View Poll Results: Choose.
Axle
8
53.33%
T-bars/alignment
7
46.67%
Voters: 15. You may not vote on this poll
What would you do?
#1
What would you do?
I've got some money to spend, not a lot but a decent amount. I've also got 2 issues I would like to resolve eventually.
Right now I have two issues, gearing and height. My truck has 3.73's and 33's so it's a turd and gets crappy MPG since I drive on the fast side and don't always try to get optimum economy. It needs an 8.8 with different gearing swapped in, which isn't that expensive and I would do it in my driveway so I wouldn't pay for installation either. The axle I get will most likely have 4.10's in it. If I do this, I'll get better MPG and have less of a turd.
The height issue is the torsion bars, they are sagging. I've seen old pictures of my truck and at one point it was level, now my back is a couple inches higher and my front bump stops are kinda close to my LCA's. Looking at my LCA's you can see I hit my front bump stops somewhat often, but I go over the big swooping speed bumps at school kinda fast so that might be the reason for that lol. I can buy stuff from the local Ford at dealer pricing, I haven't called them for a price quote yet so I don't know the exact amount #1 torsion bars would cost. I also know someone who says he can get me alignments at where he used to work for $50 a pop, I wouldn't be paying normal retail for any of this and it would probably cost around the same or less then the rear end. If I do this, I will regain height in the front and no longer hit front bump stops.
What would you do?
Right now I have two issues, gearing and height. My truck has 3.73's and 33's so it's a turd and gets crappy MPG since I drive on the fast side and don't always try to get optimum economy. It needs an 8.8 with different gearing swapped in, which isn't that expensive and I would do it in my driveway so I wouldn't pay for installation either. The axle I get will most likely have 4.10's in it. If I do this, I'll get better MPG and have less of a turd.
The height issue is the torsion bars, they are sagging. I've seen old pictures of my truck and at one point it was level, now my back is a couple inches higher and my front bump stops are kinda close to my LCA's. Looking at my LCA's you can see I hit my front bump stops somewhat often, but I go over the big swooping speed bumps at school kinda fast so that might be the reason for that lol. I can buy stuff from the local Ford at dealer pricing, I haven't called them for a price quote yet so I don't know the exact amount #1 torsion bars would cost. I also know someone who says he can get me alignments at where he used to work for $50 a pop, I wouldn't be paying normal retail for any of this and it would probably cost around the same or less then the rear end. If I do this, I will regain height in the front and no longer hit front bump stops.
What would you do?
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
Here's your trade off --- Alignment, which means your tires wearing out faster, or axle, which is leading to crap mpg. Which will have the higher vehicle running costs (ie buying new tires versus paying for extra gas). Decide from there.
If you can get the 4.10s cheap, then do that temporarily if that is going to gain you some improvement, but if it's going to be insignificant then save for the 4.56's.
If you dont take care of the front suspension and alignment,you'll be chewing through those big expensive tires and replacing them in no time.
If you can get the 4.10s cheap, then do that temporarily if that is going to gain you some improvement, but if it's going to be insignificant then save for the 4.56's.
If you dont take care of the front suspension and alignment,you'll be chewing through those big expensive tires and replacing them in no time.
#9
I just found out today from looking at my door tag that I have an R7 rear end which means I have a 4.10 LSD. I was sorta surprised to see that.
#10
#14
#15
Yeah, thats also what I'm thinking. I don't think I'll notice too much change, plus if I buy an axle now and install it it will cost more to get 4.56's or 4.88's installed eventually.
#23
Those weren't offered factory.
I found a couple 8.8's with 4.10's for decent prices, a little high but not bad. I found one with 3.73's for $25 too, why couldn't it have had 4.10's in it lol.
The truck was aligned with it sagged, so it will need to be realigned. Truck needs an alignment anyway, they did a crappy job.
The truck was aligned with it sagged, so it will need to be realigned. Truck needs an alignment anyway, they did a crappy job.
#24
I had 3.73 and 33's for a while...it sucked. I know my truck 'woke up' so to speak with 4.10's, and IMO it's the best gear ratio. It was perfect for towing and DD. I was up to 16/17mpg. Now I'm at 14/15 with 35's and 4.88's, I definetly lost some mpg with the higher gearing. I just wish I had 4.56's instead...or 37's to even it out.
If your not paying full price on anything, go do that while you still can. WAit on the axle. Just remember the longer you drive it, the more stress on everything.
If your not paying full price on anything, go do that while you still can. WAit on the axle. Just remember the longer you drive it, the more stress on everything.
#25