Need some Ring and Pinion brand Advice!

[P93suafilo]

I have been collecting parts for a SAS the last year. My original plan was to SAS my EX this spring and wheel all summer but with some family stuff prior to COVID-19 my wife and I decided to hold off until we can purchase another vehicle, hopefully soon. But in the mean time I want to get started on regearing my axles. this is my first time and I am wanting to try myself for the learning experience, so forgive my ignorance.

I have a HP 44 and 9in combo from a 79 F150 and have been looking a various R&P brand options. I have a line up on some Yukon gears for a decent price, but was just looking at Rock Auto and they have Ring and Pinion options for around $100 less. Should I skip on the Yukon set and go for the Richmond Excel or another brand from Rock Auto? Is Yukon as good as they are marketed?

The distributor I was going to purchase from also quoted me a minimal kit for the swap but I was hoping to do a more in-depth rebuild, just so I can have some peace of mind. Rock Auto has diff rebuild kits that are fairly priced from US Standard gear. Will these diff rebuild kits be compatible with the Yukon R&P?

Any advice would help.

 

[gaz]

I've never done anything to really push my axels so I have gotten away with using take off Ford units from others. If I were buying new I would still consider the Ford part I have used Richmond in a FireChicken and have read very good reviews on Yukon.

Like I suggested, chose the parts that best suits your use; may need to spend more for that or it can even be a used set ..)

 

[Uncle Gump]

There is so much junk out there these days... it's really a crap shoot on what you get from most big parts suppliers.

Saving a few dollars is tempting... but it seems every time I've tried that strategy... it never ended up being worth it in the long run.

 

[Curious Hound]

So far, I’ve been happy with Yukon.

 

[Blmpkn]

Motive

 

[b1pig]

Alloy USA, Motive Gear, Yukon and G2 are some of the major brands.

I have personally ran both Yukon and G2. No complaints with either. As far as mixing the brands for some parts... they are all machined to a specification. All seals are supposed to be made for a specific application, as all are the other parts. all replacement/upgrade alloy axles will have the standard seal diameter, or it should come with new seals to fit the new shafts with a part number for replacement if/when needed.
I've run G2 Gears on ARB lockers with Dana seals. Everything has worked fine.

 

[19Walt93]

Richmond, Yukon, Motive Gear, are a few good ones. Most of the gears sold under the Ford Performance brand are OEM gears without the 2 year parts warranty for a lot less money. I much prefer Timken bearings but have heard SKF makes good ones, too.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I'm running Nitro gears in my Ranger, I don't think I've had the front apart or changed the oil but it's been working... the rear gears have worn some but the pattern is still good 10 years and a bunch of miles later, and the contact patch is small with 5.13's, and haven't taken it too easy on them either with the locker running it hard enough to bend a leaf spring and twist an axle tube...

 

[P93suafilo]

So thought I would update everyone. I ordered the Yukons and was gonna get the rebuild kits too but an opportunity to buy a detroit came up so I jumped on that.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

My brother had Richmond in the front of his F-150 (not really high stress) with no issues. Had Ford Racing in the back axle.

My dd has Motive front and rear, no complaints. If I could have I would have gone Ford Racing though, they didn't make them at the time for the reverse rotation 8.8 front axle or my 9.75 rear axle.