KevinT

I don't know if anyone has posted this yet because I don't know what to search for but I will try to fill this with many keywords so google will find it for the next person.

A friend sold me his 1998 F150 because the 8.8, 3.55, rear axle went bad. I took the cover off last night and noticed that the carrier broke.

I found a 9.75 / 3.55 axle from a 2002 F150 that does not have a limited slip.

I would like to drive the truck from Leesburg, VA to Frostburg, MD while only using the front wheels to move the truck.

Now here is the question. I assume that I can take the carrier assembly out and put the axles back in because the bearings will hold the axles in place. I am only assuming this. I have not taken it apart yet.

I assume people use the 4wd to pull heavy loads and 1/2 of the pulling pressure is on the back axle and 1/2 is on the front.

So, can I safely remove the rear gears and drive the truck 140 miles through a few mountains without damaging or overheating the transfer case or front axle? The mountains are only about 2,900 feet high and it is all interstate driving.

I also found a limited slip carrier for $100, but after reading a few threads on this site, I might wait and buy a Truetrac before next winter.

Thanks,
Kevin

Keywords: F150, Drive, Broken Carrier, Front wheel drive, Remove rear carrier.

KevinT

I thought of something. Mopar 8 3/4 rear axles have five 9/16 nuts behind the brake shoes that hold the axles in the housing. Ford has C-clips on the ends of the axles. Are the C-Clips on Fords, the only thing that holds the axles in the housing? If so, my idea wont work.

cole_ford

yes the c-clips are the only thing holding the axles in.

cole_ford

I was gonna say, if your only going a few miles it would probably be okay, but 140 **** man, you may want to trailer it.

KevinT

Thanks. I can remove the rear end at my house but I don't have a truck to get the other axle. So, I was going to drive mine it to a friends, and we would go get the replacement and change it. (He has a truck) Thanks!

Kevin

Just call me Sean

iTrader: (1)

I've done this in my old Dodge, but I didn't remove anything from the rear diff and only had to drive about 20 miles. The ride was a bit... crunchy.

mitchalvin

With the c-clip axle you will not have anything holding the axle in the housing without the carrier.

Good old Bill

No cover in place is no oil. No oil is, well you get the picture. Any idea what broke the carrier?

Good old Bill

Just took another look at the PIC, have an idea the pinion bearings are at fault and the pinion move to far back into the carrier and lodged. Have seen the scoring before, no comment, the other swirl marks look like from the end of the pinion, before the fatal lock up.

NGM

If it were mine I would go to a junk yard and get an open diff cheap and throw the gears and carrier in to get you home where you can fix it right. Who cares if the gears sing its a junkyard part. Just my .02 I agree on the pinion bearings being the cause. You will have to install new races to put the pinion in.