So I just got a quote to do a gear swap, at $300 labor per axle, and $300 parts per axle, so $1200. First, I was going to go with 4.56s to go with my 33s, but I got talked down to 4.10s, which I think is a better choice anyways. Except, today, the guyt old me that after he called his gear guy, his gear guy told him that the front diff (reverse cut 8.8?) is too small to run even 4.10s, because the ring gear is too large. I was wondering how many people have swapped gears on their 97-03 F-150, with the 8.8 rear and 8.8 front, and how they got around this problem. The guy who is going to do the work told me he'd call his gear guy and that he would hopefully have a front diff that can hold this ring gear. So had anyone else had to deal with this? How simple is it?

 

HUh???
You can put 4.10's in the 8.8. Many members on this site have 4.88 gears or 4.56's. I would be skeptical of the guy doing the install on your gears!!

 

The pre-97 trucks used a Dana 44 front chunk. On those, they made 3 different carriers, depending on gear ratio. I think that your shop is thinking of that style of axle. If you trust the shop, it was probably an honest mistake. Make sure you let them know that it's just what you said, an 8.8 reverse cut.

 

well, the guy putting them in is a mechanic I know, who has done many gear installs, so i trust him a lot. he has a "gear guy" as he calls it, who buys all his gears and stuff from, and supposedly that guy said you need a new housing, because the ring gear will be too big on anything above 3.73. so i'm going to have to put a call into a gear company and ask them, and maybe get my VIN and search and find out exactly what front axle i have (1999 F-150 4.6l). thanks for the help so far

 

I put 4.10:1 in my front diff. no fitment problems. 2002 -150. the problem I ran into was trying to get the dealer to re-program the PCM to comp. for the gear change. They told me they could only change the ratio to read up to 3.73. Not sure if that is BS, but i was'nt charged for the attempt to reprogram the PCM by the dealer.
But that gave me an excuse to buy a programmer

 

I also had 4.10 gears installed on my 4x4. There is only one housing and carrier made. Any available ratio will fit. I think his parts guy is still thinking you have a Dana 44 front axle. For your year of truck the 8.8 rev is the only front axle option. As was mentioned earlier, several people have made this swap.

 

I work at a dealer, and on some newer models, we are limited to the range of adjustment. The programmer is usually the better solution, more customizeable.
And as for the gear swap: is it just the carrier that needs to be swapped or the whole axle housing? 8.8 housings can hold 4series gears.

 

i was told it was the casing that would need to be replaced. its a 99 f150, with the 3.55. the term he used was "banjo", which is what ive heard before. he said that the ring gear, once over 3.73, would be too large and rub on the inside of the housing. everywhere ive read, that hasnt been a problem.