96 rear end install... any suggestions?

[p2e1r12t]

yo guys... i'm replacing the rear end in my 96 ex with a 99 unit. was wondering tho, they make a big deal of marking the drive shaft and yoke and all to make sure it goes back in the same position when putting back together. so what about when you replace the rear end? do i need worry about it? should i use my old yoke? thanks

 

[410Fortune]

as long as they have the same gears the 96 and 99 rear ends should be identical, you dont need to mark the driveshaft at the yoke since its a whole new rear it wouldnt work anyways.

If the truck is AWD or a V8 it may have traction bars on it, so if your 99 rear does not have them dont sweat it just remove them 100%

good luck! This should be a bolt in deal, bolt in, bleed brakes, go.
check the torque on everything after a while and consider new u bolts

 

[p2e1r12t]

thanks, man. i've never done this before. i just didn't understand why i had to mark the old one. i thought maybe it would be out of balance or something with the new one. anyway, thanks again.

 

[RangerX]

Marking the driveshaft is important when you separate the two halfs, as it's a balanced unit. The position on the flange doesn't matter.

Am I right, Jamie?

 

[410Fortune]

correct, you have to keep the driveshaft u joints in phase, but I tyipcally dont take a d shaft apart unless I am going to clean and lube the slip yoke, which as Bill pointed out this is the perfect time to do so. Marking the D shaft before you slide it apart is a great idea.

 

[p2e1r12t]

thanks for the info guys. the manual says to rmove the rear axle assembly, i will need to remove the axle shafts. do i really need to do this? i wanted to just throw the whole rear end up there minus the brake calipers since mine are in better shape and then i wouldn't have to bleed them, right?

 

[CodePoet]

thanks for the info guys. the manual says to rmove the rear axle assembly, i will need to remove the axle shafts. do i really need to do this? i wanted to just throw the whole rear end up there minus the brake calipers since mine are in better shape and then i wouldn't have to bleed them, right?

Mine said that too...i didn't, no reason to. It would help in sliding the axle out though.

 

[Ray Lobato]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the speedometer sensor on the 99 go to the axle and on the 96, it goes to the transfercase. I think the 99's speedometer is all electrical and the 96 is semi-mechanical.

 

[aldive]

I don't know about the '96 but you are indeed correct on the '99.

 

[p2e1r12t]

re

i want to thank all of you guys for the info. just got the rear end put in and it drives MUCH better. super quiet!! no whining!! anyways thanks

 

[KPT]

Marking the driveshaft is important when you separate the two halfs, as it's a balanced unit. The position on the flange doesn't matter.

When I took my rear driveshaft apart to regrease it one of the splines was larger than the rest. Can only go together one way.