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I have been looking around for gears for my 8.8" rear axle. I noticed the notched crosspin for 4.56 + gears, but I know for the Dana 44 I have up front I have to replace the carrier around 3.92 and up. Does this hold true for the 8.8 or do I just need the crosspin. This would be great help.

onewontwo wrote:I have been looking around for gears for my 8.8" rear axle. I noticed the notched crosspin for 4.56 + gears, but I know for the Dana 44 I have up front I have to replace the carrier around 3.92 and up. Does this hold true for the 8.8 or do I just need the crosspin. This would be great help.

if you go 4.56 in a 8.8 yes you need a new carrier OR you can buy a set of "thick cut" gears. with thick cut you don't have to change carrier. usually with the higher price of thick gears, its just as cheap to buy a new carrier for about $65. you have to reset up all the gears either way so its up to you

Thanks. That helps out alot. For a re-gear do I absolutely need an install kit? This vehicle is off-road only.

onewontwo wrote:Thanks. That helps out alot. For a re-gear do I absolutely need an install kit? This vehicle is off-road only.

if you find a 4 series carrier with bearings already on it then you can get by FOR TRAIL USE ONLY. the key to redoing gears is to look at the top of the pinion gear it will have a marking for the shim depth even from the factory something like +4 which means add .004" shims by the bearing so if the old gear has a +1 and new one has +5 you have to subtract shims. if you are going with thick gears then the carrier shims and bearings are fine but you will need a mini install kit for the pinion gear. wither way i wouldn't do over 30 mph with the set up. it will cause allot of damage. this includes towing

Thanks. I'm just going to save up, do it right and do it once.

By the way, I updated the pics in my member ride thread. I think it's turning out pretty good.

I've been looking every chance I had today for "thick" 8.8 ring and pinions. I cannot find them no matter where I look. I find them for the D44 easily all the way through 5.13 which would be nice to have. I'm on 33's right now, but sometime in the future I plan to upgrade to 35,36, or 37.

Can someone point in the direction of these ring and pinions for my 8.8?

check out randys ring and pinion at www.ringpinion.com

vabronconut wrote:check out randys ring and pinion at http://www.ringpinion.com

Well I checked it out. I searched through the gears. Checked out the differential cases and lockers. I didn't find anything regarding different center section or thick gears for higher and lower ratios. This is leading be to believe I don't need to change it out. Unless I'm missing something all I'll need is the notched cross-pin. Possibly I may have to ream the holes? I'm not exactly sure.

However, lowering my gear ratio would put added stress on my drive/axleshaft correct?

I only have stock driveshafts right now and fear gearing down that far would possibly destroy them.

Thanks again vabronconut, you have been nothing but help.

after doing allot of research on this about the carrier i found-

there is no gear break for the 8.8 so you will not need a new carrier. That being said, the 8.8 carrier is a inherent weak point for the 8.8 so you might as well do it once and go full locker if you get it

this is a first for me to see a axle not having to change carriers but that is good news for you ! ford is so hard to deal with, they change things so much and there is very little following that gives info. but thanks for asking about this, i learned allot about the 8.8 trying to answer your question

the stress on your drive shaft will go up some, and you can buy better u-joints for it. even autozone carries "brute force" u joints, but autozone calls them "gold" when you look on their website.

changing gears and tires together relieves allot of stress on the d shaft though. to low of gears with too small of tires will snap shafts, and oposite too high of gears with too big of tires will do it also. 33's-36" with 4.10's is a good combo. 3.55's with 36" will give you drive line problems unless your transmission has a very low first gear. this stuff has allot of factors and variables, so take your time and continue doing the research. www.4wheelparts.com has a good calculator on tire size versus gear ratio that gives you a idea of how hard your engine will work to move your truck.

your welcome for the help, i like trying to help, i learn allot from it

Thanks for all the help. I learned a lot about my rear axle.