Ford 9.75 Differential Carrier Installation Kit

This Yukon kit covers the carrier side of a Ford 9.75 inch rear axle setup: a pair of tapered carrier bearings with their races and a stack of carrier shims. It is the kit you reach for when you are installing a new ring and pinion, reusing the old gears with a fresh carrier bearing set, or swapping in a locker or limited-slip case.

The 9.75 inch 12-bolt rear is used under F-150, Expedition and Navigator trucks. Confirm you have the 9.75 and not the 8.8 before ordering: the 9.75 cover has 12 bolts and an oval shape that is not symmetrical.

A howl or growl that changes with speed rather than with throttle, or a carrier that has visible side play with the axles out, usually points to worn carrier bearings. Running the axle low on gear oil or towing heavy will wipe them out early.

On the bench: pull the carrier, press the old bearings off with a clamshell puller, and drive the old races out of the housing. Set the new bearings on the case, then use the shims to set backlash and carrier preload, checking pattern with marking compound before you torque the caps and close it up with fresh gear oil and friction modifier if the diff is a limited slip.