Anyone ever tried Changing their own differential gears?

[absolutbose]

Has anyone ever changed their own diff gears, or is it kinda like tranny work?

Andrew

 

[NightHawk]

Changing gears is a very technical operation and it is really something that an experienced mechanic should do. You can do it yourself, but I would do alot of research before you attempt it. You have to get things like the backlash and tooth engagement just right or your brand new rear end won't last very long. It would only cost you about $300 each axle to have a qualified shop set it up for you, and in my opinion it would be well worth it. Good luck!

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Happy Trails!
'93 XLT
4" Skyjacker (suspension)
3" Performance Acccessories (body)
31x10.50 BFG All Terrains (Till next week)
Dyno Max cat back exhaust
Rancho 5000 shocks
Poly bushing kit (front and rear)
More to come!

 

[absolutbose]

How much do the gears themselves cost (on top of the 300 for the job)?

Andrew

 

[DOGMAN]

Ring and pinion sets for both front and rear should cost around $200, maybe a little more. A word of advice, go with a quality gear, not just the one that is the best price. You'll save money in the long run.

Ditto what NightHawk said about install. Leave it to a seasoned pro that has done gear swaps a lot, not the guy who thought he did one a couple of years ago. Again, you'll save money in the long run.

My labor cost was $150 for the rear and $300 for the front, since it is much more involved than the rear.

Good luck.

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DOGMAN
91 4dr 5sp
5.5" Superlift
"Downhill is just uphill in the opposite direction"

 

[DOGMAN]

That was $200/each for each ring and pinion set.

 

[Trace]

Changing the gears really isn't that difficult. The ring and pinon will come as a set and must remain as a set. They will be stamped with the backlash spec's or a card will be included. This value is unique for each set. In order to the job right you will need a high quality dial guage and magnetic base with arm. As for tools basic hand tool are enough, however an impact wrench is usefull for breaking the nut off the pinion. It is a trial and error process to find the right amount of backlash. This is were an experienced mechanic speciallizing in gears has the advantage. There is an art to the setup. If you add a ARB locker to the system, you definately want someone else to do the work.

 

[Weatherman]

On another note, has anyone ever set up the gears in a Dana? I've heard before that Dana models take special tools, or something to that effect. I don't know anyone who has ever done one, they're not too common in the cars we work on around here.

 

[CougarX]

Weatherman:T
The reason a Dana is so hard to set up is that the carrier bearings have to be pressed on and off multiple times while setting backlash. On the Ford 8.8" this isn't neccesary. This could be why labor for the front axle in an Explorer is twice as much as the rear although I'm not sure if the reverse rotation IFS Dana 35 is set up like other Danas.


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Brad Bottoms
92 XLT 4x4
My Philosophy is "Bigger is ALWAYS Better"

 

[DOGMAN]

The reason the front Dana 35 costs more to change gears than the rear 8.8" is that the 35 is a real booger to get at. You have to disassemble half of the front axle, since it doesn't have a convenient diff cover like the rear axle does.

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DOGMAN
91 4dr 5sp
5.5" Superlift
"Downhill is just uphill in the opposite direction"

 

[Tate Myrick]

Are you, or is anyone interested in purchasing gears? I know that I should post this in the sale section, but I felt that this was on the topic. For the front Dana 35 the carrier has to be replaced for new gears. I have a Dana 35 carrier and a ring and pinion for the Ford 8.8. They are 3.73s so these might not be tall enough for you. I was going to have them installed, but I need the money and do not have money to spend on the installation. If anyone is interested please email me at tatejmyrick@yahoo.com.

 

[roadkill]

For my FYI:
Is it diff-icult to change the discs in the stock 3:73 limited slip? Dealer says rebuild kit is about $70, but had no idea what was involved. I have rebuilt motors and trannys, and I thought I've heard the limited slips were simple to maintain.
Thanks

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"Don't go where the road don't go." -Ringo Starr

Wil - '92 EB

 

[MyExp]

I have a question about gearing. If you swap gears in your rear diff, say to 4:10, do you have to do anything to the front diff to equal that of the back? What happens when you are in 4X4 and the back is spinning at a different ratio than the front? Don't they both have to be equal?

Maybe I am just ignornant or maybe its the fact that I have never dealt with gearing issues before and have stuck to engines. But this doesn't make sense to me. Someone please explain...

Brian

 

[DOGMAN]

Brian,

Whenever changing gears on a 4x4, you have to change both the rear AND the front to identical ratios. Say you changed the rear to 4.10, but left the front at the stock 3.73. The front wheels would be trying to turn slower than the rear wheels, and when that happens, something has to give, or break.

Changing gears is expensive in a 4x4 because you have to change the front and the rear. Plus the TTB front in an Explorer is much harder to get to than the rear, so the labor cost is higher.



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DOGMAN
91 4dr 5sp
5.5" Superlift
"Downhill is just uphill in the opposite direction"

 

[Weatherman]

That is right, if you were to run a big difference in front and rear gear ratios, you would break something almost immediately. You can usually get by with a 1% difference on hard surfaces (on road) and a 2% difference off road. I have heard of people running more than that, so that the front would turn more to keep the truck straight in mud, but that is a very special circumstance.

 

[MyExp]

Yeah thats what I thought. Did not make any sense to do it any other way....