So... I want 3.55's or 3.73's instead of my 3.08's.

- Is it better/easier to try to swap gears or just to take the whole dang axel and swap it?

- If I do the rears, I need to do the fronts as well right (4x4)?

- Older axels/gears should work fine correct? I'm thinking of an '88 into a '95.

- anything to watch out for?

I have a 1995 f-150 with a 4.9, 3.08 gears, 4 in susp lift and 33 in tires.

 

I would just keep the axles you have and have gears installed in them. There's no reason to buy a new axle and then pay someone to set up the gears so you can then swap the axle into your truck. That's a lot of extra work that doesn't need to be done. Not to mention the extra money you'd spend.

Yes you have to do the front too if you want to use 4wd.

Some 8.8" axles have a flange and some have a yoke. You can switch them but you'll need to do some driveshaft work if you switch between them. Another reason to use the axle you already have.

 

By the manner in which you stated your question I assume that you haven't performed a gear swap before. That being the case the rear axle would most likely be easier to swap out, as 3.55 was a common gear ratio in these trucks. Just make sure that you either take the pinion flange off the axle you have now or make sure the donor axle has the same style, and it is critical that you don't over-tighten the pinion nut if you have to change it.

As for the front.....that gets a little more involved. Probably the cheapest route would be to swap out only the center-section of your front axle. The downside is that unless you happen to find one already pulled out, it wouldn't exactly be pleasant if you have to pull one out yourself in a scrap yard. It would be much easier to pull out the center section and have a reputable shop change and set up the gears for you. That is unless you want to try it yourself...

 

I would definatly swap in the gears you want in the axles you have. Buying used axles can be a gamble. You could buy one with bad bearings or seals or any number of problems. Not to mention the fact that what gear the owner thinks is in these axles may not be what's actually in there. The axle tag might say 3.55, but someone may have swapped in a 4.56 gear at some point and simply replaced the tag. Re-gear the axles you have and then you know what you've got.

 

I have plenty of help (mechanic friend) and I've done one set of gears before (though it was only same gear just to limited slip).

I will probably rebuild the axel before an install since mine has 180k+ on it anyway.

Is everything the same from an 88 4x4 to a 95 4x4? That is if I got tht way

 

If your just doing gears, then yes, everything is the same. Oh yeah, definatly do the fronts too, unless your just planning on driving in 2 wheel drive. Only doing the rears and running 4WD will mess up your truck severly

 

I mean if I were to do the whole thing...all the same??

 

For the most part yes. 95's had a vehicle speed sensor in the rear axle for the speedometer. This is different from the ABS speed sensor that all 87-96 trucks had. Otherwise all the internal parts should be the same.

 

it sounds like swapping a complete housing from the '88 into the '95 wouldn't cause problems. am i correct in assuming the '95 vss will bolt right in to the '88 rear where the abs sensor should be. plug and play?


also, are the rear diff carriers any different from '88 to '95? im wondering what the vss gets it signal from in the '95. is it simply off the ring gear?

 

It gets the signal off the same tone ring as the abs. Not sure what, if anything, is different on the '95 from other years as I don't own one, but on my '96 the vss and abs are both on the same sensor in the axle housing. Haven't seen one of this vintage that is made any differently. There are a couple different carriers that will work, an older style and a newer style. Don't know when they changed but the only difference is the tab size on the clutches.

 

I would definatly replace the sensor on the '88 axle with one for a 95 just to make sure there are no issues. There may be some difference in the sensors considering the 88 one was just for the ABS system, where as the one for a 95 gathered data for both the ABS and the speedometer. One thing's for sure, you definatly want both of those to work properly!

 

just my two cents worth rebuild your 95 axles not sure about the 8.8 rear or the dana 44 front but like so many things they are updated as the run of an axle gets older example my 96 F-250 uses a sterling 10.25 rear in 94 they changed the design to a longer pinion gear adding more bearing surface and strength to the axle I am certain the same goes with the 8.8 it started around 83-84 so by 95 it has had 10 years of service so it has evolved as well