I just recently swapped my rear axle in my 95 F150 to a Ford (sterling) 10.25" with a preinstalled set of locking 3.55 gears. I have a Dana 44 stock axle for the front axle with 3.31 gears. I know I need to change the gearing in the front but I am not sure what gear set is available for my truck that will get me to the desired 3.55 ratio. Can someone help educate me?

 

3.54 will be the closest for the stock D44.

USA Standard Gear D44 Reverse Rotation 3.54 Ratio

What did you do about the wheel bolt pattern? just asking.

 

So will any 3.54 gears for a Dana 44 work or do I need one just for my ford F150? Will the 0.01 difference be a problem?
For the bolt pattern I have two spares, my over all goal is to do SAS in a few years. If you have any good ideas to change to just the sterling pattern I am up for suggestions.

 

The .01 difference in gear ratio won't make any difference. Your tires not being EXACTLY the same diameter probably makes more difference than that.

I think Dana 44 is Dana 44, but if you are ordering gears new I'd tell them what it's out of to be sure.

A Dana 60 out of an F-350 is the obvious solid front axle to match the Sterling rear bolt pattern. But I think there were Dana 44 front axles in pre-'80 F-250s that would also have the same pattern.

 

You need Dana 44 reverse cut gears. Ones from a chevy or dodge won't work. Unless you plan on using 4wd on hard surfaces 3.31-3.55 won't hurt you.

 

i agree with Larry. if the 4 wheel is for mud and snow only, it will be fine until you do the solid axle swap.

 

Oops, what Larry said on the reverse cut gears.

Regarding the difference between 3.31 and 3.55 gears, that about a 7% difference. One time for about a week I ran a truck with 33's on the rear and 30s on the front, or a 10% difference (a little more than your gearing difference). I needed 4WD once in mud with that setup. It did (sort of) work, but the handling was really bizarre. Sometimes the front tires would hook up and they'd pull the front end whichever way they were pointing and the rear end would slide is some random direction. Other times the rear would hook up and the truck would go straight no mater which way the front tires were pointed.

So can you run different ratios front and rear (on non-hard surfaces)? Yes, it'll get you by in a pinch. Are you going to like it? Maybe not.

 

You see it a lot in mud racing. 4.56 rear 4.11 front or 5.13 rear 4.88 front and sometimes smaller tires with or with out mis matched gears

 

I've ran 3.50s in the front, and 4.11s in the rear in snow/mud/dirt. Lock it in ONLY when needed, than unlock right away when not needed.