ring and pinion?
Hotshot
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,958
Likes: 228
hey texas guy 001 and conanski thanks for the great feed back. it has really opened my eyes and my mind as too what gears can be used to still get the best of both fuel and economy. now i am seriously considering the 3.55 or the 3.73. hey texas guy 001 the tire size i am currently running are 245 60 15 front and 275 60 15 rear bfg's. just got the tires about 10 months ago. by the way texas guy 001 and conanski with the tires i have what gears do you both think would be good to run with these tires............thanks again for the great feed back..............
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 336
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From: on the garage floor. lol!
hi texas guy 001..............i do not plan to change tire size at all. i will be staying with these. cost me about $400 dollars if i remember correctly. i will be running out to buy those 3.55 gears. probably from summit on line. any name brand in particular for the gears. motive, richmond, superior? i was on line today at summit and read that there was light weight ring and pinion for weight reduction. it was a little on the pricer side. what do you think? is it worth it to go for the light weight gears? what are you running. i think i will also buy new bearings and seals also............thanks for the helping me out on this and for the great feed back................
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,021
Likes: 5
From: Almost Heaven
I don't know anything about lighter weight ring and pinions but both me and my dad have Richmond gears. When my dad got his Ring he noticed it wasn't in perfect conidition. Everything works fine though
Hotshot
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,958
Likes: 228
I would definitely buy new bearing and seals etc. If your truck is not currently a limited slip (LS) I would consider upgrading to that.
I forgot to mention, is this truck your daily driver or a weekend warrior?
I doubt the lighter weight gears are worth it. I have never used them. I usually use original Ford gears that are used. I don't have much experience with aftermarket brand gears. I do know that Richmond is good. You could try looking for a used 3.55-3.73 traction lock that comes with the gears on Ebay. Your truck should have 31 spline axles.
If you get used gears, it is ok if there is some light wear on them. You just don't want chipped or cracked or excessively worn gears.
I forgot to mention, is this truck your daily driver or a weekend warrior?
I doubt the lighter weight gears are worth it. I have never used them. I usually use original Ford gears that are used. I don't have much experience with aftermarket brand gears. I do know that Richmond is good. You could try looking for a used 3.55-3.73 traction lock that comes with the gears on Ebay. Your truck should have 31 spline axles.
If you get used gears, it is ok if there is some light wear on them. You just don't want chipped or cracked or excessively worn gears.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 4
From: Sussex County, DE
Just to further confirm that the frames are indeed different on F-250 HD and up, just take a micrometer or a vernier caliper to the junkyard to measure the thickness (gauge) of the metal, and you will see, the F-150/F-250LD frames are made of a thinner gauge metal than the F-250HD/F-350 frames. Even if everything else is the same, the gauge of the metal is different. The best you can hope to do with an F-150 is to upgrade it to F-250 LD status, even if you install F-350 axles and brakes.
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 336
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From: on the garage floor. lol!
hey texas guy 001.......the truck is a daily driver and i will be looking on ebay for the parts. would a posi unit be better than a limited slip. are there rebuild kits for the LS. how did you do your gears. i was thinking of using an air hammer with a blunt point to get the pinion in and out of the rear end while it was still on the truck and hope it goes in straight and not angled. are the factory diff units just as good as the aftermarket ones. i will be taking the truck to the track once i regain my lost hours at work and do a rebuild with a slightly bigger cam and different heads............thanks for the feed back and help on this...........
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,021
Likes: 5
From: Almost Heaven
If you have a 2wd prerunner, lock it. If you have a daily driver, just buy a good limited slip that you can rebuild.
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: on the garage floor. lol!
hi 6cyl bill........thanks for the response. my plans for the truck is for it to be a daily driver. its my only source of transportation to work and else where. would like to take it to the track someday after a rebuild just to see what it would do. i will be looking into getting a good limited slip...................thanks again for the feed back.............
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 336
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From: on the garage floor. lol!
hey texas guy 001..............thanks for the feed back. i will be looking for a LS unit just one question how did you do your install for the gears. how did you get the pinion in and out. did you have help from family and friends or was it done at a shop.it looks like taking the rear end off would be a big task. just looking at it i know its heavy and bulky.are there special tools for the DIYer"s..............thanks again for the feed back..........
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 769
Likes: 3
so if i were to get this
Ford Racing M-4204-F318 - Ford Racing Traction-Lok Differentials - Overview - SummitRacing.com
and a set of 3.73 gears would that be a good setup?
Ford Racing M-4204-F318 - Ford Racing Traction-Lok Differentials - Overview - SummitRacing.com
and a set of 3.73 gears would that be a good setup?
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
Likes: 38
From: Bonita Springs FL
That would be a good setup, but it won't change your truck's ability to tow the kind of weight you were thinking about.
If you're going to put new gears and a new carrier in, make sure you get an install kit and new bearings. And if you are thinking about installing everything yourself make sure you know what you are doing. You can't just bolt everything up and go. I would recommend taking it to a shop to have the work done if you aren't familiar with setting differentials up.
If you're going to put new gears and a new carrier in, make sure you get an install kit and new bearings. And if you are thinking about installing everything yourself make sure you know what you are doing. You can't just bolt everything up and go. I would recommend taking it to a shop to have the work done if you aren't familiar with setting differentials up.