Mismatched 4x4 Gears
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Mismatched 4x4 Gears
I'm looking at buying a 1991 Bronco, 302, 6" lift with 35" tires. the seller siad the 4x4 works but I have to use in soft sand or mud only because the rear end was replaced and the back gears don't match the front ones. Am I only headed for a transmission problem buying this vehicle or is this sometging that could be replaced/corrected easily and cheaply? Thanks. It's a nice Bronco except for this one downside.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Eastern WA
Welcome to FTE!!
It's not the tranny that's gonna give you trouble, it's the transfer case. Cheap might be a relative word when repair costs are considered. It needs the same axle ratios front and rear. This means you can swap an axle for a used one or replace the ring/pinion in one of the axles. Price each method and see the cost. Personally, given this problem and not knowing how long it has been driven like this, I would probably not buy it. People that do things like install the wrong axle ratio would tend to do other lame repairs, in my eyes anyway.
On edit:
Given the current problem it's hard to test the 4x4 unless you have sand or mud available. And you will want to test it before buying. Myself, I like to engage 4x4 on dry pavement then slowly take a turn (5MPH), such as in a residential neighborhood. The vehicle should "buck" if 4x4 is working. I also like to listen for bad sounds when driving it straight. All this on dry pavement too. A few times in the life of a vehicle isn't going to harm it.
It's not the tranny that's gonna give you trouble, it's the transfer case. Cheap might be a relative word when repair costs are considered. It needs the same axle ratios front and rear. This means you can swap an axle for a used one or replace the ring/pinion in one of the axles. Price each method and see the cost. Personally, given this problem and not knowing how long it has been driven like this, I would probably not buy it. People that do things like install the wrong axle ratio would tend to do other lame repairs, in my eyes anyway.
On edit:
Given the current problem it's hard to test the 4x4 unless you have sand or mud available. And you will want to test it before buying. Myself, I like to engage 4x4 on dry pavement then slowly take a turn (5MPH), such as in a residential neighborhood. The vehicle should "buck" if 4x4 is working. I also like to listen for bad sounds when driving it straight. All this on dry pavement too. A few times in the life of a vehicle isn't going to harm it.
Last edited by CowboyBilly9Mile; Jan 9, 2005 at 12:43 AM.
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From: Masontown, WV
Welcome to FTE!
Like Bill said, the transfer case will be the problem. I would stay away from it unless the price was right and you can make the repairs yourself.
That said, get more info about why it has different ratio gears. There may only be a small difference in ratio like 3.50 front 3.54 rear. It may have a 9 inch rear installed for more strength and the gearing was so close they didn’t bother changing the gears.
Like Bill said, the transfer case will be the problem. I would stay away from it unless the price was right and you can make the repairs yourself.
That said, get more info about why it has different ratio gears. There may only be a small difference in ratio like 3.50 front 3.54 rear. It may have a 9 inch rear installed for more strength and the gearing was so close they didn’t bother changing the gears.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Southern MD
Like the others stated. . . it'll be the transfer case that goes south.
Does the vehicle have the same size tires on it?
I've seen off-roader 'wanna-bes' with two different size tires on a stock vehicle, front and back. This too, will break a transfer case. (In a hurry!)
If you have the know-how, change the ring and pinion out to match either the front-end or the rear-end. (Or consider the cost to do it.)
You didn't state - do you know the gear ratios??
IF you have 4.10s in the rear and 3.50s (+/-) in the front, you MIGHT want to change-out the front gears. (A little more low-end umph for mud/sand.)
With the 35" tires, you might want to go with 4.10s, anyway!?!?!?!?
Does the vehicle have the same size tires on it?
I've seen off-roader 'wanna-bes' with two different size tires on a stock vehicle, front and back. This too, will break a transfer case. (In a hurry!)
If you have the know-how, change the ring and pinion out to match either the front-end or the rear-end. (Or consider the cost to do it.)
You didn't state - do you know the gear ratios??
IF you have 4.10s in the rear and 3.50s (+/-) in the front, you MIGHT want to change-out the front gears. (A little more low-end umph for mud/sand.)
With the 35" tires, you might want to go with 4.10s, anyway!?!?!?!?
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thanks
thanks to everyone's input. I don't know the axil ratio and i don't think the seller would either. he has had it for a year and a half and it was like that before he got it. he said the 4x4 works in beach sand but has only used it once at the beach. i personally don't have the means or the know-how to swap the axil or the ring and pinion. any idea on the cost to pa someone (several hundred or over a thousand?). with every else working ok i thought $3500 was reqasonable unless it costs to much to correct the gear ratio.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,138
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From: Yuba City, Ca
probably around $4-$900 bucks to change it out. but if you find a shop that'll do it for $500 you'll only be in it $4000. if you don't need the 4x4 then you can drive it all you want and this won't hurt it and you can do the swap at a later date when you have the money but if you need 4x4 then you have to find the cost and tack it onto the inital price and figure if you can afford it.
-Aaron
-Aaron
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