Hey guys I've got a 99 F-150 XLT 4x4 with the 4.6 Off Road Package and the drum brake rear. I do some towing on occasion and would really love to have the larger bearings and disk brake rear, not to mention the 3.73 posi gears that all the Navi's had.

I just bought a 2001 Navigator parts truck that I'm going to be pulling the rear from and obviously the front as well to swap into my truck. Does anyone know what all would have to be changed to get this into my truck? I'm assuming the dimensions and such are the same.

I know the Navi has a different e-brake cable setup and coil springs/air suspension which I'm not going to swap into my truck (thought about using the air suspension but I don't feel like doing the extra work). I'm guessing I'll have to do something with the leaf mounts and cable at the very least and possibly the shocks as I'm not sure if those are in a different location or not.

Anyway is there some write up somewhere or does anyone have any info on this swap?

 

most people pass on the change due to the spring difference. I have not seen a writeup, but that dont mean someone has not done it... YOur best bet might be to pull the EXP and set it on stands, take measurements and compare to the F!50...Like you said, they are "basically" the same size. I would question the yoke size sinec the EXP is proabably a 9.75 and the F150 is 8.8

 

Is my truck an 8.8? I know my old 98 had a 9.75 but that was a higher optioned truck. Well add one more reason to swap axles haha.

How about the front axle? That should be a direct swap no?

 

If there is ABS involved and you want that system to work how are you going to handle it?
How are you going to handle the brake bias balance between the front brakes and the different rear discs if you don't use all the brake hardware?
There is more to this back yard re-engineering than your thinking.
Often these swaps leave a lot of loose ends that are never solved or finished.
Good luck in any event.

 

Yes there is 4 wheels ABS. Good point I forgot about that. I guess what I really need to to pull a few things off a 99 F-150 with the disk brake rear. This swap cannot be impossible or that difficult because 99's came with the disk brake rears, I just ended up getting the shaft because my 99 was an early build.

Didn't think about the brake bias either, what all would have to be changed to make this work correctly?

Good stuff, keep it coming that's why I started this thread.

 

Ok so far here's my list I can come up with and if anyone can confirm stuff that would be great or even add to it so I don't have any surprises.

1) Change bias plug on master from Lincoln to correct for disk brakes
2) New rear brake lines for disk brakes (use from a 99 F-150 with disks)
3) Use ABS sensor in top of rear instead of sensors on each individual wheel (I think all 9.75's had this option to have this put in the top of the rear) Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I think I can retain my ABS system unless the disk brake rear gears didn't have the abs ring on them.
4) Possible different shock locations... relocate shock mounts on truck to lightnings location to better help with axle wrap if needed.
5) Change to disk brake e-brake cables (use 99F-150 disk brake cables)
6) Set pinion angle
7) Change to leaf spring mounts (bit of cutting and welding and she's ready to go)
8) Tune ECU for new gear ratio.
9) Possible new drive shaft to mate up to the 9.75 axle.
10) ????