Well, here's the story guys. I took the truck last Friday to several shops consulting them on how my truck was driving sideways due to my rear axle being crooked. Originally thinking it was a leaf spring connector out of place or sheared i went in search of advice. Instead i found confusion. Several places told me that something was obviously wrong but they couldn't pinpoint what. The leaf spring connector pin was fine and the leaf springs (appeared) to be in the right shape (no axlewrap). I was recommended stop by Pyle Brothers, a local (but famous from the local Houston Raceway Park) rear-end and differential shop. This morning they got it up on the hydraulic lift and gave me the worst answer i could here..."axle and differential are shot." Those were the worst words i could hear. The estimated price tag on fixing the differntial and replacing axle is somewhere around $1000. I was also told that my leaf spring are getting bad (after 60,000 miles????), so i will be replacing those too. At first i guess it sounds like they are trying to sham me, but i know several of the guys in the shop and they know me and i think they are telling the truth. The only thing i can think that would have caused this is my wreck last april. Pyle Brothers said this is not a familiar sight in trucks...mostly just high horsepower cars. I guess what makes me the maddest is that the whole thing seemed to go crazy on its own, and i don't know why i am dropping $1500 into something that shouldn't have broken. Well, i guess i'm just venting now...i'll let ya know how it turns out. Thanks guys for yall's help anywayz.

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-Brandon Warford
97 F150 4x4 Sport Brt. Red SuperCab
4.6l Triton V8
3.55LS
3" Performance Acc. Body Lift & lift lips
1-1.5" torsion bar adjust. so it sits level
Clear Corner Lenses
315/75R16 Yoko. Geolander MTs
American Racing Atlas 16x10
Pioneer 8000 3D series
Boston Acoustic 5x7s
Sony Xplode 4ch Amp
(2) 8" RF XLC Subs
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--(2) Stage 3 Flows (Exits like the Lightning)
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FUTURE MODS:
4.56 gears
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Killintime4fun@aol.com
"THROUGH the river and OVER the woods to grandmother's house we go."

"...the road curves to the right and there are a lot of signs that say you cannot turn left...TURN LEFT."

 

is it a Ford 8.8 or 9.75 rear end? is the rear axle tube bent? if this happened to me i would just drive until it dies unless there is a major problem when driven like bearings are about to go or the truck pulls to the sides.
good luck.

 

I got a killer Traction-Lok rebuild kit from them (Pyle). It had a alternate clucth/disc setup and the clutch material was much thicker. Plus it had the stronger S-spring from the trucks (it went into the 8.8 in the Mustang). No lack of grip in that axle anymore. At least til the cluches wear out

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2000 F150 XLT 4x4 Short Bed. Amazon Green, 5.4L, SuperCab, ORP, Tow Package, Sliding Rear Window, Electronic Shift, Keyless Entry, LT265-70-17 Tires, Clarion Pro Audio, Herculiner Bedliner, Air Silencer Removed.

1994 SVT Mustang Cobra. #1032 of 6009. Black coupe with black leather int., 3.73 rear, Bassani Exhaust, Aluminum D/S, Bridgestone RE-71 255-45-ZR17

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2000: do you remember how much it costed to get them to beef up your Trac-Lok? I've considered doing that to compensate for tire size increase and since they'll be tearing the axle down anyway i might get them to look at that.

Chris: it is the 8.8...what has happened is the axles on each side of the differential have been twisted opposite ways(the right is twisted forward and the left side backwards)...the makes sense, since my accident forced my axle to turn that way...they cant just rebend it back without breaking more expensive stuff, so i have to get my differential rebuilt and new axles put on each side...$1500 (with new leaf springs). Jeeze... - I guess no gears for me for a long while...

 

if its the axle shaft and not the axle housing tubes then replaceing the axles shafts arent suppose to be that expensive. u can get a set of aftermarket 8.8 axles for $200 and since the diff is all guted out add in a locker, also a good idea to get a master kit (bearing and seals) these shouldnt cost more then a $1000 installed

 

BigBadRed,

Since they're already going to be tearing the diff down and rebuilding it, if you have the extra $$ for the gear set NOW might be the time to have the new gears installed! Might be less expensive than doing it later, you know? I know $1500 is big cash... I feel for you, brother!

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-JonC-
*Silver 2000 4x2 F150 Supercab
*4.6L Triton V8
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*Smittybilt nerf bars
*Extang Black Max soft tonneau
*Stull billet grille
*Clear corners


[This message has been edited by JonC (edited 03-07-2001).]

 

well you are right JonC, that was my thinking too...they said that they'd knock about $150 off for the less labor on the rear, but he commented that the front is the most labor intesive part of the gear swap and that if i could full THAT out than he could knock some 200 or more off...basically if i take the differentials out myself than ic an save about $300-350, but that still puts a gear change at a heafty $1000 which i can't afford right now (since $1500 is goin into the axle)...man... ...I was looking forward to gears too...

 

Ouch! I hear you... Forgot your's is a 4x4. I've started squirelling $$ away for gears this summer myself, thinking 4.10's. Cost estimates I've got go from about $500 - $900 complete. I think that's about right... anybody care to offer an opinion?

Thanks!

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-JonC-
*Silver 2000 4x2 F150 Supercab
*4.6L Triton V8
*315/75/16 Pathfinder ATR's
*16 x 8 Panther Custom 108's
*K&N GenII FIPK
*Custom Cat-back w/ Flowmaster 50 Series
*Fabtech 6.5" "Ultimate" suspension lift
*Smittybilt nerf bars
*Extang Black Max soft tonneau
*Stull billet grille
*Clear corners

 

Just an idea - have you considered getting a complete used axle (and springs) from a 99-01 5.4L truck??

You would be upgrading to a 9.75" rear end with disk brakes and a more durable factory trac-loc. On the downside, you have to find a good shop that can set up the disk brakes to work with your current truck and you might have to modify your driveshaft flange. Otherwise it seems like a no-brainer to me!

Good luck.

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Howie's Effie
Amazon Green 2000 F150 XLT 5.4L 4x4 ORP Supercab Flareside
Captains Chairs, Electronic Shift, Rear Slider, Keyless Entry, Cab Steps, 3.55 L/S
Mods: Superchip, FIPK, Flowmaster Force II, Scorpion Spray in Liner, fogs + hibeams (thanks FedExPilot)

Wife's New Ride: 2001 Mustang GT Convertible!
True Blue with Tan Top and Tan Leather.

 

There are a few problems that might creep up. First, there might be a difference in gear ratios. i think most of the 9.75" axels, if not all of them, come with 3.73 gears, while your front diff. has 3.55, right? That's a problem when your in 4wd. But, if you get a gear change, to say 4.10, in both diffs, this won't be a problem. Second, when you are offroading, you need every bit of ground clearance you can get, the 9.75" rearend will loose about .5" clearance. i know, this isn't a whole lot, but sometimes that's all it takes when you are stuck on something to rip out the rear end. Just some things to consider.

Other than that, it's an awesome idea. I was thinging about this myself, just never got around to going to any junkyards. I have a 2wd though, so there won't be that annoying gear issue.

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2000 Silver F-150 XL Sport
Reg. Cab, Reg. Bed, 4.2L V6, 5-speed, 4x2

mods:
Tailgate lock, Generic bedliner
285/75r16 BFG AT ko (33.1x11.4)
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Crimeguard alarm, Power locks
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Never let your schooling interfere with your education --Mark Twain

[This message has been edited by r0land (edited 03-07-2001).]

 

Accidents can do that type of damage. I was broadsided in my RX7 Turbo right square on the passenger door. Pushed the door all the way in to the passenger seat. I thought that all damage was to the body. Turns our both rear half-shafts were bent and also the drive shaft. Didn't find this out until all the body work was done and I got the car back. I noticed a slight vibration and a whining from the differential (hardly noticeable accept to me). Insurance company and I were shocked to find out they would have to replace both half-shafts, the drive shaft and the entire differential - very expensive on an RX7 Turbo. Insurance company would have written car off if they had originally known this. Instead, It cost them over $12,000 dollars to fix it. I learned that whenever you have a fairly violent accident, check everything. Try going back to the insurance company and see if they will pay for later discovered damage. A good shop may be able to tell if the accident started the failure.

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2000 F150 XLT SuperCab, Short Bed, 4X4, ORP, 5.4L, Auto Trans, 3.55LS, Captains Chairs with power drivers seat, rear slider, class III towing package, remote entry with alarm and just about everything you can get on this truck. Added a Ford bug deflecter, floor mats, a Dynamax Race magnum muffler and 3" mandrel bent pipes, Superchip, K&N FIPK Gen II, Bilstein shocks, Redline Synthetic oil, Kenwood stereo system and an MTX Thunder 204 4 channel amp.

[This message has been edited by Ron Kaltenbach (edited 03-07-2001).]

 

The 9.75 axle in the Expedition comes with 3.31 (or something equally stupid), 3.55 or 3.73 and 5 bolt pattern for the wheels. You can also get 4.1 or 4.56 in the aftermarket.

The same axle on the F250LD has a different bolt pattern (6 bolts, I think) which may be a problem for you.

There was another thread saying that the Auburn LS is now available for the 9.75 as well.

Ian



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99 Expedition EB
5.4l, 4x4, 4.10'S
WMS Tube, Bassani Cat Back Exhaust.
Superchip Flipchip on Order

 

Well, i asked Pyle Brothers about doing the swap to 9.75 and they said they could but it would require more $$ (not too much, but some)for somekind of driveshaft mod. I called insurance and they said they will only cover what WAS there, if i can get them to cover it. We are going to press that though, because Pyle Brothers cannot explain why what happened to my baby could've happened...not in a "fairly stock" truck...so we are going to try and blame it on the wreck and therefore if i get the axle swap for free, the i can't get the 9.75. If i end up payin for i may still do the swap though.
-Brandon

 

That is an idea...i might ask them about replacing the 8.8 with the 9.75...is there any disadvantages to that axle...and more importantly if i change the back, do i have to change the front...? I will ask them about this though...takin it in tomorrow for work...thanks Howies...

 

WALL OF TEXT!!!!! did not read but saved for later thanks