I have a 1998 F-150, 127,000 with a rear-end howl and a slight coast down grinding noise. I founded the same S 862 B rear-end with 32,000 for $645.00.

What steps are involved with this change over?

 

The hardest part of swapping a differential is jacking up the rear of the truck. Most jack stands won’t go high enough, and anyone who craws under a truck without some sort of solid stand (Cement Blocks, holes facing up will do) and blocks on the front wheels, is like a Chevy, not long for this world.
Anyways put your stands at the jack point in front of the rear tires. Remove tires, brake lines (you will have to unbolt a few lines attached to the top of the housing), unbolt the drive shaft and lay it on the ground(wouldn’t hurt to put something under it) do not pull it out from the transmission ( all your fluid will leak out), unbolt the shocks form the differential and let them hang, and last but not least unbolt the big u joints which hold it to the leaf springs. Be sure you have something holding up the differential before doing this. Preferably a floor jack so you can lower and roll it out.
Installing the new differential is just a reverse process except that you’ll need to bleed your brakes.

If I left anything out I’m sure someone will chirp in.

Hope this helps.

 

mathelm, that pretty much described it. I'm leery of concrete blocks for 2 reasons. They are brittle and can have flaws that you can't see and second when they go, it's all of a sudden. Jackstands would be much better.