4.88 gears for 7.5?

[Gum-B]

I am planing to do a little work to my ranger. I am adding lockers and gears to better turn some new tires. I have a D35 front, and a 7.5 rear. I would like to run 4.88 gears and 33in, maybe 34in tires. The problem is that i cannot find 4.88's for the 7.5 rear. I do not want to buy a new axle, but im starting to think that it is what must be done. The other option is to go to 5.13 gears. Im not very gear savvy i do electronics. My fear with 5.13 gears is strength, are they strong enough to take a beating. I like to play kinda rough. I have debated 35in tires, but not with a 7.5. For lockers im going Detroit rear, and auburn e locker front. I guess what i really want to know is with my little 2.3L what gears would be recommended for 33's. O i have 31x10.50's with 4.10 gears currently and it has no power for on street driving. In 4low it does ok off road, but i want more especially with bigger tires. one more think i have looked at the gear and tire chart but what i want is a response from some one who has tried different gears, and tires. any help will be appreciated. o and i am adding coil spacers, and fiberglass fenders up front, and a flat bed.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

they dont make 4.88 gears for the 7.5. you have to choose either 4.56 or 5.13.

if you want the option to run 4.88's, you can upgrade to a much stronger 28 spline 8.8 out of a newer ranger. its a bolt-in swap.

FYI, the general consensus is that the e-locker is a pile of junk. its not a true locker, but more of an adjustable limited slip that wears out after time.

 

[engdept]

I think that 4.56's are the lowest gears you can get for a 7.5. I could be wrong, but that is as low as I have seen.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

they make 5.13's for the 7.5.

 

[Gum-B]

with the 5.13 would i have any worries about strength. I know that a gear that high has a small pinion gear. second question is would the 4.56 be enough gear. I know all about the 8.8 i had one in my last ranger. it is a great axle, but i am trying to avoid an axle swap at the moment. I have found 8.8's in junk yards, but i would rather focus my funds at gears, and deal with the axle if it is an absolute must. I want a selectable locker in front, and i hate the air locker. I know they are good, but i was looking for electric. I have not completely ruled out an ox. My biggest concern is that i drive the truck in the winter in 4 wheel drive and it gets nasty in wheat country with the snow drifts, and the ice. I need something what will keep all 4 tires turning climbing hills, but not make the rig a nightmare to drive.

 

[97BlackBetty]

My honest opinion is, swap the axle to an 8.8. If you are going to spend close to a grand on gears, front and rear. Why invest into an axle that you may not have for ever? I know that I can grap a 28 spline 8.8 axle from the junk yard for 100 bucks, less if you throw in a case of beer.

 

[AngloSaxon]

I turn 33's with my little 2.3 and 4.56 with no problems

But if I had to do it again, I would have gone with 8.8

 

[mhughes165]

My honest opinion is, swap the axle to an 8.8. If you are going to spend close to a grand on gears, front and rear. Why invest into an axle that you may not have for ever? I know that I can grap a 28 spline 8.8 axle from the junk yard for 100 bucks, less if you throw in a case of beer.

the weak point the the 7.5 is the spider gears/crosspin, always has been, by adding a detroit to the back he will eliminate the wek point in the axle, and with the 7.5 bein 28 spline aswell and having the SAME diameter axle shafts as a 8.8 28 spline i dont see the point in the swap, if ur gonna swap something in do a 31 spline 8.8 then atleast theres a point for the upgrade

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

thats not true, ive seen more than one pinion failure on 4.56+ equipped 7.5. the 8.8....even the 28 spline version....has a larger gearset making it quite a bit stronger in that area.

 

[Evan]

with the 5.13 would i have any worries about strength. I know that a gear that high has a small pinion gear.

Provided the gear is larger in diameter than the input shaft (which it is in this case), the size of it does not determine its strength.

You don't need to worry about the strength of 5.13s in a 7.5.

 

[mhughes165]

thats not true, ive seen more than one pinion failure on 4.56+ equipped 7.5. the 8.8....even the 28 spline version....has a larger gearset making it quite a bit stronger in that area.

ive wheeled the piss outta trucks with a 7.5 and 4.56's and numerically higher gears in the past, always with a welded rear, the 7.5 despite what everyone THINKS (u know without actually runnin one themselves) the 7.5 with a full locker or in welded form is actually a formidable rear axle

i have also seen failures, however most the time that is due to operator/installer error.....

 

[Mutant Pony]

ive wheeled the piss outta trucks with a 7.5 and 4.56's and numerically higher gears in the past, always with a welded rear, the 7.5 despite what everyone THINKS (u know without actually runnin one themselves) the 7.5 with a full locker or in welded form is actually a formidable rear axle

i have also seen failures, however most the time that is due to operator/installer error.....

I agree completely. The ONLY advantage of a 28 spline 8.8 is gear selection. If you do upgrade to an 8.8, make it a 31 spline for a little extra insurance.
I actually prefer the 7.5. My trucks aren't BIG on torque though.

 

[Gum-B]

i really have no plans for tires biger than about 34 at the most. i feel that with the right gearing, and 34 in tires with a locker front and rear i will get any place i want to go. Im not a rock crawler, or a deep mudder. Im mostly a trail guy who occasionally gets in the mud, and some small rocks. I have confidence in the 7.5 for what i intend to do that is why i have avoided the 8.8 i can get one with no gears and no carer for $100 but i dont feel that it is nesicary. I am going to keep the 2.3L, and wheel it till it dies. Like i said my concern with the 7.5 and 5.13 was the pinion gear, but if it can handle it than i will go that rout.

 

[canyoncritter]

the 7.5 not really that bad of a axle for its size. I know I have beat the dog crap out of a couple of them.

if you are doing the installs of the gears yourself, I would skip the axle upgrade.But if your paying for the labor to have the gears installed I would drop the extra 100 on a core explorer drum axle.If for nothing else it will have a better resale value vs a 7.5 if you ever upgrade again.

5.13's will put your right around 3 grand at 70 with 34's..and that will give it about a stock performance over all with the 2.3