Differential Gears
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Differential Gears
Just bought a 99F250 SD. Just before I looked at it, I talked to another dealer who told me to look out for 7 bolt lug pattern. Said these were soft gears. I had not heard anything about this before. I also heard a Chevy dealer talk about "butter gears" on Ford trucks. When I looked at the truck, sure enough, it had a 7 bolt lug pattern. I couldn't pass up the deal, so I bought the truck. Anybody know anything about this? Truck has 5.4l, auto, 3.73 gears.
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From: OK
Differential Gears
Does it look like a new Super Duty, a "new" F150 or an "old" F150?
If it looks like a "new" F150, you got the F250 LIGHT Duty that is now known as an F150 with 7700 lb GVWR option. The LD has 7 lugs and is primarily an F150 with a heavier chassis. It has a 10.25" ring gear- I've not heard of anyone breaking it.
The new Super Duty trucks (F250+) have 8 lugs and I've never heard of anyone breaking gears. The ring-gear is 10.5" and is quite strong.
I don't know about the "old" F250s.
If it looks like a "new" F150, you got the F250 LIGHT Duty that is now known as an F150 with 7700 lb GVWR option. The LD has 7 lugs and is primarily an F150 with a heavier chassis. It has a 10.25" ring gear- I've not heard of anyone breaking it.
The new Super Duty trucks (F250+) have 8 lugs and I've never heard of anyone breaking gears. The ring-gear is 10.5" and is quite strong.
I don't know about the "old" F250s.
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Differential Gears
Thanks for the input. I checked the vehicle ID sticker inside the door and the truck is rated 8,800 lb GVWR. Decals on front quarter panels quite clearly say "F250 Super Duty".
I think you are right about the 8 bolt pattern being standard. Pictures in the owners manual show 8 bolts, and I've since looked at a few other trucks, and they also have 8 bolt pattern.
I'll be pulling a 7,000 lb horse trailer with this guy. Truck has 87,000 miles. I think the previous owner pulled a camper with it. I checked the vehicle history and it is clean, so apparently the truck has been worked without problems.
Any thoughts?
I think you are right about the 8 bolt pattern being standard. Pictures in the owners manual show 8 bolts, and I've since looked at a few other trucks, and they also have 8 bolt pattern.
I'll be pulling a 7,000 lb horse trailer with this guy. Truck has 87,000 miles. I think the previous owner pulled a camper with it. I checked the vehicle history and it is clean, so apparently the truck has been worked without problems.
Any thoughts?
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From: OK
Differential Gears
But you say it only has 7 lugs? 
The 5.4L is a good engine, but coupled with 3.73 gears, the truck was built for cruising more than towing. Your 7000# trailer is also going to put you close (depending on cab configuration) to the GCWR for the truck. Be sure to stay current on maintenance and make sure there is a tranny cooler- if not, add one.
The 5.4L is a good engine, but coupled with 3.73 gears, the truck was built for cruising more than towing. Your 7000# trailer is also going to put you close (depending on cab configuration) to the GCWR for the truck. Be sure to stay current on maintenance and make sure there is a tranny cooler- if not, add one.
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From: G
Differential Gears
A 7 lug axle?? Never heard of it. The Super Duty's are suppose to come with full floating axles which are 8 Lugs. I would be asking a lot of questions. Like NoMo, I am stumped on that one. The rear end should be a 10.5 inch Sterling which has 8 lugs! Hmmm...??? But I have to agree with NoMo, I think you are towing very close if not over your gcwr.
Good Luck!
Tim
Good Luck!
Tim
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Differential Gears
Just for the record, the trailer is 7,000# max with 4 horses. I only own 3 horses, and I'm not likely to ever pull it fully loaded. I also need the truck for transportation, and 95% of the time I won't be pulling anything. The owners manual lists the towing capacity for this vehicle at 10,000#, which sounds unbelievable. I looked at the ratings in the 2001 towing guide, and it says a SD equipped like mine can tow 7,600#, so I figured I was pretty safe.
Back to the 7 lugs... the manufacturing date is 10/98, so this might be one of the first 99's off the line. Body styling is definitlely Super Duty. I'm wondering if this other dealer was clairvoyant, or maybe Ford screwed up somehow.
Back to the 7 lugs... the manufacturing date is 10/98, so this might be one of the first 99's off the line. Body styling is definitlely Super Duty. I'm wondering if this other dealer was clairvoyant, or maybe Ford screwed up somehow.
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Differential Gears
I'd sugest re-counting the Lug's.
I'm unaware of any SuperDuties being built with the 7-lug axel. Is the rear axel a full floating axel? Does the truck look like a F-150 or F-350?
I'm unaware of any SuperDuties being built with the 7-lug axel. Is the rear axel a full floating axel? Does the truck look like a F-150 or F-350?
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Differential Gears
I thought you were being a wise guy and I was just about to flip you off by email, but just for the hell of it I went out and looked. The truck has decorative hub caps with faux lugs (7). The actual wheel rim is held on by 8 lug bolts. Damn, I feel a lot better (maybe a little stupid ,too). Thanks for the suggestion. I'm still wondering where this dealer got the story from. Maybe its one of those left handed monkey wrench deals.
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From: OK
Differential Gears
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 04-Dec-01 AT 11:42 PM (EST)]Hey wawii-
A guy has some questions about your truck [link:www.ford-trucks.com/dcforum/DCForumID43/1.html|here]. About the 5th post down.
A guy has some questions about your truck [link:www.ford-trucks.com/dcforum/DCForumID43/1.html|here]. About the 5th post down.
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From: North Georgia
Differential Gears
I was installing a 5th wheel hitch last weekend and noticed there are two wires going into the differental. Is this for limited slip? If that's so, then does limited slip work in conjunction with ABS? Thanks GV
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