i've got an '04 f-150 5.4 scab with 35's. i lost ALOT of power when i put these tires on. should i re-gear or just suck it up and live with it? will gearing help gas mileage? what gears should i go with? i've been reading the other threads about it but it's all kinda confusing, please give me some advice.

 

IMO yes you should regear, you will regain lost MPG, your tranny will last longer due to the fact it wont have to work as hard to get you moving.
for 35" i recomend 4.56 if you plan to put larger than 35" in the futer i say get 4.88. presision makes the best quality gears IMO, but the cheap ones work to, i have genuin gears for three years now with no problems.
good luck

 

I second the opinion above. I can't say for sure about gas mileage but your truck will come alive with 4.56 gears. Don't wimp out and go w/4.10's as others may advise. The 4.56 swap is not as drastic as others wil tell you; it is *perfect* for this size tire.

 

4;56 is the way to go

 

thanks guys, also can you do it yourself? where would you order gears from?

 

*I* wouldn't try to do it alone as I care too much for my truck. I'm in a position to be able to pay others to do stuff at this level. Others may tell you otherwise. I know some have written they've done it themselves, having only ever done it once in their life. I figure you need to do something a time or two before you get good at it. We'll see in time if the first timers have any gears left to talk about in a year or two... installing a grille or catback is one thing. Gears are entirely different in my book.

I bought mine from Randy's Ring and Pinion but had to wait six months until they had both the fronts and rears in stock at the same time.

 

dude,
don't. take it to someone. i didn't tear anything up, I just opted out. after trying to get it right for a week, I'm hanging the head and taking it to the shop monday.

 

ok, so i understand that it is difficult to do but, i absolutly cannot afford it. i am very mechanicly inclined having worked in a body shop the past 5 years and changing a few motors and axles and assorted things. is it that difficult?

 

buy a chilton and try it? ive changed out my pumkin on my old 86 f150 but dont know the difficulty of changing the ring gear? or if you need to save money take out the pumkin and take it to a machine shop im sure something needs pressed in any way?

 

Did it in a Ranger.....you should have it pressed. If not, you'll have to tear it down in a few days/weeks to do it right. It took way longer than I thought. Access to the right tools helps. But if you do tear it down, you might save some labor off the top. Just have a shop finish the hard parts. Good luck!

 

when you say take the axles out do you mean the actual axles and just take the gears to someone or take the differentials off of the truck and take them? i'm just an idiot about this kind of thing... sorry for asking so many questions...

 

yes you will have to take the axel shafts out of the axel to get the pumkin out and you will have to have new axel shaft seals pressed on the axels

 

x2