Installing 3:73 Gears on a Ford 8.8 in my Driveway And Ride Along Test Drive 

I know this is 3 yrs old but it’s the best video on a gear install on RU-vid

Brother - thank you for posting this. I've got a 102 fever and just wanted to watch the longest Mustang video on YT. Great work and thanks for taking the time to upload this.

Goodjob man. Love the log splitter vice and also as a press. Your Mcgiver skills on point!

This was one of the best I’ve seen. Your work is as good as any professional as I’ve seen.

This is the best 8.8 gear change video. Very informative. The fast forwards are the best. Cuts down on wasted time.

I believe this is probably December in North Carolina and you're outside working in the elements!! That's why I like this video so much. Like alot of us just working on our own cars. I'm working on a city street in San Diego, Ca doing same thing. Especially liked ride along in the countryside. I've never been that far east. It's beautiful.

I'm only a beginner(just over a year working on rigs in a garage, and a couple years working on my own rides) but I feel confident in my ability to replace the components in my F150's rear diff. Your video had some great tips I took note of. I love the SN95 mustang. I have my eyes set on building a 2003/4 mach 1, if I could ever find one for the right price; I hope this used car bubble pops soon.

Very good video, thank you for making it, excellent ride along, very good info.

For doing this all day he hard way you did a great job! Thank you for the video.👍

I loved watching your vid! Cracked me up with the real and raw feel. Wood splitter, ratchet strap, when you burnt your fingers on the pinion race...

I've done this job before but NEVER at home and on the ground....Lord bless you that was some first rate backyard mechanic there.

Thumbs up on the log splitter press. Genius ! I would have tripped over mine wandering around wondering how to press my bearings on haha

Best shade tree mechanic I have ever seen - way to go!

Great job man! Especially for on ramps in the backyard !

Great job very informative and well put together video

Wow and I thought by me installing a new throttle body and cold air intake was impressive 😂

That is one great video I learned a lot about how to change the gear THANKS MAN

I love the way you supported the car, that's some sketchy shit I would do but it worked and got the job done and nobody died! also can't believe you got the ABS sensors out without breaking them those things are usually seized in there and are petrified and turned to dust as soon as you touch them!

I love that you're using a log splitter as a vise and press! Use what ya got!

Great video, thank you for deciding to make it a step by step no bs just straight to the point, wish you wouldve put the axle bearing part in but no worries great video either way.

!! Wow Someone that Has Time to show the Right way and Make it easy to understand was lookin for awhile to find away to get it out with a Whole lot of Tools it was great Idea usin the Wood splinter frame to hold it Ya Got This Thanks for sharin your Project with us Keep it Up Hopefully it all works Out

I did this job two years ago and this would have been a great video to watch before I jumped in. The one comment I would add is I order a crush sleeve from summit racing which was very easy to crush.I used my impact a little at a time until I had the correct foot pounds on the nut. The guy at summit recommended this kind of crush sleeve I didn't know that it existed. Great video the best one on you tube for sure if your taking on this project on your 8.8 ford By the way LOVE your Mustangs.

Thanks, for a very informative video.

Instant horsepower! At least, not until she runs out rpm in high gear. No doubt, your brother is stoked! Well done sir!

Nice work bro! Loved seeing this done without a lift!

I've had 3.73s for my mustang sitting on my shelf for 2 yrs. After having to replace my F250 pinion/carrier bearings, I haven't wanted to do it again lol. Although the mustang would probably be easy in comparison. I didn't have a press so, I froze the pinion gear and baked the bearings in the oven, actually worked out pretty good but, the carrier on f250 is a heavy sum bit!!

Very well done sir!! Need to do the same to my truck and although I've turned wrenches my whole life as a shade tree machanic I've never taken on a job like this so im fairly nervous about it. Your video has helped my nerves tho!! Nice job!!

Job well done. And what a good brother.

Good job dude👍 especially since you was in the ground ☺️

Great vid i watched it 5 times and now confident enough to give her a shot

For anyone that wants to do a huge jump in gearing, you may have to go internal on the transmission speedometer and replace the drive gear size. It’s plastic and cheap and will blow up if you only do the one on the speedo sensor. I know you have to with a T5 going from 2.73 to 3.55 and above

The thinking man's approach!

Impressive work

Hell right. Just did my buddy's 1990 f150 from3.08 to 4.11. and just now seen this video now after install ,would have helped my confidence alot. Did it just about like you. But I didn't use a press at all just chisel and torch

Ur the reason I was able to do mine thank you

Excellent work, thank you sir!🙏

Excellent video , I am going through the pain myself , it’s funny how my right side spacer broke too when I tapped with a hammer , working underneath it’s not fun but it needs to be done .

Love the log splitter press 🎓👍

Harbor freight moving blankets make for great pads to put on the ground as a barrier from surfaces and a place to set tools. Catch them on sale and they are a great disposable item. Good video

nice work , much respect doing it without a lift etc

Good to know I’m not the only person who has/ wants to do this without a lift😂 I’m swapping the 3.31 from my f150 to a 3.73 here soon. Just prepping myself for the hassle lol

Good shit bro, great video. It’s going to save me a lot of money thank you! 😂

Nice filming...helps a ton. 👍💯

20:17 as a fellow diy mech/tech man I can't count the times I did exactly that and still have all my fingers... still held my breath though lol

I'm installing 4.10 gears on my mustang I thought doing it myself butafter I see this video I'd rather taking it to a shop there's a lot of press work involved great video

Well done. Love the wood splitter press and the claw hammer (I find a framing hammer works better for prying). Oil on the races might make them go in a little easier. Appreciate your fortitude on this difficult job and your sharing the trouble and triumphs. May need to do this on my son's Mustang. Thank You!

Awesome job 👍

Great Job!

Log splitting vice was a smart idea

I sometimes use my middle finger while pointing to the outside also, great video.

I love the smell of hypoid gear oil in the morning. Smells like....victory.

really great video! I think I might do this myself now, but they only thing I'm not sure of is the backlash measurement tool and and part of it? I would probably f mine up haha. Thanks man!

You did a great job on the video. You should do a cam swap on a 4.6 4v next. 😆

Had to give you like just for using your log splitter as a press pretty resourceful that you managed that whole process without have to go to a machine shop to press off and back on all the bearings. I know I've driven around your area for work looks really familiar. I'm out in the Hickory area nice work. I'm wondering how the gears are holding up if you still have the car. I did a ring and pinion swap a while ago and every thing looked good back lash ect and just started developing a kind of a rumble when making left turns. I pulled the diff cover off and did a quick check on the back lash and it was way too loose now like 15 thousands when it was around 9 at install over a year ago.

This is such a hassle. I had a 1967 GT Mustang with a Ford 9” rear. Start to finish I could change the gears out in 40 minutes. I had 3 sets of gears to choose from. 3.73, 4.10 and a 4.56.

Not8, Truly excellent video. Super Duper well done. I've done a lot of work on my 03 Mercury Marauder, including pulling the engine and transmission, (shop rebuilt them both) putting them back in, exhaust install, vortech supercharger / intercooler install, front cross member / suspension removal (in order to change oil pan), etc., etc. Now I want to change the 3.55L gears in the back to 4.10's. What do you think...do I have a chance?

I need to do this on my 4.6 swapped fox mustang it has a sn95 rear axle with 3.27 gears but the cams are recommended to have atleast 3.73.... I'm on the fence I need to drive the car and get it out on the highway and see what it does. Still waiting on a wideband to tune though.

Back in the day, the bottom bolt was also the diff drain. Be glad those caliper bolts weren't 10mm, you would have never found the wrench/socket. LOL Should always soak the bolts with penetrating oil the day before disassembly. A claw hammer...shame. LOL I like your log splitter bearing press. A good bearing grease works well for prelube for assembly. Congratulations.

Hard work!!! 👍🏻

Really liked his "innovative" solutions to removing the differential races by using a wood splitter, of all things!!! Now that's using your brain!!!

This is an impressive video

Good job sir

One thing I'll say for you. You are very resourceful. 😂

Nice job bro 👍🏻

Like he said this video is not for a begginer, I had the bright idea one time of putting some 3.55's in my fox and didn't check backlash or gear pattern. Horrific sound when you were coasting, ended up having metal shaving in the oil and had to pay a shop to fix it

Wow, quite the job! Thanks for the thorough footage. When I swap my '03 GT 8.8 rear end into my '03 V6, I want to upgrade to 3.73s. Do you recommend going through this entire process for the install? It appears that you are rebuilding the entire thing (I don't know a lot about diffs, sorry).

My rear end is finally taking a shit after 200k miles and im really hoping I can do it myself. I thought about just getting an entire axle assembly used and swapping that but they’re wanting $1k plus for an 8.8 rear axle assembly with 100k miles on it. Insane

I’m just about to do this on my 89 lx and I’ve gotta ask why you didn’t do anything with the clutch pack in the posi? Also I’m doing the same 2.73 to 3.73 set up do you mind telling me what size the shim pack came out to on both sides and the pinion. That way I have a good starting point. Thanks for the awesome video

Log splitter press was a awesome idea I noticed u didn't use a setup bearing at first to make sure backlash an all was correct

That is the best work I ever seen that's way to much for 5 star quality work

No wonder them ol GTs were slow, freaking 2.73s... unbelievable! Good move. That pinion was MASSIVE LOL. ol motor still sound juice thou

Awesome job brother! Btw, where did you get and what part did you get for the speedometer correction? I just finished the same work on my son's mustang. Thanks

So, I have an older 8.8 posi. I believe came from a pick up truck(maybe from the 70-80's) .. will any 3.55 gears fit? or are they year specific. would love to get the highway gear changed. The car is a turbo and needs some start up grunt. TIA for any info

The Ford 8.8 rearend is great. It can handle a shit load of power and I've never seen one go bad personally

Question, which size bearing separator you used at 30:33? Thanks

Gears swaps really shine in First gear and last Gear.

I have been wanting to go from 3:27 to 4:10 in my Crown Vic. I've been working on cars for over 30 years and haven't ever done this. I think I'm going to try it.

that's a tough job to do on your back. I had the luxury of doing mine on the bench. my tooth pattern was a little off but extra .003 pinion shim got it perfectly centered. curious to know how yours is doing 2yrs later- still running good?

Awesome video dude! All the details and info needed... any idea if I can follow this for a diff in a 95 f150? Only difference I'm seeing is the gear ratio

If you went .008 for back lash that would Have position your pattern closer to the toe. How's it holding up?

Thank you very much. Question: If you had decided to adjust the pinion depth to get a better tooth mating pattern, you would have needed a new pinion crush-spacer, right?

Great job! Took 4 installs on my 373 gears...at 3 different shops. Last shop got it right....finally whine free! 🤣

Good how to video 👍

Nice man

So when you install the new 373 pinion gear the shaft going into the front sleeve housing is the same diameter as stock and a regular pinion seal will work My buddy has an 8.8 pinion seal leaking with upgraded 373 gears and want to help him replace the leaking seal

coming across this vid late but I am going to tackle this gear install and traction lok rebuild on my 1988 5.0 . Great video man! I was feeling sorry for myself thinking i don't want to do this on a carport concrete floor with no lift and etc and not having the right tools but after watching your vid it gives me some motivation. The only thing I am worried about is that damn pinion depth and backlash and getting it right the first time and get lucky for everything to be in spec. I hear horror stories of noisy and loud gears after the installs.. have you had any issues?

Do you feel any differents I would like to do this to my 04 mustang GT automatic dark shadow gray

Hey man can you help me out where did you get the gear for the speed Sensor

...now I have to think about that, I know I can do it, but do I have the courage to actually do it? Maybe either now or within six months.(we are coming in to winter in New England ya know)...

I'm having problems installing the bracket that holds the c clip together I don't if the c clip goes first or the bracket goes first I forgot how I pulled out the c clip keep falling off the axl

What gear oil weight?

How are the gears? How do they feel? Is it better than stock gears and pinion? Can you make like a pull not wot but half throttle or something

that was more entertaining than watching something off netflix

Bro I have a 96 mustang gt with 308 gear and I’m thinking about puting 4.10s how does it feel with 3.73s let me know please

I have a question do you have to upgrade anything alse after putting a bigger gear.. I wanna put a 3.55 on my 1998 gt 4.6L can I just put it the 3.55 and still daily drive it

I'm not arguing with your resolve impressive. I can't help thinking as it wears in your contact patch will migrate close to the heal. Do I missunderstand how that works? Honest question

What brand of the inner and out bearings are those? I know there's 2 main company's koyo and Timken bearings

Good gob man

Do you have to do new bearings and seals or can you just leave and use the old ones?

So dope