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Swapping gears in Dana 35 sla


Caballo_Blanco

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Hi guys, new here and I'm looking to regear the Dana 35 SLA on my 98 ranger. I've been looking around and seeing different things about gears that don't fit, but I need 4.10s that do fit the Dana 35 SLA. Any help would be great, and if anyone knows if these gears for a Jeep Dana 35 would fit?
 


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No, they would fit the older TTB axles.

I don't know much about SLA gears but I do know they are different than the TTB/Jeep D35 gears.
 

Shran

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No, they would fit the older TTB axles.

I don't know much about SLA gears but I do know they are different than the TTB/Jeep D35 gears.
That isn't entirely accurate, Jeep Dana 35's are a low pinion rear axle. D35 SLA axles are also low pinion but I am not sure if you can interchange Jeep gears with them.

Ford TTB D35s are high pinion and almost none of the Jeep or SLA D35 parts will work in them - the exception being certain lockers.

4.10 was a factory ratio so if you can just find a whole front axle in a junkyard, that would be ideal... slap some new seals in it and run it. car-part.com has a few listed throughout the country.
 

Caballo_Blanco

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That isn't entirely accurate, Jeep Dana 35's are a low pinion rear axle. D35 SLA axles are also low pinion but I am not sure if you can interchange Jeep gears with them.

Ford TTB D35s are high pinion and almost none of the Jeep or SLA D35 parts will work in them - the exception being certain lockers.

4.10 was a factory ratio so if you can just find a whole front axle in a junkyard, that would be ideal... slap some new seals in it and run it. car-part.com has a few listed throughout the country.
Do you have any info on which models/years had 4.10s in the front so I could have an idea of what to look for? Thank you all for the prompt replies.
 

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AFAIK it was an option in all years but 98-2011 would be the ones you'd need to look at, and maybe narrow that down further closer to '98 if possible. I am not super familiar with '98-up trucks and there may have been changes made the closer you get to the end of the line in 2011.
 

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You’ll have better success looking at Rangers with automatics that manuals. 4.10 is’t as common in manuals.

As far as new gear sets, Randy’s Ring and pinion sells gears for the 35 SLA. Also, look in the forum store. They are out there in 4.10, 4.56, 4.88, and I think even 5.13.
 

Caballo_Blanco

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You’ll have better success looking at Rangers with automatics that manuals. 4.10 is’t as common in manuals.

As far as new gear sets, Randy’s Ring and pinion sells gears for the 35 SLA. Also, look in the forum store. They are out there in 4.10, 4.56, 4.88, and I think even 5.13.
I'm not finding 4.10s exactly through those links, but how far off would I be if I already have 4.10s in the rear and put the 4.11s they have listed in the front? I mean... What's .01 difference on dirt?
 

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try this one. maybe can cross Dana # to another manufacturer of your choice.




42559
 

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NAPA lists BK 8216476. the fitment list on that one has other vehicles, so further research is needed.
 

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NAPA lists BK 8216476. the fitment list on that one has other vehicles, so further research is needed.
That's what I'm finding with this whole project. I see plenty of Dana 35 gears but few specific to the Dana 35 SLA. Which has me curious as to what are the full differences between the two platforms.
 

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Unfortunately, I'm not spec savvy enough to say what the differences between the Dana 35 solid axles and their variances compared to say what would work with the Dana 35 SLA.

As far as the 4.11 matched with a 4.10 rear, it might work but I wouldn't try it. Being wrong could be very expensive.
 

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the DANA screen shot I would take as gospel, they made the factory parts which have DANA stamped on them.
they ain't cheap either.

when searching for the front SLA info, AMC pops up A LOT in the results. also calls it a 7.5 axle, DANA calls it a 7.64
for certain there are 8 ring bolts.

the internal differential carrier on the Ranger front "35" is narrower than a Jeep or other "35", so internal parts are different.

the percentage difference between 4.10 and 4.11 is about .27%
on a 30" tire that's a mere .081" overall height.
air pressure and tread wear can cause more than that.
 

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I'm not finding 4.10s exactly through those links, but how far off would I be if I already have 4.10s in the rear and put the 4.11s they have listed in the front? I mean... What's .01 difference on dirt?
The most common place to find 4.10 gears is a '97-01 Ford Explorer with 4.0/auto. The extra weight of the Expo resulted in Ford installing lower gears more often. And you can get the matching stronger rear differential while you are there.

The Heep gears don't fit in Ranger differential without modification IIRC.

Running 4.10 in front/4:11 is back is OK, Heep did it quite often (Mud trucks do it too). 4:11 in front/4:10 in back is BAD - the @$$ end is trying to push the front which can result in loss of control.
 

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The most common place to find 4.10 gears is a '97-01 Ford Explorer with 4.0/auto. The extra weight of the Expo resulted in Ford installing lower gears more often. And you can get the matching stronger rear differential while you are there.

The Heep gears don't fit in Ranger differential without modification IIRC.

Running 4.10 in front/4:11 is back is OK, Heep did it quite often (Mud trucks do it too). 4:11 in front/4:10 in back is BAD - the @$$ end is trying to push the front which can result in loss of control.
Would this loss of control happen even in 2wd on the road? I'm not looking to hot rod it while out 4 wheeling.
 

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Would this loss of control happen even in 2wd on the road? I'm not looking to hot rod it while out 4 wheeling.
That’s only going to happen in 4wd. Front is disconnected in 2wd.
 

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