Hey guys, 1st time posting in a long time. Ford just diagnosed (sp) my rear differential as going bad. The parts list they gave me that they would have to order is 19 items for $971.49 (i'm assuming everything that goes into the housing of the rear diff since they said they didn't need to take the whole rear diff off of my truck) but when i look online for a rear diff kits, most kits don't match up to being 19 items. This is totally out of my league here and i'm really confused. Is Ford ordering extra items just in case or am i not finding the right parts kit online. Does anyone know where to find a rear diff kit online for cheaper than what Ford is quoting me? I have a 2005 2wd truck. Does 2wd and 4wd make a differents? also, one more question, where can i find my gear ratio? I looked on the drivers door jam where you find the tire pressure but didn't see anything, is there anywhere else i can look.

Sorry for the long post and the couple of questions but really need some help here. Thanks.

Joe

 

Always get a second opinion...there's an Axle code on your door jamb sticker...post your code and we can tell you want gears you have....I would find a good shop that does this for a living and get a price from them first, But they will never really know what they need till they get in there and pull it apart.

 

if i found it right, where it said "axle" below it is "H9" above it "RC:21" so take your pick lol. Sorry if these are wrong.

 

The decoder page I found says that H9 is a 3.55 LS.

 

Yep...

 

How can i tell if my rear diff is 8.8" or 9.75"? Is it on that door sticker?
Thanks
Joe

 

Silly question but what are the actual parts in the rear differential? I'm looking through all these websites and i can't tell if i'm looking at the right stuff.

 

What you may want to try if your that confused. Go to a couple different websites that you trust and send them an email or even call them. Tell them what you're looking for and have them tell you what you need. Then compare what they send or tell you to that of what the original shop told you. Chances are just about anywhere is going to be a heck of a lot cheaper than what a Ford shop quoted you. My latest experience with this(and surely isn't my first rodeo but I always get a chuckle out of what the estimates they give me) was with rear U joints. Went to have my oil changed and lo and behold they said that I was in dire need of just one of the rear U joints, just so happened they had an estimate for that U joint replacement handy at a mere 300.00 bucks. Took it elsewhere to someone I know and they did both rear U joints for 130 bucks and to top it off, the guy told me that I had quite a bit of life left in the originals U joints. Hmmm, imagine that.

 

Have you considered a junkyard axle? Prices very a lot from one yard to the next but you could probably get the axle for a lot less than the cost of parts to rebuild yours if it does in fact need all those parts. Plus if you dont have the knowledge/ tools to swap the axle the labor to have someone swap the axle would be cheaper than paying some one to rebuild your axle. Swapping an axle is quicker and easier than setting up gears.

 

First, for what reason did you take it to Ford? Making noise, truck jumping around, what?

Second, most rear axle problems can be more or less diagnosed by common sense before submitting to a "scalper".

imp