03-06 explorer drivetrain

[Nailzs]

03-06 explorer drivetrain + suspension

hey guys
my b2 took a dump on me last week. the oil ppump went out and my engine fried. so i have been lookin at some used explorers for saIL, some with the 4.0 and some with the 4.6.
when i looked under them, i was very surprised to see that they no longer use a solid rear axle! so my question is, wiht the 4.0 and 4.6, how tough and reliable are the drivetrains? trans, transfer, front and rear diff, etc

this thing will be used for some pulling, inclement weather, etc. i need something thats gonna be tough and reliable.
also, how strong is the suspension? not just for pulling and such but for big bumps and, ahem, "bumpy roads"?
i basically need to know if these things are tough enough to have some fun in. not talking trails or anything, just fields, and snow and such.

that siad, is there anything i should look out for with these vehicles? any problems or problem areas i need to know about?

edit: upon furhter research i learned that 3rd gen exploreres were 02-05 and 4th are 06+. i guess i will need peoples opinons on both generations.

 

[exbass94]

The 02s were known for some trans issues. They got the problems worked out by 03 or 04. They're known for rear diff issues. Ford issued a TSB on them. http://www.ford-trucks.com/tsb/fulltext/show_article.php?tsb=05-23-3

 

[Nailzs]

ahhh i remember that rear diff issue from back when i was in high school. it hit upon my teacher's explorer hahaha. i always thought it was nicely ironic since he was a master ford tech
thx dude!

 

[short bus]

we have a 02 and the tranny has been rebuilt twice and the rear end twice but we have kinda abused it pulling a 6k# blazer about 400 miles twice a year and all the quads and toys out to the dunes.We still have that god awfule sound that comes from the rear and oh yeah it has the autotrack transfercase witch all the tires have to be within 1\4in in hight of each other or you burn it up too. It sounds like you ran over a cat. Would never get one agin

 

[Nailzs]

lol damn a little later, i already bought my 06 explorer.