How does this story sound to you guys? I found a 8.8 373 on craigslist for about 300.00. The seller says he bought it off craigslist and the original seller said it had 5,000 miles. The current seller says he tried installing it on his 5.4l 05 f150 and it caused his drive shaft to wobble at the transmission because the difference of size in the rear axle.

Things that worry me.

1. why does it only have "5,000" miles on it
2. is the wobbling really because of the difference in size?
3. would having this wobble ruin a differential?

He says it drove okay other than the wobble in the drive shaft and the howling on acceleration was remedied.

 

sounds like the driveshaft was bent. the rear end doesn't cause the shaft to wobble at the transmission.

 

Why do you need a rear diff? The 9.75 is a much better axle and the 8.8 only came behind the 4.6 and 4.2.

You could give him $250 and have a shop look over everything to make sure the bearings are tight. If it needs a rebuild, then you saved enough money to make it worthwhile.

 

Do you even read?

 

rear axle gearing has nothing to do with drive shaft wobble... If the Yoke or joints were the wrong size and DID NOT FIT, then yes, that would be bad and you would have a wobble... but never should have been install to start with. ... I doubt the 8.8 axle and the 9.75 axle had the same size U joint.

 

Well I drove 90 minutes to see what this axle looked like. Man it was pretty! The full story is the original owner put in brand new front/rear axles in to his f150. The son then front end totaled the vehicle. The father parted the truck out on craigslist and this second owner bought it and installed this 373 8.8 on his 5.4l. 280.00 for a rear axle that supposedly has 5k miles on it!

 

BUT ............... WHY did he remove it ?

 

I do not know what other information to give you

 

well, no one sells a 5 k mile rear for 250. he changes it because the driveshaft wobbles. its fishy.

 

5.4 F150s don't have 8.8s. they use the 9.75.

 

Do you want to buy it? What's the purpose of this post?

 

yes, i bought it