DIY gears

[Dawg2500HD]

Anybody got any info of changing gears yourself? I've always done my own work (lifts, tranny rebuilds, etc). i just put an 8" lift and 37's on my SuperDuty and I want some of my power back. Was thinking 4.30's. Anybody know of any articles or writeups that will help?

Thanks!
Jeremy

[jetjock15]

done it myself many times. It is my least favorite job, and I am a mechanic also. You must have a press to press the rear bearings on and off the carrier. Its painful but do-able. Tons of gear ratio calculator on the net, google search "gear calculator" 4.56s be closest match to stock, but 4.30s may suite your needs better.

[Dawg2500HD]

I figured it would be a little bit of a hassle. But it would save SO much money! Know of any write ups or how to's?

Jeremy

[Jim@StreetLethalPerfrmnce]

if you have a dana rear forget about it....i rebuilt my dana 80, and it was so freaking horrible! ive done several 8.8's and other rears with a crush collar set up, but those damm dana's and there frigging shim packs for pinion pre-load, shims behint bearing races, more dumb shi' like that....F them!

[sbarbee54]

Spend the 700 and have someone do it. By the stuff yourself from someone like Randys Ring and Pinion. Not the best thing to try if you have no experience with it. Because if your shims are off or your angles or bearing are not in it is not fixable you gernade the whole thing. Then have to buy it all over.

[Dawg2500HD]

Thanks for the help guys! I'm still kind of wanting to do it myself, but i'm going to call around to a few places and get some quotes.

Jeremy

[windrunner408]

I have did my own gear swaps on both a dana 60 and a dana 44 a couple of years ago with the help from my uncle who is a diesel mechanic. It's not that it is really hard to do as it is just very tedious to get everything shimed right with the proper preload on the bearings. I am all about doing stuff yourself and if you have the equipment that jetjock said you need and want to try it then do it. But it may just be more cost effective and less headache for you to just buy the gears you want with the install kit you want and take everything to someone and have them do it and have them warranty it. Just saying.