Revolution Gear & Axle 2011+ Ford F-250/F-250 10.5in Rear Axle Ring & Pinion Master Install Kit

Regearing a 2011-or-newer F-250 or F-350 Super Duty for bigger tires or a heavier trailer, or rebuilding a 10.5 in. rear that has started to whine and leak at the pinion, starts with a complete set of bearings and setup parts. The Revolution Gear & Axle 35-2046B is a new master install kit built for the 2011-up Ford 10.5 in. rear axle with the 37-spline ring and pinion. It gives you the Timken bearings, seal, shims and hardware to set the gears up from scratch in one pass.

What this install kit does in a 2011+ Ford 10.5 axle

The 10.5 in. rear under the Super Duty is a full-floating axle; the wheel bearings ride in the hubs, and the center section carries only the gears and their bearings. The pinion turns on two tapered roller bearings held at preload by a crush sleeve, and its depth is set with a shim. The differential carrier rides on two side bearings, and shims behind them set backlash and carrier preload. Every time gears are changed those bearings have to be pressed off and replaced, which is why a master install kit is part of every regear. Revolution lists this kit with pinion bearings, carrier bearings, pinion shims, carrier shims, a pinion seal, crush sleeve, ring gear bolts and a cover gasket or silicone, and the bearings are Timken. Axle seals are not included, and neither is a ring and pinion.

Symptoms that lead to this kit

• A whine at cruise that follows road speed and gets louder when towing
• Noise that changes between drive and coast as worn pinion bearings let the contact pattern move
• Fore-and-aft play at the pinion flange from a crush sleeve that has lost preload
• Gear oil on the pinion flange and driveshaft from a failed pinion seal
• Metal paste on the drain plug or cover, or new gears planned after a tire size change

How to confirm before you buy

Rule out the hub bearings first; on a full-floater a rough hub can sound just like a pinion bearing, so lift each rear wheel and check for play and roughness. Then drain the oil, inspect the magnet and paint the ring gear to read the pattern. Our Ford Sterling 10.25 and 10.5 problems guide covers the common failure points and what a rebuild costs. If the gear teeth are healthy and you are not changing ratio, an overhaul kit made for reusing the factory gears, such as the Yukon YK F10.5-D or the lower-cost USA Standard ZK F10.5-D, is the other route.

Fitment

Revolution lists the 35-2046B for the Ford 10.5 in. rear differential with a 37-spline ring and pinion on 2011-and-up F-250 and F-350 trucks. Ford changed this axle more than once, so the year alone is not proof. Earlier 10.25 and 10.5 axles take different kits; for 2000-2007 housings, use the Revolution 00-07 Ford 10.25/10.5 install kit. Ring and pinion sets made for 1999-2010 10.5 axles use a different pinion and will not work with this kit. Check the axle tag, count the pinion splines at the flange, and match the dually or single-rear-wheel configuration, or send us your year and VIN and we will confirm before it ships. More axle kits are in our rebuild kits collection.

Install notes

• Mark the carrier caps and keep each on its own side; measure the old pinion shim as a starting point.
• Yukon's setup chart for Ford 10.25 and 10.5 axles starts at a 0.025 in. pinion shim with 20-35 in-lb of preload on new pinion bearings; tighten the pinion nut in small steps and replace the crush sleeve if you overshoot.
• Set backlash with the carrier shims, then paint the gear and check both drive and coast patterns; our setup guide explains how to read them.
• Use thread locker on the new ring gear bolts and torque them in a cross pattern.
• The kit has no axle seals; inspect the hub seals while the shafts are out.
• Fill with the grade Ford lists for your axle, adding friction modifier for a limited slip, and follow the new gear break-in procedure with no towing until the first oil change.

With the carrier on the bench you can also add traction; the Eaton Detroit Truetrac for 10.25 and 10.5 full-float axles is a 35-spline unit, so confirm your axle shaft splines first. Twisted or worn shafts can be replaced with the chromoly 10.5 Super Duty axle shaft.

Does the 35-2046B include a ring and pinion?

No. It is the bearing and setup kit for installing gears. You supply the 37-spline ring and pinion in the ratio you want, or reuse good original gears.

What is in the kit?

Revolution lists Timken pinion bearings and carrier bearings, pinion and carrier shims, a pinion seal, crush sleeve, ring gear bolts and a cover gasket or silicone. Axle seals are not included.

Will it fit my 2009 F-250?

No. This kit is for the 2011-and-up 10.5 axle with the 37-spline pinion. Earlier 10.25 and 10.5 axles use different bearings and kits, so send us your year and VIN if you are unsure.

Can I reuse my old bearings with new gears?

It is not recommended. Bearings have to be pressed off to move shims, which often damages them, and worn bearings are the most common cause of noise after a regear.

What tools do I need to install it?

A bearing puller or press, race drivers, a dial indicator for backlash, an inch-pound torque wrench for pinion preload and a large torque wrench for the pinion nut and caps. Without them, a driveline shop can set up the gears using this kit.