OK since i have an F-250 Light Duty i know i have the 10.25 Sterling and from the door tag it is the 3.73 limited slip. Now i plan on making this an off-road expedition type vehicle so i want to upgrade the drive train as much as possible. For sure i am going to go with a Detroit True-Trac for the rear and a Mag Hytec cover. For the front i want to run an ARB locker but i do not know EXACTLY how the front drive train works.

I know the front IFS 8.8 uses a sleeve to connect the passenger side CV to the differential but is this sleeve and shaft part of the factory open diff or would all of that have to stay with the new ARB. I would like to remove all of the vacuum parts all at once and only worry about the transfer case.

I have been hearing a clunk in the front suspension when i am stopping. I know my ball joints are shot and i need new calipers and discs but at the same time it sounds like something binds then releases. I believe it could be the CV shafts. I do not have any type of lift other than taller tires so the front suspension has not been messed with at all. I know some people on here have had issues with aftermarket CV shafts but Ford wants $420 per shaft when i can get them from Advance for $67 each. Would i be ok just replacing with one of those? Is there a company that makes off-road spec shafts?

My other question is, since my truck is an odd ball and was the only truck other than the Heavy Duty to get the E4OD. Does anyone know someone that fixes these transmission and does upgrades. I know Brian's Truck Shop is the king of the E4OD/4R100 upgrades for the Super Duty but it seems to me that my trans case has a different bell bolt pattern than the SD and i believe it is geared differently for the 5.4L. I have seen some shops that fix up 4R100s for Lightnings but i do not know if it would be the same for the E40D.

Last question. My transfer case has not had a fluid change EVER. How strong are these things? I have over 146,000 miles on the truck, would changing it now be a good idea? Should i use only Mercon or would Amsoil torque-drive or full synthetic be ok? Can or should these cases be rebuilt? While i am changing the oil would it be a good idea to change the trans fluid while i am at it? Would it harm the transmission since it has been over 13 years since it was changed? I received this truck from my father who believed you only needed to change the oil and judging from the records the owner before him wrote in the back of the owners manual so the truck needs A LOT of TLC.

(I have included a picture of my door tag I just blocked the last 5 of the VIN)

 

Wow 127 views and not a single responce

 

Change the trans and tcase fluid! I use mobil1 atf in mine. In order to get rid of the vac stuff you just get the pass side axle shaft from a awd expedition as its a one piece. As for the the cv, ford uses a 6 bearings
Cage at both ends while most reman stuff uses the 3 bearing at the plungle side. For offroad cvs call up rcv performance.

 

just making sure. I have a lot of people telling me not to touch the trans fluid because the clutches are already set with the fluid that is in there. I do not really believe it but i have had more than a couple of mechanic buddies tell me not to so i do not really know who to believe.

 

HOw can it be a good idea to use old dirty worn out fluid with no addatives ? What these guys are talking about is old stories like yours where a guy leaves the oil in FOREVER, then one day he starts having shifting problems. HE changes the oil to "FIX IT" and the problem eventually gets worse.. Then he blames the failure on the NEW OIL. If you do your routine maintenance things last a lot longer.. Do you ever change engine oil ?? Same theory.

 

EXACTLY. Most people don't change the fluid until they start having problems but then its too late. 362k on trans with regular changes and it just started have an issue. The 1-2 accumulator spring is getting weak

 

Ok so i will get on ordering some trans fluid from my Amsoil dealer and a filter from my ford dealer. My other question is what years Expedition should i be looking for the axle tube and shaft from? Also does anyone know a re-builder that can bullet-proof my transmission?

 

1st gen expedition. They will look like our trucks but won't have the actuator on the diff