So today I drove from tn to Ohio to buy a 1996 ford 7.3 4x4 5 speed. Got a good deal for 3200. The guy met me in the middle and drove it bout 100 miles. Well I bought it and ran like a top. No shaking nothing. Well i was shifting quick on the interstate and went from 4th to 3rd on accident and it barked.the tires so i hurried and pushed clutch in. Well bout 5 miles down the interstate i was cruising about 70 mph when i hear a loud squeling kinda grinding. Well it started whining and grinding real bad so i pulled over on the shoulder. Well i thought maybe a wheel bearing so i put in nuetral and coasted but no noise. Well when i put it in gear it would whine and grind, when i push in clutch while in gear no noise. I really need help. I had to have it towed back home. ive only got about $900 extra dollars to spend on it. Im not sure what it is. Could it be out of grease in trans and when it got hot.it.started whining and grinding? Really need opinions.

 

sounds like the throwout bearing

 

That is what one of my mechanic buddies said. I hope its in the clutch area. Gonna check it out Tomm.

 

release bearing would whine and grind during the clutch disengagement...wouldn't it?

if it IS the release bearing, you have to drop the transmssion to get at it anyway, far as I know.

 

Turns out it was the rear end. Found one for $200 and its fixed. Its was the ring gear and pinion that broke and starting chewing metal.

 

boss just had that happen on his 3/4 ton chev. except his 07 eaton E locker equipped truck was about 3500 to fix.

 

Dang. Found a used whole rearend for 200 bucks so I did good. A rebuild would be 400 or so.

 

damn, that's cheap.

I actually don't know what rear end my truckhas. front axle is an apparent mystery as well. ford dealer says it has a dana, parts shop i go to for everything (and I mean everything) brings up spicer front diffs for the truck.
got wheel bearings for a spicer, anyway. hehe. we'll see how it goes.

 

Stock front axle is Dana 50 and stock rear axle is ford 10.25.

 

well I'll be fucked. thats the first time the parts palce I go to has been wrong.

well lets hope those bearings work. . . they're for a spicer 50/60...