Setting up Ring and Pinion gears (Anyone in the club know how?)

[89s rule]

I am considering going with some 4.88 gears in my 62 and would rather not spend the extra $500 to have a shop set them up for me. (I have only had one quote and it was $250 per axle.) At any rate if someone in the club knows how to do this and is willing to help me then I would be very appreciate it! Maybe even make this a club training for a day???

- I would much rather spend the usual labor costs of this job on other mods (cough...longfields...cough..cough)

I need to rebuild my front axle b/f New Years and preferably in the next 2 weeks. (Yeah right ) SO - now is as good a time as any to make the jump on gears, right?

 

[Trollhole]

I'm no expert on R&P. I would like to learn though.

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

if you have the right tools it isn't a bad job........... but I don't know of anyone in the club who has the tools to do it

 

[TimCFJ40]

How handy are you?

All you "really" need is a in-lb and ft-lb torque wrench, a dial indicator and a mag base, and a good bearing puller, preferably the clamshell type. That and of course basic sockets, hammers, etc. It's not that hard if you take your time. However, really $250 an axle isn't too bad, especially if that's the whole job (drive the truck in to the shop, drive it back out) Just taking out and re-installing the 3rds is probbably 1/3 of the work.

here's some reading that I used to setup my 9"/D44 for my jeep, as well as replace the pinion bearings in my miata. http://www.randysringandpinion.com/Content/HowTo/TechnicalInstructions/Yukon_Installation_Kit.pdf

I still have the in-lb torque wrench and the dial indicator that you could probably borrow.

I'm so deep in work and my project right now that there's no way I have time to set up some diffs, but if you need the in-lb torque wrench or dial indicator, let me know.

Or, you could swap in a diesel and you won't need to regear
Tim

 

[89s rule]

Thanks for the post/advice Tim!

I consider myself to be handy. It just seems to take longer when I am doing it by myself. (That or time passes by faster with help there?)

I might take you up on borrowing the tools....I have a ft/lbs torque wrench.

Do you have any examples of the other items. (What brands, budget wise, will be good, where to get them etc.) Links are great, but I can look them up if need be.
- Do I need a press or can I just take that part and have it done at a shop?

- I would still like to have some other people there to help if at all possible??? I would be willing to do a meal if need be.


Keep the info comming!

 

[TimCFJ40]

If you are careful, you can bypass the press for a set of brass drifts to press on bearings. Much cheaper.

As for the clamshell bearing puller, It'll look like the one in the yukon install manual. Usually they cost around $200 for a setup. The reason you need this is that to set the pinion depth you have to install and remove the pinion bearings multiple times. A typical 3 jaw puller will destroy most bearings the first time you pull them off. It also makes removing the carrier bearings easier too.

There is one other option you can do. If you buy an extra set of pinion bearings and ream them out to a slip fit, you can use these as a "Set up bearing" to set the pinion depth, Then press on the other set when you are done.

At least you aren't setting up a D44 where the backlash is also set by installing and removing the carrier bearings and shimming under those THat sucks!

Are you any good at body and paint work?
If so, maybe we could trade a day of me helping you with your diffs for a day of paint and body.

 

[89s rule]

He he that sa funny question on paint and body.

I bought a '63 Bel Air that is another project of mine and bought a compressor (Its minimum sized for painting.) and plan to paint it myself. (I have no training in this area other than searching the net ) I definately do not want to learn on someone elses vehicle, but depending on how it goes with the Bel Air and painting the fenders and doors I have for the 62 I might be decent at it .

I havent had a chance to look over the manual yet, but will probably have time tonight to look it over. After I do that I will get back on here as I am sure I will have some ?'s. There is a guy in the 60 section about to do his so I will be following that thread as well! I think his name is "polka boy" or something like that.

Is it unreasonable for me to only want tear apart the front axle 1 time to get the gears and axle rebuild done?

 

[72cruiser]

hey remember to check out napa and autozone and see if you can 'rent' tools from them...my bro-in-law has done that a couple of times with various pullers and sst's for his bronco and my sister's maxima.

might be able to save you that 200 bucks for the bearing puller...



malphrus

 

[89s rule]

Well, I kinda got / am gettign the hook-up! I purchased some 4.88 friday (eBay score!). I also talked with a guy at church this morning who knows a good many people who know cars (in our area). He said he could set the gears up for me if I dropped them off at his house. (1 day turn around!!!!) We didnt talk $ but he said he could do that for me. 9I think its free??, but I will probably offer to pay him something for his time. So if all goes as planned I will have 4.88's in for Tellico and our Erskine Offroad trip Jan 19-21st. I am pumped. I will be calling Kurt @ Cruiser Outfitters early this week to get install kits and my front axle rebuild kits ordered.

- Any advise on what to order would be great. I am sure Kurt will set me straight, I just wanna cover all of my bases. (order extra front axle inner seals right?) - Might as well do the rear axle while I am int here as well.

- I am temped to put my lockright in the front axle since I will have it all apart but I dont really want to spend the $ on Longs right now. (Although they would be sweet! An ARB would be perfect, but I dont want to spend that much $ for sure.) - I've never broken a birf and dont really want to have to deal with that out on the trails. - I am only running 33's for now, but with the gears I will be stepping up to 35's when I can find a good deal (Hint, hint!)