Gears

[brightwhite98GT]

Well I got some 3.90 gears I wanna put in the rear end of my car tommorow. I bought the motive gears off americanmuscle.com, and the rebuild kit too (with the bearings and such). Is this gonna be possible with regular hand tools? Im gonna buy a shop manual tommorow, but if anyone can give me some pointers that would be great. This is my first time, but Im pretty mechanically inclined and I usually figure it out just by tearing it apart. Still, pointers could save me some time. Thanks

 

[trav_19]

not hard by any means i think a monkey can figure it out haha ...hardestpart is probley getting the c clips in and out ....with the abs rears it can make it tricky to push the axel in to get to the clip

 

[Jrgunn5150]

You need a magnetic base and a dial indicator. You also need an impact or pinion wrench to get the yoke off.

 

[realitygt]

what about the pinion spacers so it's not eating away at the ring wrong?

also with some rearend gears do they sell the speedo gear too? how off will your speedo be from installing those gears?

 

[Jrgunn5150]

what about the pinion spacers so it's not eating away at the ring wrong?

That's what the dial indicator is for, calipers are nice to have too, but not needed. However, if someone has a dial indicator, they generally have calipers.

also with some rearend gears do they sell the speedo gear too? how off will your speedo be from installing those gears?

Some packages come with a gear or a speedcal to correct it, or you can just buy it seperately. It'll be off by whatever percent increase over his stock gear's they are...

 

[Schiffy]

I'm ver mechanically inclined, but i won't attempt gears... I don't have the tools, or the knowledge. maybe if i saw it done once or twice.

 

[trav_19]

I'm ver mechanically inclined, but i won't attempt gears... I don't have the tools, or the knowledge. maybe if i saw it done once or twice.

i dont know man i must have been lucky or something when mine were done we did nothing but take the stuff out and out the new in....no new crush sleeves...no indicator markers or nothing ....just unbolt and rebolt and i have no vibrations no noise nothing!!! on the 93 we rebuilt the trac-loc and the 94 we had to replace the pinion bearing but other then that it was just bolts and parts lol

 

[realitygt]

we replaced an axle in my stepmom's van, a couple years ago, my gramps was there and he had me do almost all of it so i would learn... It REALLY helped because It gave me enough confidendce that i felt comfortable doing them after that. I believe that I could do it myself but if i'm gonna go thru that trouble i'm gettin an aluminum driveshaft.

 

[SRT Handz]

If you dont have these things then i advice you to let a Shop handle the job

-Impact Gun
-Backlash Gauge
-a Press to press in the Pinion Bearing

 

[realitygt]

If you dont have these things then i advice you to let a Shop handle the job

-Impact Gun
-Backlash Gauge
-a Press to press in the Pinion Bearing

I don't have any of those things hahaha, that why I'd probably let a shop do it anyway, one of my friends got a quote for $75 bucks to install which isn't bad cause then if something fucks up u got insurance on it, hell if they do it bad enough you might get a whole new rearend I'm really picky when i get work done somewhere, if i didn't hear it before i take it back, and I notice everything on my paint... no one can paint black paint right lol

 

[trav_19]

If you dont have these things then i advice you to let a Shop handle the job

-Impact Gun
-Backlash Gauge
-a Press to press in the Pinion Bearing

I don't have any of those things hahaha, that why I'd probably let a shop do it anyway, one of my friends got a quote for $75 bucks to install which isn't bad cause then if something fucks up u got insurance on it, hell if they do it bad enough you might get a whole new rearend I'm really picky when i get work done somewhere, if i didn't hear it before i take it back, and I notice everything on my paint... no one can paint black paint right lol

for that price i would let someone else do it too haha...

and whoever guarantees paint is a idiot and deserves to get soaked haha ...theres no guarantees only blendable solutions

 

[blackgt4.6]

If you dont have these things then i advice you to let a Shop handle the job

-Impact Gun
-Backlash Gauge
-a Press to press in the Pinion Bearing

I don't have any of those things hahaha, that why I'd probably let a shop do it anyway, one of my friends got a quote for $75 bucks to install which isn't bad cause then if something fucks up u got insurance on it, hell if they do it bad enough you might get a whole new rearend I'm really picky when i get work done somewhere, if i didn't hear it before i take it back, and I notice everything on my paint... no one can paint black paint right lol

If you can get it done for $75 you better jump on it.
It's usually more like $300

 

[SRT Handz]

for $75 you better hope the dude knows what he is doing..... because most installs cost around $300 for Gears

 

[blackgt4.6]

for $75 you better hope the dude knows what he is doing..... because most installs cost around $300 for Gears

Yeah but if he does he better jump on it

 

[brightwhite98GT]

I have a basic set of hand tools. When I used to race motocross, when we would tear down a bottom end and replace the bearings, here is what we would do. We would put the bearings in a ziplock bag, and leave them in the freezer for a few hours, then right before we put the bearings in, we would heat up where the bearing goes with a propane torch. After spraying a little WD40 on the cold bearings, they would slide right in. After both metals went back to normal temperature, the bearings would be in place, properly. I also don't have one of those caliper things, or an impact wrench. I REALLY don't have $300. Is it POSSIBLE (didn't say easy) to do with hand tools, and will my old method of installing bearings work on my car?

 

[SRT Handz]

The Gear install itself if not that hard...its setting up the gears where everyone messes up and cause the whole rear end to fail.

You have to set the Bashlash and Play between the Gears PERFECT

too Little play and the gears will whine

Too much play and the Gears with slip and destroy each other.

 

[blackgt4.6]

If you have no way to measure backlash and pinion angle it is a bad idea. Its possible but you could end up destroying your rear end.

 

[brightwhite98GT]

Do you guys think auto zone would have that tool for me to borrow? I mean, I could run up to fastlane and I'm sure they would let me borrow it, if auto zone doesn't have it. Also, would a shop manual (going to buy one tomorrow) show me how to set the backlash up?

 

[ScottyDsntKnow]

I had my gears done for $150 by a very good shop. Never had any issues with the gears ever.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

Do you guys think auto zone would have that tool for me to borrow? I mean, I could run up to fastlane and I'm sure they would let me borrow it, if auto zone doesn't have it. Also, would a shop manual (going to buy one tomorrow) show me how to set the backlash up?

Autozone doesn't. You can buy it at Harbor Freight for undfer 100 bucks. Pretty useful thing ot have if you build your own engine, or have more than one vehicle you would change gear's in.

If not, just let a shop do it, if you are only going ot do it once, on one car, and leave it be, but I've saved buttloads of cash swapping my own gear's in my Jeep's, Truck, and various cars.

The manual would show you how, assuming you have a real service manual, if not, Randy's Ring and pinion sells a little book and video that makes it foolproof.