i am getting ready to soon change my gears. i know i have 8.8 rear and i find lots of different brands for it (is ford racing going to be the least amount of measuring backlash etc). but what do i need for the front? is the TTB just a dana 44? i am not sure. and do i need an install kit? i have the worst raito ever with 3.08 and i have 33" tires and want 4.10s. i have read that a basic limited slips are weak and the clutches wear out. anyone recommend a good locker. i dont want to spend that much money on one, but it would be cheaper than having to replace something cheap i suppose. cant wait to get these crappy things changed out, i get like 12mpg and i used to get nearly 18mpg before my lift and tires, so i hope to get at least 15-17 with the gear swap, not to mention getting all my power back.

thanks for the help

 

i cant find what i need for the front axle, does it take the same gears as the rear?

 

Be ready to pull out the Dana 44, because I'm told the 4:10 pack won't fit. I replaced mine with a Dana 60. As for L/S, I have been happier than a tick on a dead dog since I had mine put in. I been wheelin every chance I get, and I've easily chewed up some pretty technical trails It's also much more fun on road. I considered a locker too, but I'm glad I saved the $$. If the L/S pack lasts a couple of years, I'd gladly swap it out, and thank it for it's service.

 

really?? that doesnt sound fun.

 

Oh, the truck is fun. Paying to replace parts... a little less fun, but I consider it trail tax, just like traffic tickets are road tax. I suppose I have a twisted outlook on these things.

 

More like a realistic attitude.
If you don't have the interest and/or ability to maintain it, leave it stock.
Besides, replacing the worn clutch pack is a minor job

 

what has to be done to put 4.10s in the front? 3.73s easier?

 

i found out my question.. have to change the carrier for the front when going 3.90 and higher, i think it was.

next question i didnt find was where can i get the carrier? will any gear selling vendor have it? like ford racing, i saw those where the best to go with because they use all the factory tollerances?

 

Are you planning on doing this yourself or having it done? Diff work isn't particularly difficult but there is zero room for error. Get it wrong and you've got an expensive pile of scrap.

 

possibly me and my brother, my bro is a mechanic, but hasnt done much with diffs. so i am kind of leaning twards taking it somewhere... which sounds like it will cost a lot to have this all done.

if i am paying to have this all done, would it be worth it to just go with 3.73s to save the hassle of changing the carriers. its not exactly what i want, but if it means several hundred dollar difference than i would settle for it. all said and done i would not like to spend more than 1000 on this whole project. is that number even possible? to get 4.10s and a limited slip in the rear with out doing it myself?

thanks for the replys

 

You need a new carrier in the rear for the limited slip. If you wanted a locker there are drop-in units that fit your open carrier. You still have to tear everything apart to change the gears and you still have to know how to set up the R&P. In the front, you only need to change carriers if you go to a 4.10. The D44 (front) diff is a very different design from the 8.8 (rear.)

$1000 probably won't quite cover it. Figure $200 or thereabouts for each gearset, $250 for the LS carrier, $100 per axle in installation parts, maybe $200 for the new front carrier and yiu're at $850 without the labor

 

Hope you're sittin down, bro.

I shopped 2 reputable 4x4 shops in our area, and the lower of the 2 estimates got the work. Final tab was just over $1900 . This included new housing for front, new 4:10 ring and pinion sets for both, Eaton L/S pack for rear, 1 new axle bearing, and other misc parts. Labor up front was twice the labor for the rear. It took a week to get it back, too. I blew the original 3:73 rear, so for me, it was either waste money on the original that I was planning on upgrading anyway, or get it done in one painful shot.

 

I am speaking from experience when I say this - if you plan on running 35" tires or larger DO NOT get the limited slip. I chewed up 1 eaton ls, 1 auburn ls and numerous spider gears. I have had no problems with my detroit lockers. As for the gears the front is a Dana 44 and it will need a modification for the 4.10s - Randy's Ring and Pinion is where I ordered my parts from and they are extremely helpful and knowledgeable. Be ready - because it is expensive, but well worth it.

 

sounds like i need to call around and check prices... from what you guys are saying it will be twice as much as i would like to pay.

for another option, 3.90s are the biggest i can go with out changing the front carrier? would it be worth it to get those rather than 4.10? it would save some work in the front. essentially i would be looking at the same for the rear, getting a new carrier and a limited slip.

would this cut down on the price enough to make it worth it and would i still see enough performance gain.

thanks for the input

 

The change in price would be minor. you'd save the price f the front carrier only. all other parts would be required and the labor would be the same. Not much point to it. Besides 3.90 rear gears for an 8.8 are extremely hard to find; most sources skip from 3.73 to 4.10