upgrade my front and rear axles

[Bwb2709]

Hey guys, I'm new to the 4wheeling world, and I need your help. I have a 1994 Mazda B4000, that I have lifted 9" with 35" tires on it, so the pulling power has been greatly effected. I want to change the gears to fix the problem but I'm not sure if I should go with 4.56 or 4.88 or even 5.13 gears for it. I drive the truck everyday so I also want something that's going to give me half descent fuel mileage.

Also I'm think about putting in lockers front and rear, has anyone installed the mechanical shift or air shift lockers.

Any information would be greatly appreciated Guys...Thanks!!!!

 

[86 slo-vo]

if your driving everyday you will probably want 4.56's or 4.88's

alot of guys run auto lockers on here like powertrax or detroits

 

[RangerSVT]

I had my ranger setup with 456's and running 35" tires, power was great and was getting about 16 mpg, I've heard of others running 488's with 35 and getting even more mpg's...I was planning to run 488's the first go round but was unable to find them when I geared my truck, so I went with the 456's
SVT

 

[Jay FX4]

What engine do you have? That might play a role in what gearing is recommended to you.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

I would assume that he has the 4.0L, I would probably go with 4.88's with 35's as they are pretty heavy tires and most people run 4.56's for their 33's.

But with 35's and 9" of lift I doubt your going to be pulling back up into the 20's again.

 

[Guilius]

i just did a regear to 513's with 35's and i gotta say i love it. good power up hills, doesnt bog down at all.
i get decent gas mileage too. i havent got the exact numbers yet because i just did the first fluid swap after the break in period.

we also installed a rear ARB and....i love that too! on board air compressor is handy, and the locker is quiet and....turns off for when your driving on the road. it was not cheap but it was real nice putting it in!

 

[Bwb2709]

Hey Guilius, did you put 513's in both the front and rear or just the rear, and if you don't mind me asking, how much did the whole setup with the ARB locker and compressor set you back?

 

[Original_Ranger84]

You would have to put gears in both the front and the rear axles...

 

[Guilius]

If you do one ende you almost always have to do the other end unless it already has the gears your going to. in my case 513's arent common.
i upgraded the rear axle to a 1999 explorer 8.8 (31 Spline) and bought everything from the Fab and Offroad section (gotta support Jim!).

the ARB Air Compressor was 215.95 and was incredibly easy to install.
the Air Locker was....a big kick in the wallet at 752.95.
the 8.8 ring and pinion was the Nitro Brand and was 201.75
the front Dana 35 Ring and Pinion was also Nitro and was 210.50
i got the master install kits also. the front was 160.75 and the rear was 103.50.

i have a friend that does gears for a living and installed everything for a case of beer

grand total was 1645.40. i got all the parts over a 9 month period so it wasnt TOO bad. if you shop around im sure you can get better prices on some if not most of the parts.


funny thing is, i just did the regear and am now going to do a Solid Axle Swap on the front, and put in an ARB up there also. i love the ARB because, like you mine is a "daily driver" as well as off road toy.

 

[86 slo-vo]

if you do much highway driving i think the 5.13's would be too much

i have 4.10's and 35's on the highway at 60 im turning 2K rpm's

 

[wahlstrom1]

I've found the 2500 rpm at 60m/100km to be a comfortable RPM that allows decent power while retaining mileage as well. I was happy with 4.56's and 35's on the street but would have liked a lil more gear offroad, so my vote is 4.88's. Now that I'm rockin 37's (and saw them in the future when I built the truck in the first place) I'm anxious to get my 5.13's in.

 

[ThatGuy]

I like my 5.13s. I cruise at about 2500 rpms @ 65 (guesstimate, speedo is off) but off-road they are great. I'm getting about 17 mpg.

91 Ex 4.0L, A4LD
44 & 9 5.13s (both welded)
36 x12.50 TSL/SX on 15" beadlocks

 

[Bwb2709]

I was also thinking about swapping out the front end myself over some time, is there that big of a difference in the strength of the dana 44 SFA over the dana 35 TTB once you have good gears and a good solid built locker in it? and thanks for the info again Guilius, I think when I do change them I'm going to go with the 5.13, and now that you mentioned it, I may try to find myself an explore rear axle, cause may upgrade the suspension to the skyjacker 8" and put 37-40" tires on it....."GO BIG....or GO HOMEEEE!!

 

[wahlstrom1]

Pretty much the same strength stock....BUT, you can get chromoly shafts inner and outer for the D44, and you'd need to do a D44 knuckle swap to gain the D44's bigger wheel bearings/brakes/hubs necessary to reliably run a tire bigger then a 35.

I wouldn't suggest running anything bigger then a 35 on D35 TTB if you have any intentions of more then 'crawling' the majority of obstacles. I've broken parts in a detroit locked chromoly'd D44 on lightweight 37's on alloys.

 

[ThatGuy]

Luckily I haven't broken anything yet. Only about 6 good rides on it since this phase has been completed. I highly recommend cromo shafts. You only gotta buy one set and swap them out if you break them.

My next rig will stay TTB. I've already got a game plan for it. I plan on putting the 35 to the test .