Replacing gears tech forum
FTE Remembers
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,259
Likes: 346
From: Northern California
do you have a pinion depth tool , case spreader , and dial indicator ?
if you are doing the bearings while you are in there you will also want a hydraulic press and bearing plates.
as far as a step by step tutorial I would consult the Google. if you are really determined to do the job there are hacks for the case spreader and pinion debth tool but you will still need a dial indicator and magnetic base holder for setting the backlash.
if you are doing the bearings while you are in there you will also want a hydraulic press and bearing plates.
as far as a step by step tutorial I would consult the Google. if you are really determined to do the job there are hacks for the case spreader and pinion debth tool but you will still need a dial indicator and magnetic base holder for setting the backlash.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,257
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From: Scottsdale, AZ
I don't have the tools, but my friend does. But he doesn't have the bearing that slides on and off the pinion to get the correct shims. I gotta quote for $1600 for front and rear Yukon gears with 456's
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Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Media PA
$1600 is a pretty good price for a two axle gear change from a shop, better than the quotes I had gotten.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2012
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From: Scottsdale, AZ
It's a friend of a friends shop. If that's a good deal, then I think I'll go for it. Just have to convince the wife 
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From: Media PA
Just want to add that with a V-10, 35"s and towing you might be happier with 4.88s, they will give you an effective 4.30-ish ratio which is a real sweet spot for the 6.8 and towing. That's the combo I'm running.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2012
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From: Scottsdale, AZ
So how much will changing out the gears affect my daily driving? I do drive this truck every day for work not towing
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FTE Remembers
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Northern California
here ya go, handy calculator to figure your RPM for at any speed , gear ratio or tire size
https://www.ringpinion.com/calculators/Calc_RPM.aspx
https://www.ringpinion.com/calculators/Calc_RPM.aspx
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Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Media PA
A gear change to any deeper gear will improve the performance and drivability of the EX. Do you currently have the more common 3.73 gears or are you starting out with the optional factory 4.30 gears?
My Ex started out with the 3.73 gears and on pure highway trips it did a best of 15.5 MPG on the stock 265 rubber with my typical mixed daily driving it was seeing 14-ish average tanks. After I swapped in the 4.88 gears I also bumped up from the factory 31.5" tires to 32"s, with that combo it's pure highway mileage dropped to about 12 and change. The towing MPGs (9500lb toyhauler at that time) went from 6/7 MPG up to 9 with the new gears. Later I upgraded to 35" tires (effective ratio of 4.39) and an 11,000lb TT (with custom tunes and banks headers) and am still getting 8 to 9 MPG towing on the highway. The only full tanks I have logged unloaded on the highway in this configuration showed 13 MPG with the cruise set at 65 /70 MPH. At 65 MPH in OD it is turning 2230 RPMs.
Once you finish your regear the next best thing to into is a good set of custom tunes, I went with the forum favorite tuner 5Star Tuning. The changes to the trans performance are well worth the cost of the tunes in my opinion, any actual increases in engine output are just the gravy.
