Bigger wheels and tires look good on a lifted truck, but the less glamorous ring and pinion swap is what makes the new rolling stock perform more like the factory intended. After this 2WD F-150 SuperCrew was lifted and fitted with 35-inch Pro Comp mud terrain tires and 18-inch wheels, acceleration took a back seat to aggressive looks. Big tires with the stock Ford 3.55 gears meant sluggish acceleration and an engine working too hard to get the F-150 moving. We had the guys at 4 Wheel Parts in Laguna Hills, California, install a set of 4.10 Precision Gears to restore some of the lost pep and give this F-150 a leg up on towing. While the differential was open we also bolted on a Mag-Hytec differential cover that added some peace of mind with increased fluid capacity and two magnets to trap gear-destroying metal shavings. Check out the next few pages as Joe performs the swap in just a couple of hours.
1. The Precision Gear kit comes with everything, including bearings, seals, and a gasket. | 
2. Joe removed the tires and brakes before removing the cover and draining the differential. To make sure everything would go back on correctly, he marked the bearing caps with a punch to identify which side was which, and which side was up. |
3. After removing the retaining bolt, the dowel pin slid out. | 
4. Next, Joe pulled the C-clips and removed the axles, making sure to wipe them down. |
5. Bearing caps were the next to go. | 
6. With nothing keeping it in place, the entire gear set was freed from the differential. |
7. An impact wrench made short work of the pinion yoke. | 
8. The rear seal was driven out with a punch. |
9. An air grinder, fitted with a scouring disc, removed all traces of the old gasket. | 
10. Brake cleaner was used to get all the old lube out of the housing, as well as any remaining metal shavings or gasket material. |
11. As packaged, the pinion was coated in heavy grease. A few minutes in hot solvent removed most of it before brake cleaner got the rest. | 
12. The old bearing was removed with an impact wrench and a bearing puller. |