Did you swap your own gears?

[dnixon]

Okay to start this off, thanks for any input its very much appreciated.

My problem is this- To get my gears installed along with one set of gears is going to cost me roughly a little over $1000, I don't have that kind of money.

SO.. I have seen the tech articles on how to setup your own gears but.. How hard is it really?

Would I be better off not trying to attempt this my first time alone?

Any tips or tricks to help along in the process?

Thanks again guys!

[Sundowner]

setting gears by a COMPETANT shop should run $150/per axle, assuming you bring in the stripped housings, that's going rate in Ca, and what I personally charge/require.

it is not hard to do, it's rather easy asssuming you have access to the required tools. but it is time comsuming, espically for the beginner. be prepared to get frustrated and walk away from it a few times on your first axle. it's all about patience. the second one will go a little quicker

[Stuka]

I did my detroit in one weekend. Rebuilt the whole rear axle. I could do it a lot faster now. Dana/AMC axles are a *****. Although AMC20's are easier as the pinion uses a crush sleeve instead of shims.

I have yet to see a shop here in california charge only 150 per axle.

If I could get my hands on a press, doing the axle would be a lot faster.

[Sundowner]

press, and bearing splitters makes it a breeze.
I f'n hate doing dana axles.
the 20's are cake to set the backlash with the shims in the housing instead of the carrier. no presson/off over and over to get it into spec.

detroits in dana axles are a real pain, just because the backlash has to be so tight on them.

[Stuka]

Ya, thats what took me so long withmy detroit. I can do a ford 9" in 1/100th the time it takes to do a dana. Although the easiest axle I have seen is a REALLY old toyota axle from a 68 corona. It uses a screw system to set backlash.

I havent done a AMC20 yet, but everybody I talked to said it was done like a dana. Guess they were wrong. Which makes me MUCH happier about doing the gears in my J10 (2.73's suck)

[SFFSJ]

Originally posted by Stuka:
I havent done a AMC20 yet, but everybody I talked to said it was done like a dana. Guess they were wrong. Which makes me MUCH happier about doing the gears in my J10 (2.73's suck)Hey, Stuka... wanna practice on mine? I'd love 3.73s... I'll give ya' my 3.31s....

Seriously, tho -- anybody in NCal actually know of a decent shop at ~$150/axle or less?

With summer coming and boat towing to be done, I'm almost thinking of swapping the rear only for the time being, to spread out the $$ pain, since 4wd is mostly for the snow for me...