8.8 replace or gear swap
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Replacing the bearing.. they're pressed on the diff, and setting up lash on the ring and pinion.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,786
Likes: 1,751
From: Kentucky
If you are replacing the gears then I would say setting the preload on the pinion gear crush collar is the hardest. It takes a few hundred pounds of torque to get it started.
Swapping in a different carrier is a piece of cake. If your bearings are in good shape swap the original ones onto the new/replacement carrier (a press is required). Keep track of the shims on each side so they can be put back on the same side they came from. Do a quick check for backlash to verify the carrier is back where it should be then button it up.
That changes quickly if the bearings need to be replaced. If the carrier bearings are shot then you can bet your bippie the pinion bearing is too. One thing leads to another....again not the end of the world but the scope of the project changes.
Swapping in a different carrier is a piece of cake. If your bearings are in good shape swap the original ones onto the new/replacement carrier (a press is required). Keep track of the shims on each side so they can be put back on the same side they came from. Do a quick check for backlash to verify the carrier is back where it should be then button it up.
That changes quickly if the bearings need to be replaced. If the carrier bearings are shot then you can bet your bippie the pinion bearing is too. One thing leads to another....again not the end of the world but the scope of the project changes.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,507
Likes: 121
From: Oregon
Not to mention if you go too far you have to back it out, put a new crush sleeve in and try again.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,557
Likes: 44
From: Concord, NC
Explorers had 31 spline axles, as did Rangers with the 4.0 V6.
If you are swapping the differential and re-using the gears, I would not waste time trying to re-use the bearings from the old one. Replace the bearings while you have it apart, and you don't have to worry about messing up the old bearings while removing them. Bearings really aren't expensive. Also, you might get lucky re-using the same shims with the new differential, but it would be better to re-shim to get the correct preload and backlash.
When I rebuilt my 8.8 I used a shim stack in place of the crush collar to set preload on the pinion bearings.
If you are swapping the differential and re-using the gears, I would not waste time trying to re-use the bearings from the old one. Replace the bearings while you have it apart, and you don't have to worry about messing up the old bearings while removing them. Bearings really aren't expensive. Also, you might get lucky re-using the same shims with the new differential, but it would be better to re-shim to get the correct preload and backlash.
When I rebuilt my 8.8 I used a shim stack in place of the crush collar to set preload on the pinion bearings.
Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
Likes: 76
From: Gilbert, PA
I got a complete rear with stock lsd and 3.55s for $75. When I find a deal on some 4.10s or 4.56s, I'll grab those up and throw them in. I'm in for next to nothing at this point though other thana couple hours of work. I painted it and made it look good too. Everybody recognizes my silver diff cover.
O, you have the tools/knowledge to install ring/pinion then set the preload and backlash?
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