I think I just made a big mistake...

Purple · May 11, 2015

Well the rear end carrier on my ranger is toast.

After spending 3 hours getting the carrier out, I noticed some dumbass drilled the locking pin bolt hole out with NO GUIDE.

The carrier is ruined, the threads are fubar and the egg shapped.

So I get on ebay and look for a carrier.

Someone just listed a 7.5 carrier with 3.27 gears from a mustang with 50k miles.

For $65 SHIPPED

I'm thinking...lower gear ratio= better MPG, 50k miles= great gears and bearings.

I buy it and then it dawns on me.

THERE IS NO EXCITER RING FOR ABS. :fie:

So I'm wondering if since it never had one (mustang had 4 wheel ABS), if I can either...

1. Bolt mine on (will it fit).
2. Do with out it.

Also...if one just uses their truck for light use, can you get by with 327 gears, or does one need 373?

TxGasRacer · May 11, 2015

You can try to go with a Helicoil insert they work very well,not sure in your case though.They are not very expensive or go check out your local wrecking yard they should have plenty or carriers to fit that rear end housing.

Purple · May 12, 2015

So school me like an idiot on how to check for what needs replaced on a diff.

adsm08 · May 12, 2015

3.27 gears are not all that desirable, and unless you spend your life on the highway, won't get you better MPG. Most Ranger engines don't have the right power band to use those gears properly.

You should be able to install your existing tone ring on the new carrier, it will require removing the ring gear, but that's probably going to be the worst of it.

As for parts that need replaced, if you are rebuilding you should do the pinion bearing and races, and the carrier bearings and races. The wheel bearings are only needed if you are having issues with them, but if you have the axle apart if might not hurt to do them, they are much harder to get out than in.

kimcrwbr1 · May 12, 2015

There is no close when putting together a differential. Take your time and do all the research necessary. Pinion height, pinon bearing preload, ring gear runout, backlash on the ring and pinion, preload on the carrier bearings. after its all together check the wear pattern on the ring and pinion. If everything checks out install a new crush sleeve and get the pinion preload correct again. The 3.27 gears might be OK with 14 inch tires I put the 3.73LS with 15 inch tires and couldnt be happier. You will need a different speedo gear or you will be driving faster than the speedo says. Not a easy job especially laying on the ground. At the very least put in new axle and yoke seals.

85_Ranger4x4 · May 12, 2015

My parents Explorer with 3.27's was a gutless turd on hills with 3.27's. That was with the pushrod 4.0...

If you lived somewhere really flat maybe, they sucked on the highway in my neck of the woods.

Purple · May 12, 2015

So I would probably be better off using the spider gears from the carrier with only 50,000 miles, as mine has well over 150,000?

I will probably just swap out the 3.73 gears on the new carrier. I can probably get a $30 "rebate" if I sell the 3.27 gears after I put my old 3.73 gears back on the carrier.

How long do the main gears last, miles wise?

adsm08 · May 12, 2015

How long the ring and pinion last is determined mostly by how well they were cut, and how well they are set up. I had over 200K miles on my original rear axle with no gear noise at all. About 8 years ago, right when the plants for due for retooling, where pretty much all of the 8.8 gears were trash. Almost every F150 with an 8.8 had gear whine in 30K or less.

Setup is key as well. If you make them too tight they will whine, if you make them too loose they will boom.

If they are set up right, cut well, and you keep up with the fluid they should last forever.

Dprocks100 · May 13, 2015

+1 vote on ditching the 3.27 gears. I had 3.08 in my ranger from the factory and it was a dog. Got about 21mpg in town on stock tires. Swapped a 4.10 explorer 8.8 in and it woke the truck up. I was still getting about 20-22mpg in town if I kept my foot out of it, but now I could pass someone on the freeway! I love them. My brother has 3.55 gears and even on stock 14" tires it sucked when compared to my truck with 4.10s. Throw the 3.73's back in, 3.27 arent worth it in my opinion.

Purple · May 15, 2015

Ok...I got the carrier today.

The internal gears (side and pinion gears) are SMALLER than the ones off my ranger.

I know the ring gear and main pinion gear are different with different gear ratios, but I did not know that the gears in the carrier themselves are a diff size.

myold96 · Jun 2, 2015

i need to redo my diff also,it hasn't gone out yet but it is starting to make noises and the back end wobbles a little. can axles be bent from overloading the truck?

I think I just made a big mistake...

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