f350 rear hubs shaft and pumpkin

This axle has significantly less rust than my front axle did. The only parts that I will be replacing are the rotors, brake pads and e-brakes.

f350 brake caliper rust removal

The 4″  grinder removed  most of the rust off the larger areas,  I’ll have to use some smaller sanding wheels and metal brushes to get into the nooks and crannies before I prime and paint with POR15.

ford 12 bolt - Sterling 10.5 rear end

Sterling 10.5 differential

Sterling 10.5  axle for a 4×4 Ford Van Conversion, Q & A with Chris Steuber of Ujoint Offroad.

QUESTIONS:

• Can I reuse the shock mounts that came with it?
• Are the spring mounts on the axle now in the right place or should I grind them off?
• There is some electrical crap on top of the front of the differential. Do I need to keep it?
• Is there a real need for the brake dust shields or can I run the van without them? Mine are pretty beat up.
• With your kit will I be re-using any of the brake lines currently on the axle or can I pull them all off now?

ANSWERS:

The shock mounts aren’t in the correct location, so you’ll need to weld some new ones on. Same with the perches, they’re not the correct spring pad width. The electrical connection on top of the axle is critical, that’s the VSS sensor. Your van should have one too, and it needs to be plugged in. Check the part #’s between them, they should be the same. No need for the brake shields, I hate those things!! You will be re using the brake hard lines, so keep them or run some new ones if you want them to be pretty.  (who doesn’t want that!)