hey everyone... i have a 2000 f150 4x4 with a 3.55 rearend gear ratio. my pinion bearings are shot and instead of replacing them for the third time i have decided to just replace the entire rearend (housing). i have found a rearend out of a 97 f150 4x4 with the same ratio in it for $200 which seems to be in perfect condition. my question is where my truck is a 2000 it has 14mm wheel studs in the axles and the 97 has 12mm studs, can i swap out my axles with this rearend?

* Also will a rearend out of a 2wd pickup (not limited slip like is in mine now) with the same gear ratio work in my truck also?

 

I think that's a bad idea! The 97 will have drum brakes and yours has disks! Also it's a smaller diff. It will be a 8.8 and yours is a 9 1/4 if I remember correctly. Just rebuild yours and do it right and it will last along time !

 

The 5.4 trucks had the 9.75" rear end, where the 4.6 engine trucks got the 8.8 rear.

Build the 9.75 rear CORRECTLY and you won't touch it again, if your on the 3rd set of pinion bearings then you are doing something wrong. My truck had 190k on it when I rebuilt my 9.75 rear and it wasn't shot then, it was just starting to leak and I wanted to upgrade to 4.10's. Pinion bearing preload it critical on these, use quality bearings and make sure you know what your doing and you won't have any issues.

 

9.75!! That's what it is! Lol I have a f250 LD so I have the 10.25. So I'm not to familiar with the 9.75.

 

Actually by installing a rearend from a 97 will not solve you pinion bearing issue, itwill actually be a down grade.

 

my truck has the 4.6 L engine with the 8.8 rearend, i checked the vin on the 97 at the ford dealer and it says it is the same. the reason why the pinion keep wearing is because the local garage i brought it to was putting the pinion nut on with a impact gun to crush the sleeve. also my 2000 has drum brakes as well as the 97.