Rear end purchase...what to look for?

88ranger5speed · Sep 5, 2014

I have found a rear end 3.73 LS. And I was wondering what to look for inside of it to make sure it is good?

tmcalavy · Sep 5, 2014

metal shavings, evidence of bearing and gear wear (chips, broken teeth), water in the case, old thin lube that doesn't have a good strong skunky gear oil smell. Other stuff like seals and bearings can be replaced if the price is good enough. Vent tube should be clear and brake line connections good, too.

88ranger5speed · Sep 5, 2014

I seen in the truck in the junkyard. It has 33s on it so its not laying on the ground.

97RangerXLT · Sep 5, 2014

What TMCalavy said.

Also consider this... you said that it has 33's on it. The biggest tire that rangers had stock wise is a 31" and that is only if you got the STX or Highrider or Off Road package. Most rangers came with 235's as the biggest tire, which I believe is a 29".

So the previous owner put some bigger tires on it, which is harder on the gears and what not, and if that previous owner wheeled or beat on it, you definitely want to check the innards out. Also, since it has 33's on it, there is a possibility that the previous owner regeared it to help turn those 33's.

So do a quick check of the gears, if you turn the drive shaft roughly 3 and 3/4 it will turn the wheel one turn for 3.73 gear ratio.

Next thing, I am assuming this is an 8.8 and not the 7.5...if it is a 7.5, I would pass on it unless you absolutely need a new rear end right now..

AJ

tmcalavy · Sep 6, 2014

Forgot to add, also check the shock mounts, etc., for rot. Big tires means offroad use, so look extra close...doesn't have to be laying on the ground to get water in the case...that can easily be done offroad. Best case scenario is to run it down the road up to about 55 mph and listen for whine/howl and other noise, but most times you don't have that option available.

88ranger5speed · Sep 7, 2014

Im thinking it wasnt offroaded. It had 33s. But the wheel wells were cut out super big.

tmcalavy · Sep 8, 2014

Check all the stuff we've listed, plus...if it can roll/drive take it down the road and listen for noise from the diff.

88ranger5speed · Sep 8, 2014

It has another car currently on top of it...

Bronco638 · Sep 8, 2014

97RangerXLT said:
Also consider this... you said that it has 33's on it. The biggest tire that rangers had stock wise is a 31" and that is only if you got the STX or Highrider or Off Road package. Most rangers came with 235's as the biggest tire, which I believe is a 29".
AJ

Are you sure about this AJ? My '01 Edge has 245/75-16 tires on it now. That's a 30.5" tire. Granted, my truck has 4.10 gears in the axles.

88ranger5speed · Sep 8, 2014

I was going to go with 4.10s but I heard I would get better gas mileage with 3.73s.

85_Ranger4x4 · Sep 8, 2014

97RangerXLT said:
What TMCalavy said.

Also consider this... you said that it has 33's on it. The biggest tire that rangers had stock wise is a 31" and that is only if you got the STX or Highrider or Off Road package. Most rangers came with 235's as the biggest tire, which I believe is a 29"

Negative to the OEM 31's on the STX or highrider. They were barely putting that big of tire on the fullsizes at the time.

Some trucks came close but the only ones I know of that came with real 31's were the 2002 FX4 and the FX4 Level II's.

97RangerXLT · Sep 8, 2014

For 1997 and older i am oretty sure. Edge and fx4 packages for newer rangers might be the same as stx and highrider packages on the older ones

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97RangerXLT · Sep 8, 2014

My truck came from the factory with 31s. But it also has a factory 2 inch lift

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85_Ranger4x4 · Sep 8, 2014

http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/spring2008/high_rider_stx.htm

31's are tight on my truck with a 3" bodylift and whatever extra new Explorer coils got me.

AFAIK they only did the "STX Highrider" thing to the "STX Highriders". The wheel wells on a 3rd gen truck easily swallows more tire than a first or a second gen (seconds are a little better than a first)

97RangerXLT · Sep 8, 2014

Definitely true that the 3rd gen and up has a lot more wheelwell space. I have only seen stx highrider on 1st or 2nd gen so that sounds right. I have seen an stx (no highrider) on a few early 3rd gens. My 97 has an off road package but it is not noted in the trim level like the stx or highrider

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Rear end purchase...what to look for?

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