Gear upgrade via axle swap - pros and cons? Issues ?
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Cross-Country
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 55
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Gear upgrade via axle swap - pros and cons? Issues ?
My 2002 V10 Limited with 3.73 gear is used almost exclusively for towing our 5000 lb camper.
I think it would be happier with 4.3 gears.
Looking at car-parts.com or a private sale i can find both axles for around $1000 with fewer miles than my truck currently has (185K)
That seems easier and cheaper than buying the gears and paying someone to install them.
Any flaws in this plan? I can also get LS with an axle swap.
What's the range of vehicles i can pick from? Obviously any Excursion, What year F250s? Any SRW F350s that would work?
thanks
I think it would be happier with 4.3 gears.
Looking at car-parts.com or a private sale i can find both axles for around $1000 with fewer miles than my truck currently has (185K)
That seems easier and cheaper than buying the gears and paying someone to install them.
Any flaws in this plan? I can also get LS with an axle swap.
What's the range of vehicles i can pick from? Obviously any Excursion, What year F250s? Any SRW F350s that would work?
thanks
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,293
Likes: 164
That is exactly what I did. It took me 6 months of searching to find something local and out of an excursion. If it is out of an f250 you may have to transfer pinion flanges. It is way less than a gear swap but remember you are buying a used part. For the rear axle you might as well figure on doing rear bearings and seals. Front you may have to do everything from the ball joints out. So it can add up quick and not be much less than than hear swap if you have to replace a lot.
Junior User
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 76
Likes: 16
From: south arkansas, also sw l
I have a 4.11 front axle in my garage, waiting for the money to get the matching rear axle from the junkyard. I just did new ball joints and everything, so im planning on transfering everything including knuckles for the front.
I went ahead and rebuilt my inner axles and u joints, just for peace of mind.
3.73s are nice, but with 35's and towing heavy, 4.11 is more my liking.
I went from 3.73 to 4.11 in my lightning I had. Red light to red light, almost impossible to beat. And had the torque to pull a house.
I went ahead and rebuilt my inner axles and u joints, just for peace of mind.
3.73s are nice, but with 35's and towing heavy, 4.11 is more my liking.
I went from 3.73 to 4.11 in my lightning I had. Red light to red light, almost impossible to beat. And had the torque to pull a house.
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 12,052
Likes: 1,550
From: Media PA
That’s what I did, swapped the entire axle housing to go from the stock 3.73s to the current 4.88s. Got my complete set (all the way out to the lug nuts) of front and rear axles for $1200 about 9 years ago. Best mod that I've done for our tow rig EX!
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,002
Likes: 641
From: Miami, Fl
I found an "Excursion" 4.30 LS on LKQ delivered for around $900. When it arrived, it had the wrong pinion flange and it wasn't LS. LKQ said all I needed was the proper pinion and it would work in my Ex. They wanted me to pay around $200 shipping to return it. I opted to pay a local guy to take my LS out of my blown 3.73 and install it in the 4.33 along with the EX pinion.
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