10:38 pm
April 9, 2015
Offline
I am looking for shop recommendations to look at my front diff. There is an extreme amount of play in the diff as well as a small amount of play in the axle CV joints and axle to hub splines adding up to enough play that I shouldn't be using 4WD until I get it fixed. It's about 45 degrees of driveshaft rotational play. When my rear driveshaft was out for repair, I had to drive it in front wheel drive and it made a severe clunk that you could feel through the truck every time the transmission downshifted or when shifting into forward or reverse. I'm hoping it is simple like a crush sleeve that got crushed more causing gear backlash, and that no further damage is done. Any suggestions on a shop that knows differentials well?
12:03 pm
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline Jeff and I are fans of Sean at River City Differentials in Rancho Cordova. He's been doing gears for over 20 years.
Um...what?
2:51 pm
Club Trailmaster
March 13, 2015
Offline That sounds to me like some missing ring gear teeth. Front IFS diffs arent something people typically modify so I would pick a shop with a good reputation who only does diff work and probably not go with a general shop. The real question is since you are already going to be paying for them to get into your diff, do you take the time to swap gears and a locker or is it time for the solid axle swap?
5:51 pm
October 28, 2016
Offline 
kris_olof said
That sounds to me like some missing ring gear teeth. Front IFS diffs arent something people typically modify so I would pick a shop with a good reputation who only does diff work and probably not go with a general shop. The real question is since you are already going to be paying for them to get into your diff, do you take the time to swap gears and a locker or is it time for the solid axle swap?
I knew you would comment and say solid axle swap lol.
What about river city differential? Oh I see river city has been mentioned!
W6JLU
6:08 am
April 9, 2015
Offline kris_olof said
That sounds to me like some missing ring gear teeth. Front IFS diffs arent something people typically modify so I would pick a shop with a good reputation who only does diff work and probably not go with a general shop. The real question is since you are already going to be paying for them to get into your diff, do you take the time to swap gears and a locker or is it time for the solid axle swap?
It's not missing teeth. It rotates smoothly through a full revolution of the ring gear. It just has excessive free play that causes it to clunk/bang when loading or unloading the gears.
As far as the solid axle swap, not happening (yet). Even though it will be the perfect time to install a locker, I don't think that will be happening either right now. I just bought a new motorcycle and don't have funds for a locker.
My research shows that the Ford 8.8 uses a crush sleeve to set the pinion preload. I'm hoping I loaded the gears and put more crush on the sleeve resulting in excess play, and resetting it with shims (not a crush sleeve) will be a more permanent fix. I'm also hoping the gears have not been damaged.
9:18 am
Club Member
February 26, 2014
Offline sounds like the washers are worn and that's causing a backlash problem that's causing your clunking noise.
4:14 pm
Club Trailmaster
March 13, 2015
Offline richfroh said
I just bought a new motorcycle...
First a truck, then that VW in your garage, then you tell us you restore airplanes, now a motorcycle... with this many hobbies its a wonder you ever get time on the trail!
8:31 pm
July 14, 2016
Offline kris_olof said
richfroh said
I just bought a new motorcycle...First a truck, then that VW in your garage, then you tell us you restore airplanes, now a motorcycle... with this many hobbies its a wonder you ever get time on the trail!
Ha!
9:38 pm
April 9, 2015
Offline kris_olof said
richfroh said
I just bought a new motorcycle...First a truck, then that VW in your garage, then you tell us you restore airplanes, now a motorcycle... with this many hobbies its a wonder you ever get time on the trail!
I admit I have a lot of hobbies (no I am not giving any of them up) but the new motorcycle is to replace my old one that I pretty much wore out. I put 129,000 miles on it and it is tired. You forgot the project sailboat, the radio control airplanes and the airplane I am building at home.
6:31 am
Club Member
August 17, 2014
Offline Rich! I am not sure why you say you have a clunk in your truck! I have been at my house this entire time. I have not been in your pick up! LOL
4:17 pm
Club Member
January 19, 2011
Offline richfroh said
I admit I have a lot of hobbies (no I am not giving any of them up) but the new motorcycle is to replace my old one that I pretty much wore out. I put 129,000 miles on it and it is tired. You forgot the project sailboat, the radio control airplanes and the airplane I am building at home.
Sounds like a good life to me!
Good luck with the Ford Repair.
Maybe the next hobby will be a Jeep! 
Semper Fi
5:10 pm
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline Josh said
Maybe the next hobby will be a Jeep!
Fingers crossed 
I used to wheel a lot. . .
7:20 am
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline Don't listen to the haters Rich, keep driving the Ford! I love seeing you take on obstacles other rigs half your size bypass.
Um...what?
8:41 am
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline Gregulator said
Don't listen to the haters.
We don't hate full sized rigs, we just LOVE Jeeps 
I used to wheel a lot. . .
10:55 pm
April 9, 2015
Offline Gregulator said
Don't listen to the haters Rich, keep driving the Ford! I love seeing you take on obstacles other rigs half your size bypass.
Don't worry, the Ford is not going anywhere! If I were to get a different wheeling rig (which I am not) it would need to be something more uncommon than the Jeep. I've always liked the early Bronco, or even the Scout. The early FJ40 would work. How about a 1948 Dodge Power Wagon on 40's? I was thinking about putting a Ford Ranger body on a F350 shortened chassis. An old Jeep Gladiator pickup would be cool. Ok, I'll just keep my F150 and upgrade it over time.
3:44 pm
July 14, 2016
Offline richfroh said
Don't worry, the Ford is not going anywhere! If I were to get a different wheeling rig (which I am not) it would need to be something more uncommon than the Jeep. I've always liked the early Bronco, or even the Scout. The early FJ40 would work. How about a 1948 Dodge Power Wagon on 40's? I was thinking about putting a Ford Ranger body on a F350 shortened chassis. An old Jeep Gladiator pickup would be cool. Ok, I'll just keep my F150 and upgrade it over time.
All those sound like a good idea but till then have fun with what you have. It's always easier to modify what you have then to buy a new rig and then modify that
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