Rebuilding my rear differential on my 2003 F250 6.0L. I've been shopping for a gear set, but there is very little info on manufacturer's or retailer's websites and product pages. Assuming they're all made in China these days, but surely some are better than others. The only spec I've seen for materials is 8620 steel, but most don't even say. Nitro claims their gears are made "in the same manufacturing facilities as GM, Dodge, Ford & Toyota. They are precision machined using computer controlled processes, heat treated, CNC triple-lapped and Rockwell tested for hardness."

I always thought I'd go with Yukon when the time came, but I read some really bad reviews on Amazon - previously installed parts being delivered, gears with chipped teeth replaced with more gears with chipped teeth, howling and vibrations after professional installations. Maybe it's just an Amazon thing, but I've already been burned buying a Yukon rebuild kit on amazon, that had Timken bearings and races made in India that turned out to be subpar after 3700 miles. Of course it was half price compared to all other suppliers.

Anyway - What aftermarket gear sets are you running, or did you just go back in with Ford?

 

i used yukon when i swapped gears. i had no issues with the anything from them and have had no issues since install and i like to hammer on my truck.

 

I just had my differential rebuilt at the shop and they used Yukon ring and pinion gears. They gave me a 6 month unlimited mileage warranty so we will see what happens. Just a few hundred miles on them now. So far so good no problems.

 

Are the Yukon's as quiet as the stockers? How much trouble was the set-up?

 

i dont hear the gears but my truck has aftermarket exhaust

 

Spoke with Matt at East Coast Gear Supply this morning. Sounded like a very knowledgeable guy. Here's a few highlights:

* Ford gear sets are made by Sterling. If I could get them, that would be by far the best choice for my use.
* Spicer doesn't make gear sets for anything other than Dana differentials. The Dana SVL, which rockauto sells for the 10.5, is a lower quality product that they would never use.
* Timken bearings are still considered top of the line, and its all they use.
* Almost no chance the trutrac got burned up due to lack of break-in procedure (truck was stolen the first day after the rear end rebuild)

 

I have yukon, I had my gears swapped by a hotrod and shop a buddy works at, have about 40k on them now and they have been fine, cant tell a difference in noise.