gear install
6th Gear Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,005
From: Canton, Georgia
Ford Racing Gears all the way!
Make sure that whoever does it "really" knows what they are doing. Anyone can install gears, but setting them up properly is a completely different story. If you try to scrimp now, you might just pay later.
Make sure that whoever does it "really" knows what they are doing. Anyone can install gears, but setting them up properly is a completely different story. If you try to scrimp now, you might just pay later.
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 365
From:
take it from me I just had a nitemare trying to do them with a buddy who used to be a mechanic. it's not doable without the right tools! we got them in and i had a lot of whine and i took it to another shop to get if fixed who made it a little better but I still had whine. finally, i took it to a really good shop and had all new stuff put in and now it sounds stock. That cost me about 1200 all together. Lessons learned on my part. Take my advice here: you ARE going to get a lot of gear whine and then are probably going to have to buy a new set of gears because you're going to put a f*cked up wear pattern in it. $200 bucks is cheap for an install. and dude, pay the extra 20something dollars and get the frpp gears.
4th Gear Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,852
From: East Moline, IL
The guy that did mine has done over 100 Fox and SN95 rear ends. It still took him 2 days to get mine just right so that they didn't whine. Take it to a pro, and better yet, take it to someone that's done a S197 before. Yes, it sucks that it costs more to install than buy the part, but would you rather the gears were $400? It just so happens that gears are cheap, especially considering the gains you get from them.
Don't cheap out on the gears, either. Buy FRPP, not Motive. Motive makes some gears for Ford, so make sure they are made by Ford. Otherwise, that will give you whine as well.
Don't cheap out on the gears, either. Buy FRPP, not Motive. Motive makes some gears for Ford, so make sure they are made by Ford. Otherwise, that will give you whine as well.
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 462
From: Billings, MT
Don't forget the install kit.. shims, bolts, oil, etc.. usually runs about $100-120. Figure on $500-600 for the gears, install, and labor. And I highly recommend you get the Ford Racing gears, I made the mistake of getting the Motive and they are noisy even with a good pro install. I also made the mistake of ignoring the break in period and that is contributing to the noise as well. Figure on driving it at least 200 miles *gently* before getting on it hard.
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 231
From: MI
It requires specialized tools, and experience in order to be done right. The result is very sensitive to the setup of the gears. If it is not done exactly correct, then you could have something as small as gear whine, or as bad as a seized up rear end. I've done engine swaps before, but have not tackled gears, for good reason.
Here are some instructions, these are for a GM 14 bolt (not the same drop out 3rd member like the Ford 8.8"), but should give you a general idea of why you are getting so many warnings.
http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billav...4b_Gear_Setup/
3rd Gear Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 550
From: DE
Pay someone to install. $200 is a good price. Get FRPP!!!
Also, you will need a tuner to reflash your PCM to fix the speedo. Your speedo will be off, and will show a slower speed then what you are driving. Tuner is about $350.
Also, you will need a tuner to reflash your PCM to fix the speedo. Your speedo will be off, and will show a slower speed then what you are driving. Tuner is about $350.
