Rear Axle replacing time!

[GhostRider]

Well the 1989 gets a new rear axle now...

I originally thought about converting to a 01 super-duty Dana 80 but it was gonna be too expensive. I found a nice Sterling 10.25 with 4.10 gear ratio, dunno if it has LSD or not, I'll find out when I get it. At this point it really doesn't matter to me cuz I just need the big rig again. The axle I'm getting has 160K on it and comes out of a 1990 F350 with the 7.3IDI, so I'm guessing it hasn't been overworked at all. I'm getting it for $500.

I'm hoping to simply unbolt the brakes as a unit off of my old axle without having to disconnect any brake lines. I think the brake assy. is held on by 4 bolts. Then I'm gonna run AMSOIL synthetic GL5 in it.

Weather permitting, I'm gonna get the new axle tomorrow. I'm trying to find a second floor jack so I can just use two floor jacks (one under each side) to roll the axles around. That would save having to put the rims on it to move it around.

Can't wait to get it in there! I'll be painting it this week, then hopefully I can swap it over the weekend. Time to wash the undercarriage and start applying PB Blaster!

4.10 gear ratio should be a welcome change from 4.56 gears

[Mancar1]

I hear ya on the welcome change. I am getting ready to go from 4:10 to 3:54 on my 68 CS. I will be waiting to hear how much diff it makes for u going from 4:54 to 4:10.

[averagef250]

$500 for a 1990 Sterling?

Was the whole truck included?

I have a Sterling here from a cab-chassis DRW (those are actually kinda hard to find) that is only mine because it would cost too much to haul it down for scrap. The Sterling's are great axles, better overall than a Dana 80 IMO, but they are a dime a dozen.

Why do you not run 3.54 gears in your '89 DRW 2wd? 4.10's will suck unless you're towing 20K all the time, I can't imagine how bad 4.56's were.

[GhostRider]

$500 for the complete 1990 sterling axle assembly. The truck was not included unfortunately, although I may be getting some other parts off of it. Around here that is cheap as they are hard to come by - these old trucks just don't end up in a junkyard...

Coming from 4.56, I think the 4.10 will be great. I can't afford a gear swap, and whenever I tow it is usually around 18-20K, which is why we got this truck so I definitely need the 4.10s. It'll be a huge improvement.

I got the axle a day after I planned to, so I have been working on getting it rebuilt now. Gosh it's expensive. I'll post up the total when I'm done but it ain't cheap!

I have the axle entirely apart right now, had the carrier hot tanked to clean it, gonna put all new bearings and races in it, all new seals, new brake lines, etc. Right now I am making the housing look pretty. Got the primer on this morning, now I'm waiting for the spray-on bedliner to cure. I put that on because it resists rocks and chipping very well and it's tough so it should last a good long time. Then I'll paint over that.

I've got tons of pics but not enough time to post them up yet so this'll have to do for now

[GhostRider]

Well I've been making progress on the axle. Got the old stabilizer bar links off, the top bolts were a bit of a PITA. They were stretched too - so I got new bolts etc. Same for the shocks.

The old shocks, well, the metal bushing in the top of the shock decided to stay on the mounting bolt. Ugh, any tips for removal? Vice grip did nothing. About ready to take my air hammer to it, but I don't want to mess up the threads!

I'm getting so much closer to being able to put the new axle under it, should be done next week! Can't wait to drive it!