easier to swap axle or gears??

[allgravey20]

I have A front axle that I need to swap either the gears from a donor or swap the whole donor and then do an alignment etc... I have never done a ring and pinion swap and am unsure what the best option would be considering this is my daily driver in the winter. I did a swap on the rear but hadn't had time to do the front yet. Now with snow on the ground it really needs to be done.

 

[delexploder]

Swap the housing, once you unbolt the shocks from the lower control arms and then the sway bar end links you get the brakes off , unbolt the big nut on the half shaft pop the top ball joint pin from the knuckle and it will move out of the way enough to pull the half shaft then its only three bolts holding the housing , at this point you can either swap the whole thing or try to regear but I would just swap ,

 

[allgravey20]

That would require alignment wouldnt it? That is my biggest setback on time. Plus it seems like the bolts arent easy to get to with the motor in.

 

[delexploder]

No alignment because you aren't messing with any of the adjustable parts, and the housing bolts are all under the truck, you will need an impact gun for the large nuts on the half shafts but I have done it in my driveway with hand tools and an electric impact and it took maybe two hours , I have also done it on a lift in the shop and I can have it done there in an hour

 

[deadernie]

Swapping will be the easiest. Changing out the ring and pinion will require some extra tools and knowledge to do correctly.

 

[1997XLTRollover]

Put it this way, you have to pull the axle to change the gears. So it's obvious that just swapping complete axles is easier.

EDIT: At least I'm pretty sure the axle has to come out I don't think the carrier will fit past the frame. Either way it's still going to be easier to swap axles.

 

[2TimingTom]

For the front, the axle needs to come out. The rear can be done with the axle still in.