My rear differential was whining so I brought it in to the local Ford dealer across the street to get looked at. They said they need to replace the ring and pinion. I figure, man this is great I can get 4.10s put in for free (or reduced cost). They said no about the 4.10s and absolutely will not put them in. I even offered to buy the gears and do a blind swap on the install and they said no. They did not have the gears and just ordered them and will call me when they come in to have them installed.

My dilemma comes to this. I am going to put in 4.10s anyway next month. I kind of feel like I am wasting their time putting stock 3.55s back in. Should I even bother with it? My only concern is that my noise issue could be something other than the gears, and if I have them upgraded to 4.10s elsewhere would the problem still be there. My other concern is that by swapping gears out twice in a row going to mess up or reduce the life of any other components in the differential.

I wish I knew somebody at a local Ford dealership to help me out. The salesman at the place I bought my car at which is an hour away doesn't work there anymore so I can't use that favor.

:scratch:

 

I personnally would let them put the stock gears in and make sure you get your current problem fixed first. You don't want to introduce another variable into the equation until the car is fixed to your satisfaction. Once you get to the point where the current concerns are handled then you can go ahead and switch.

 

+1...

 

What about another dealership? They might be more amenable to your swap idea (which does make sense to any sensible person).

 

Well I don't want to look like I'm just fishing around trying to get free gears or sound like somebody from Ford trying to get them in trouble.

Do the different dealerships share their information? Is dealer A going to know I went to dealers B, C, and D about this problem?

 

I think they will, if its already been enterted into their magical tracking system.

 

+2

 

I agree with the others... DEFINITELY get the problem with your stock gears fixed first! Once you are certain the problem has been taken care of... then install your new 4.10 gears!

 

More often than not when a rear end/diff. that has been quiet starts to make noise the first place to look is at bearings. If this is the case with your rear end and you put new gears on the orig. bearings you will still have the same problem with noise. I would have the problem repaired prior to any changes.

I am lucky in the area where I live in that the local Ford dealer is small and the head tech. is a good friend of mine. I've been buying cars from them for 30 years, family for 60+. If I had this issue and wanted to change the ratio I know they would change the gears for me along with fixing the noise problem. But in a large metro area I can see why they don't want the hassle.

JLH

 

I'm thinking about buying the gears and putting a fifty in the box and leaving it on the seat when I bring it in and see if they do it.

 

I think Mike got his changed by a guy at his house who works at a Ford dealer. That was my plan B, he charges $240 which isn't bad. I am going to call him tonight because I wanted to ask him about other stuff anyway.

 

I can see if my Ford Mechanic over at Walls could slip them in for you under the warranty work.
Sorry,I have not been in here lately.I have been so busy with work,Baby,pregnant wife and buying a new home.Once I get my garage,We can do all kinds of good stuff to our cars in it.I have all the tools and welding equipment that we would ever need.

 

Sounds good Mike, I'll follow up with you tomorrow. Anyway, all my mods will be in April 1st come heck or high water. I just hope the snow is gone in March. I'll be busy the last 2 weekends in March to make the first track day.

 

Do you need the Ford install kit for the 4.10 gears? For shims or whatever?

 

FYI, I had my gears installed by a Ford technician in the shop at the dealership during the day, and he let me help him. We even stood around shooting the breeze with the shop supervisor. It all depends on the dealer, I'd try to check with another dealer just in case. Tell them up front that you already talked to the other dealer but you want to get this done. The worst they can say is no.

 

It just hit me like a ton of bricks that I need to call the dealership where I originally bought the car and see if they are more receptive to my request. They should after all be interested in making me happy and they are an SVT dealer so maybe they'll do it.