I have a 94 f150 4x4 (truck in sig) that I need to put 4.10's in to restore the gearing ratio back to stock performance after the lift that the P.O. put on it. I have been keeping an eye out for a complete rear axle from a junkyard. I found one at a local yard but they sold it out from under me by the time I got there . I have found a few others a state or two away but with shipping it would be cheaper to have my current axle regeared. Unfortunately regearing an axle myself and making sure it is all lined up and shimmed correctly is one of those things I don't feel comfortable doing myself.

So my questions are:

1. I was considering looking at the ford 9" rear axle that was offered in the 70's and early 80's trucks and see if I can find a 4.10 half ton axle. would one of these axles basically be a bolt in? I have access to a welder so changing spring perch positions would be easy. It is my understanding that the 9" is a stronger axle anyways, is this correct?

2. Would a f250 axle work with a bolt adapter kit? I have nice aftermarket wheels on my truck that I don't want to replace. I have a feeling that the f150 wheels don't have a big enough center hole to fit over a 250 axle hub. F250 and 350 rear axles in 4.10's are a dime a dozen around here though.

3. For the front axle I have heard that the f250 center will bolt directly into the f150 TTB and that they use the same shafts. Is this true? IF it is I could find a f250 front diff center easily and cheap and have a shop regear my rear and save money that way.

Here's a pic of the truck in question:

 

I think most would consider the 9" a significant upgrade from the 8.8". Mechanically it shouldn't be too hard to swap in. But I'm pretty sure your truck has a vehicle speed sensor in the rear diff. An axle out of a '70s or '80s truck won't. So you'll have trouble getting your PCM to work. Staying with an axle that has the VSS will be a LOT easier.

I'm not sure, but I think the VSS from the 10.25" would work in your F-150 (as long as it's a new enough axle), but you're right, you won't get the 1/2 ton wheels over the axle bearings. I'm also not sure you'd be able to get 15" rims to clear the bigger brakes. And I have no idea how practical it would be to use adapters to swap from an 8 on 6.5 to a 5 on 5.5 pattern. There are semi-floating 10.25" axles that don't have the big bearing sticking out through the wheel, but that only addresses one of the issues.

I've heard that too, but can't confirm it.

By the way, your sig says you have an extended cab, but the picture shows that it's a Ford. Ford calls them SuperCabs. Extended cab is a Ch*vy term.

 

Ahh, yes I forgot about the speed sensor in the diff. I will have to look into that.

Guess I better change my sig, don't want anyone getting upset haha.

 

By the way, sharp looking truck. The SCSB is my personal favorite (I had a '95 F-150 like that). And setting the half tons up just a little really perfects the proportions to my eye (mine had about a 3" lift with 32" - 33" tires on it).

 

Thanks, it's one of my favorites as well. I would love to get a crewcab like yours but I don't want to get rid of this one either haha. Guess I will just have to wait until I have room for both trucks. Plus my 4 year old daughter is convinced that this is her truck!

 

In your case you need a rear axle VSS/RABS sensor for both your speedo and the PCM which also controls your auto transmission, so a 9" really isn't a good option. A 10.25 would bolt in and has the VSS but it has 8 bolt axles to so your wheels won't work. Unless you are doing a lot of hard muddin and build up the motor a lot it's not likely you will ever break an 8.8 so have yours regeared or find another with the right gearing to bolt in.

 

My SuperCab worked great when my boys were around 4. But by the time they were 12 and 14 I needed the crew cab. Now that they're off at college I'm hoping to add a SuperCab back into the stable, but I'm not planning on losing the crew (but you know what they say about plans...)

 

Guess I will have to call around to some shops and get prices on regearing the rear. Does anyone know for sure if the f250 TTB diff/center is a dirrect bolt in for the F150's?

 

Bump, anyone know about the interchangeability of the f250 front pumpkin with the f150 front on the TTB's?

 

I doubt it would bolt up. The 150 will have a Dana 44, and the 250 will either be a 44hd or a dana 50.

 

garthneddy posted this in a previous thread about gearing:

"Lightnings weren't the only F150s in this gen to come with factory 4.10s. I've owned a couple 4x4 F150s with them, 302 and 300 powered.

If replacing your front gears, you can always just pull a third member from a F250. It is very common to find 4.10s in the 3/4 tons and both the D44 and D50 will bolt onto you 1/2 tons axle beam and use the factory axle shafts."

Does anyone have personal experience with doing this?

 

I would talk to your local gear heads and see who they use for gear swaps.

Finding a lightning axle is not an easy task so putting 4.10s in would be MUCH easier. I just had my ranger axle (8.8) rebuilt for 600. 350 of that was labor, the rest was parts.

I can't help you on the front other than what garthneddy has posted

 

Sounds good, when I had my ranger I was quoted $1100 for both axles to be regeared but that shop is 2 hours away from me now. I am pretty close to Salt Lake City now so I will have to call around to some shops there, probably get my best deal there anyways.

I think I will shoot garthneddy a pm and get some more info on the front.

 

I am not talking a shop. I am talking about a guy who does his own and does his buddies

 

Oh, got ya. I didn't think about that.