I have been looking to upgrade my truck due to upgrading to a 3 horse gooseneck trailer with living quarters. I was considering a newer truck but a response to an earlier thread suggested a gear change. My 97 4X4 has only 91,000 miles on it and I have owned since 6,000 miles and I am not interested in the 6.0 or the 6.4, V10 was an option.
I am leary on the 3:55 gears. The GVW of the trailer is 12,000 lbs, light approximately 6,200 lbs. I am considering 4:10 gears.
Can I put a newer rearend in that has disc brakes, or convert to disc's?
I figure I can put a few thousand $ into it for what it would cost me to upgrade to a newer truck. The least I am going to do is change gearing.
Thanks,

 

You can upgrade to a newer rear axle, but then you'd have two different wheels as the SD trucks are metric bolt pattern. If you just want disc brakes, there are a couple threads on here for putting discs on the rear. You can buy a bolt on setup. Another thing, if you are set on 4.10's, easiest way to change them is to find a truck with them and swap the whole axle if you can.

If you are concidering a few thousand into it, how about more power instead of gear change? I run the same truck as you with the same gears and always thought I wanted 4.10's until I did my motor upgrades. I've done everything in my signature for what you are wanting/thinking of spending. Now I can set the cruise at 75 with my 48' trailer behind, 16,000lbs loaded. Someday wouldn't mind having 3.73's, but no way would I want 4.10's now. Only thing, if its an automatic like mine, taking off with a big load I take it easy to save the trans. They are not cheap to rebuild. 4.10's would be easier taking off from a stop, but I don't need to dragrace from a stop with the trailer either.

Edit: This is assuming you can do most of the work yourself, if you had to hire it done, it would cost more for sure.

 

Your information was extermely helpful and enlightening. I have a SuperChip programmed for Tow Safe, 3" Bully Dog downpipe, cat removed, oversized tranny cooler. I would like to change the rear drums to disc's. Better stopping would only be a plus. I am careful when towing, the truck has been good for 15 years and I would like to keep it for another 15!
Can you give some suggestions on where I can look for the bolt on disc's?
I am planning on mod's to the air intake also.
Thanks for your help,

 

If you want to run a newer model 10.5 rearend in your truck with better gearing and disk brakes, here is an option to take that addresses the bolt pattern issue 10.5 SuperDuty Rear Hubs to 8 on 6.5 - PowerStrokeNation : Ford Powerstroke Diesel Forum

By machining the Superduty hubs to match the OBS bolt pattern, the swap becomes doable and you are still able to run your OBS wheels. I am in the process of doing this swap.

Rusty

 

'85-'98 Ford Sterling

Here is one link, I just googled 1996 F250 rear disc brakes and came up with this. Google it and you'll find lots of info. Sometimes its easier to find parts for a 97 by using the 96 year as 97 was offered in the little 250 new body style also and can get confusing, especially when talking to some of the real smart parts store guys..

 

This will be a start. I will be looking to get this done this winter. I am going to do air intake / filter mods and add some gauges.
Thanks again,

 

rstazick,
research:
hydroboost brakes & low stall triple locking billet converters.

ahh,to get your started in the right direction.
http://www.bankspower.com/techarticl...ng-Stall-Speed
http://www.propickupmag.com/banks-bi...erter-install/

 

i have the TSM rear disc conversion on my 97. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

What all did you have to buy? I was just browsing tsm and I am pretty certain I am going with disks they seem way better than drum.

 

I'm not trying to hijack this thread, at all......I actually had my Ford delaer remove the 4:10 gears and install the 3:53, I believe that it is. I have kept the 4:10 gears and am willing to sell them to anyone who may need them. I can be reached at:

hallra4@comcast.net