ok, i needing the best way to fix my problem.

looks like one of the bolts came out and destroyed all the rest except for 3 that appears to be in good shape..

the abs needs to be replaced, and i have a passenger side axle seal leaking..

all the gears and bearings seemed to be ok, not 100 % sure.

should i get a used rear end housing from the junk yard, or replace the obvious with new parts...

i won't be doing the labor, but i'm going to get the parts together and take it to a mechanic.

it's a 98 f150 4x4 4.6

here's a few pics to see what i'm talking about.
help and advice needed.

tia,
joe

http://www.thesportswire.net/gear_pics.html

 

you need an ABS ring and new ring gear bolts and a big bottle of lock tite. I would replace wheel bearing and seal at axle tube that is leaking. I would also check your diff cover for leaks/holes as flying shrapnel inside a diff has a tendency to poke holes. gears should be fine not the best thing for them but fine none the less.

Everything is fairly cheap, and if the original set up was good, all shop installing has to do is loctite and torque the ring gear back down slide back in, however if installer forgot loctite it probably safe to assume everything else was not real good. Id take it to a shop that knows what they are doing or you will be rebuilding the rear end again soon. where are you located i may be able to recomend a shop for you.

 

i'm located in east tn, and sw va.

i found a complete rear end housing at a junk yard for 650.00

the bolt and abs would be a cheaper route.

i'm still weighing all available options, being self employed i need my truck with little as down time as possible.

i would consider a patch job and use the housing out of a junk yard to rebuild, and install a couple weeks later.

thanks,
joe

 

ive had many run ins with my 8.8 and doing that. heres what happen to me, twice with new 4.88 genuine gear R&P the ring gear bolts backed out even with loctite.
put in a detroit locker n tack welded each bolt head to it. that solved it!
until the day the pinion sheared 2 teeth off and almost had the 3rd one off.

my theory, ring gear = CRAP and caused excess vibration or maybe harmonics and worked the ring gear bolts out. after about 3 incidents of impacts from a bolt getting pinched the pinion was compromised.

 

i picked up a rear end complete from a junk yard...today
it came out of a 99 f150 harley davidon version truck..

mechanic says it's a locker rear end..

i'm going to put new wheel bearings and seals, and wheel cylinders as well.

i wonder if the axle splines are the same as my truck??

thanks,
joe