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Dec 28, 2011 | 08:25 PM

#16

73FOMO

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 1,462

Likes: 74

From: Hartford, AL

Well...I could easily do in 2 hours, but I am sure they will charge for the rear diff fluid, gasket, and shops supplies. I would guess $225 if you pay someone. I think you will be fine with the ford diff and spacers. You could rock the gear back and forth and feel for the amount of backlash and compare. The carrier should have 0 play side to side after shimming.

Dec 28, 2011 | 08:34 PM

#17

jokerforever

Laughing Gas

Joined: Jun 2005

Posts: 820

Likes: 11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel_Brad

You are in over your head. take it to someone who knows what they are doing, or you will end up blowing the rear end

Don't let the naysayers scare you. How can you learn if you don't try? Read up, ask questions, look at pictures on the web, watch a YouTube vid or two, ensure you have the tools and time and we'll be here for back up. Axle work isn't the black magic that a lot of folks make it out to be and just replacing the carrier in an 8.8 is a fairly simple job. You just have to know what you're doing. Learn by doing.

Dec 29, 2011 | 06:09 AM

#18

Diesel_Brad

Fleet Owner

Joined: May 2009

Posts: 21,437

Likes: 76

From: Gilbert, PA

I have done multiple gear changes and carrier swaps, but i am also an ASE mechanic. For the most part it is pretty straight forward. BUT, if you do it wrong, it will grenade the whole rear end. and then you will be out alot of money. It is NOT as simple as just bolting the new carrier in. You need to check preload, and back lash. Both of which have to be PRECISE. There is a reason shops charge 500+ to do it

Dec 29, 2011 | 07:50 AM

#19

Edgethis

Lead Driver

Joined: May 2009

Posts: 6,807

Likes: 704

From: Tobyhanma, PA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel_Brad

There is a reason shops charge 500+ to do it

I'm glad the local hot-rod shop is only charging me 250 an axle to fully rebuild and install a LS. Granted thats all labor, I have to supply the parts.

I agree with Brad here, I have thought many times about doing this myself, but it is a very costly mistake. If you know a friend that can do it, invite them over and share some beers. They can watch and help you out maybe.

Dec 29, 2011 | 09:30 AM

#20

Diesel_Brad

Fleet Owner

Joined: May 2009

Posts: 21,437

Likes: 76

From: Gilbert, PA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edgethis

There is a good idea too

Dec 29, 2011 | 09:33 AM

#21

bruno2

Postmaster

Joined: Nov 2009

Posts: 4,575

Likes: 5

From: Broken Arrow , OK

You tube is loaded down with videos on how to do it on 8.8's. I just swapped in an LS carrier myself and it fit perfectly. preload and back lash is important , but , just having some is usually enough when dealing with old used gears. I have a couple of buddies that specialize in gear work. One of them has been doing it since the 60's and the other is his understudy of about ten yrs. I have never seen either one of them use a dial indicator or a torque wrench to set one up. They do it by feel. Now doing it for as long as they have sort of qualifies them as experts on how one should feel, but , as long as it goes back in with a little bit of backlash it will be OK.

Dec 29, 2011 | 09:38 AM

#22

bruno2

Postmaster

Joined: Nov 2009

Posts: 4,575

Likes: 5

From: Broken Arrow , OK

Now here is the rub. You will have to swap your ring gear onto the new carrier. The ring gear will need to be heated up pretty thoroughly before it will go on straight to the new carrier. This requires an oxy-acetalene torch. If you dont heat it the ring gear will never go on straight and this will cause it to wear out faster than normal and may very well cause some gear noise too. A lot of people do it w/o heating it up , but , they usually never go on straight and its hard to tell with the naked eye if its slightly out of kilter.

Dec 29, 2011 | 10:37 AM

#23

Phy

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Jan 2011

Posts: 1,709

Likes: 4

From: 8600 ft in Colo

Here's a pic of someone checking backlash:
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=ring+...QxYDXAQ&zoom=1

I'd check the contact pattern before teardown, and make sure it's the same after re-assembly. Used gears will wear in to each other, and can howl pretty badly if the contact pattern changes much...

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Dec 29, 2011 | 10:48 AM

#24

Edgethis

Lead Driver

Joined: May 2009

Posts: 6,807

Likes: 704

From: Tobyhanma, PA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phy

Here's a pic of someone checking backlash:
<A href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=ring+gear+backlash&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1250&bi h=869&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=pdjZ1Nr4QDfnwM:&im grefurl=http://pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/<acronym title=" Ranking? Page>PR</ACRONYM>-ARB/articles/14b_Gear_Setup/&docid=7pMVTVdsU3f-xM&imgurl=http://pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/<ACRONYM title="Page Ranking">PR</ACRONYM>-ARB/articles/14b_Gear_Setup/IMG_3870_small.jpg&w=400&h=300&ei=DpL8TvmJMaPgsQKQ xYDXAQ&zoom=1" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/imgres?q=ring+gear+backlash&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1250&bi h=869&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=pdjZ1Nr4QDfnwM:&im grefurl=http://pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/<ACRONYM title="Page Ranking">PR</ACRONYM>-ARB/articles/14b_Gear_Setup/&docid=7pMVTVdsU3f-xM&imgurl=http://pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/<ACRONYM title="Page Ranking">PR</ACRONYM>-ARB/articles/14b_Gear_Setup/IMG_3870_small.jpg&w=400&h=300&ei=DpL8TvmJMaPgsQKQ xYDXAQ&zoom=1

I'd check the contact pattern before teardown, and make sure it's the same after re-assembly. Used gears will wear in to each other, and can howl pretty badly if the contact pattern changes much...

Thats a great link!