4.10's with an overdrive unit would be mint.

 

i agree but since he and i already have 3.55, might as well get an underdrive unit.

 

Phil, My son's name is Philip by the way. If your towing allot in the hills I have known 3.55's to be lacking. A underdrive is more money than going to 4.10's. Also the under / overdrive is only the rear wheels. I you have a real need for 4.10's change your gearing. If not use low range for those times you need it with the 3.55's. The hubs not need to be locked. Makes allot more sense to use what you already have rather than make an expensive gearing change or installing a under / overdrive unit.

 

yea, cheeper to go with the 410s.

i'd do 373's personally.

 

3.73's are a good all around choice. Didn't have a choice in the 05. But they have served me well. Good thought William. I like the 4.10's in the 97 though.

 

Thanks for the input guys. I am leaning towards a set of 3.73's. 4W low gets me out of the job site alot, but I need so help on road and in the mountains to the west of here. The 3.55'a are getting the job done-just a pain and hard on the engine and tranny. anyone know of a write up or ford's tech manual for gear changes? I think I am going to give em a try myself-start on the front so if I need help I can at least drive somewhere in 2wd.

 

well, you can't really drive to far in 2wd, stuff might brake if you dont put it back together first. haha.


The nice thing about it is, you'll get a new pinion to do it.
So, get your bearings and take them to somebody who has a press and have them pressed on for you. That is the hard work right there.

You will need shim kits, and a gauge or 2 to set the backlash as well. This is the hard part. not everyone has a gauge that can be used to do that. I can't think of what they are called at the moment. once you get the carrier out you can put the new ring gear on easily with a torque wrench.

Let me see if i can find the 8.8 rebuild, its the same concepts.

Ford 10.25 & 10.50-Inch Axle Tips - Four Wheeler Magazine
Wow, here is some good info.
Somebody was talking about the pinions being different the other day, he has pictures of it.

CarTech, Inc.: Browsing Ford 8.8 Inch Differential Gear Swap

This looks like the sight i used to do mine.
I coudlnt' find any decent 10.25 ones.
You'll have to find out the torque information for setting the drag, and the torque specs for the ring gear.
Which rick or jim should know off the top of their heads. =)

The concepts are the same.
There are some good video's on youtube i would bet too.
From a show called Extreem 4x4 on spike, he rebuilds a toyota carrier, but he goes over how to set the drag and such and check to make sure the shims are right.
Carriers are easier to demonstrate in because the unit pulls out, but the concepts are still the same

and my guini pig is sneezing, it sounds... deathly.

 

well the underdrive unit i found goes in between the tranny and the t-case. the company i was looking at offered units with both under and over drive for two-wheel drive trucks, but becuase of the front drive shaft you had to choose between under and over drive units. couldn't get one with both. i can't just use 4-low with the hubs unlocked... i have atuomatic hubs.

I'd switch to 4.10, but don't want to sacrifice the mpg's or top speed.

 

Dual Range Applications/Price

Read the box below "Ford 4WD Manuals"

 

i'm running 37s with 3.55s...although that is in the process of getting changed. i'm upgrading to 4.10s. you can clear 35s with a 4" lift easy...my bumper is shimmed a good 2" but the 37s clear even hard over.