the cost of gears and having a shop install everything.

At doyouquaxu so just get the rear end from a n n explorer that's 8.8 don't mess with the gears have someone weld some
Spring perches and good to go? What year should I look for? N thanks amigo

97 and newer expos come with disk look in my build thread theres a whole process

page 2 has some good pix

I had 4.10's with 33's and it was great on the highway at 65 Mph. Rpm's were in the 2200 range. But this is with a 5 speed manual. The A4LD and newer equivalents are not a strong trans to start with and any help they can get from lower gearing will make them live just a bit longer in your truck.

I also ran the same setup with 35" tires and it was fine. But my new axles are getting 5.13's as I'll be keeping the 35's and going with an A4LD Auto trans. I drove a buddies Explorer that sits on 35's and has 4.88 gearing. It was just a tad on the sluggish side from what I was used to.

My DD ranger has 31's with 4.10 spool and the little 2.9L with an M5OD will light those tires up easy. Doing 65 my RPM's are 2500.

Just did the 8.8 explorer swap pretty much bolt in. I would suggest finding a rear end that is in good shape as the parts to repair add up fast. We are running a 3.0/5speed with 4.10 gears and 33's it drives decent for what it is. Dont have any mileage figures yet

Gunslinger how much did you get your 8.8 for if you don't mind me asking? Ranger#1 thanks @ CopyKat so I guess Ill stick to the 8.8 from an explorer

you can also run 4:30s... i ran 4.56 and then switched to 4.30s.. 4.56 were fine on the highway with 33"s and were great offroad... 4.30s were better on the highway.. offroad was still alright
that was a 4.0 sohc/ automatic

$120.00 but the e brake stuff was cooked and axles no good basically only good parts were the housing ring and pinion. Everything else needed rebuilt. Got 1k or so in it now but its solid. If I did again I would find one in better shape

I paid $150 for the last explorer 8.8 I got. It was a 3.73 with trac-loc. for an extra $50 I got the disc brake parts from another explorer. The one place that had one with disc and 4.10 trac loc already wanted close to $800. The hell with that. But then it was 9 years ago.


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Most of my cost was the axles didn't realize they were bad until I hot tanked them Moser gets almost four bills for a set

just got off the phone with one junk yard near me they told me the 4.10 explorer whole rear end is 350 with disk brakes dam gotta beat that price

I got one with disc and posi about 5 years ago for about $200. My truck had an aod tranny and 32's. I don't really remember what the rpm's were on the highway though. I'd buy the explorer rear end for the money and ease, but eventually I think you should consider going with a numerically higher gear. I had a 4cyl ranger with 4:10's and 31's and I almost never touched 5th. I had a 4cyl yota with 31's, 4:88's and a auto 4 speed and it was perf

33's - 4:56
35's - 4.88

nuff said

no no no no no. 35's get 5.13's, period.


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well good thing I have 33s lol I appreciate all of DR members for their info

I'm going to go with a explorer swap 8.8 410s run that for a bit then get the 4.56s what do you guys think?

Not to be a dick, but did you even attempt to search?

Originally Posted by mikey09120

33's - 4:56
35's - 4.88

nuff said

Disagree. 4.88's minimum for 33's. The a4ld and M50D have virtually the same overdrive. I drove my truck to the desert, (atleast 2 hours each way) at freeway speeds. Never had a problem with gas mileage or power issues. I actually wished it was a little lower sometimes.

Originally Posted by letsgetthisdone

no no no no no. 35's get 5.13's, period.


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Agreed for a minimum.