Some questions about what axle gears to use...
 

I have decided that I am going to get my gears done and i will do them with my uncle...so i just need to buy the supplies. But the only problem is that i dont know what to buy...starting out with what axle i have? how do i find that out? and what gears do i buy? i want 4.88s but are the back gears different from the front gears? and what install kits do i need? is there like a whole set up somewhere that i can get the gears? thanks for any info and help.

You have a 97 ? Thats when Ford began using the 9.75" rear end. What engine do you have ?

You can check, by getting under the truck, and counting the amount of bolts holding the diff cover onto the truck. 10 bolt - 8.8" rear end and a 12 bolt = 9.75" rear.

The front is a 8.8" IFS front end.

You will need a MASTER install kit. For BOTH front and rear.

Stay away from Genuine gears, Yukon are real good quality.

front gears will also be 4.88 but for the 8.8" IFS front end.

PLaces to get gears:

http://www.ringpinion.com/Default.aspx

or

http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/

The last guys offer a hotline and lots of help if your doing your own install.

on tts theres a gear guy on there that does direct pricing and cheap cheap cheap installation fees. pm him his sn is gearman.

i sent him a PM on friday night and he hasnt got back to me yet. I guess the weekend could have been busy for him or something. :lol: i will wait a little longer and see if he responds.

he comes on every now and then, somebody might have his number or he might have it posted somewhere, try again i guess

haha he actually just sent one to me (well at noon today) but i didnt check before i posted on here :) oops.

well you said that your rear axle was from a 96? it should be a 8.8 or 9" but i really dont know.

take a picture of the rear axle and ill take a look

already covered this ! :thumbsup:

count the bolts, it tells ya. But I think he has a 97. I don't think he wants our help anyways ! :(

no i helped him in another thread and he said the previous owners had to replace the axle and they used one from a 96 F150.

i did count it and it has 10...so that means that i have the 8.8 right? and i am always open to help. :o

and you are correct. it is a 96 axle. but it has the 10 bolts...so does that still mean that it has the 8.8 even though it is a 96?

Thanks for your help guys.

sorry i didnt put the axle year in the original post...i guess that is probably important huh? :lol:

yep you should still have a 8.8"

That might have helped alittle... :D

yea i was typing it fast and fogot the small details. haha

thanks for yalls help and hopefully i will get this done this weekend.

ok...here is what i have found that looks like what i am going to get

http://www.ringpinion.com/ProductDet...px?ProdID=1949

now i noticed that it says "A notched cross pin shaft is required for this gear set."

what does that mean?

also is this the gears for the front and back being that they are both 8.8?

well i just scrolled down a little more and i found this

http://www.ringpinion.com/ProductDet...px?ProdID=1952

it says " Ford 8.8" Reverse Rotation in a 4.88 ratio"

do i use this in the front? or what does reverse rotation mean?

Thanks for yall help.