Ring gear or differential

[3wHEELER1]

Planning on gear swapping 3.08 to 4.10 on 7.5 , can i install 4.10ring and differential as a unit or should i bolt the 4.10 ring gear to the differential that came out of my housing. Pulled the 4.10 set up out of salvage yard also have bearing caps and thick spacers from that rear. Driver side spacers are .009 different passenger side spacers are .026 different. Ordered install kit with bearings today. Swapping out complete rear would be the ticket , but due to major mods on housing thats not an option.

 

[4x4junkie]

Those bearing caps are useless without the axle they came from (they are machined specific to the axle housing. You also cannot swap the caps side-side or invert them in the same housing either, they have to go back exactly where they were machined to fit).

I would strongly suggest having a rearend shop do this, as there is a lot more to it than simply putting the gears and diff in. If anything is even just a little off (gear mesh, carrier or pinion bearing preload, and so on), you could end up sitting on the side of the road with an axle full of metal shavings in about 500-1000 miles. The tolerances here are less than 5 thousandths and do vary from axlehousing to axlehousing.


I know, probably not what you wanted to hear, but axle work involving the gears is not something to be taken lightly.

 

[3wHEELER1]

Thanks for the concern on how involved it is , but I do realize the close tolerances and procedures that I need to follow. I just didnt know if diferentials could be installed from one housing to another rather than unbolt and rebolt the ring gear . Also are the spacers that are between the carrier bearing and housing , machined specifically for the housing that they came out of, like the bearing caps. Any info would be great.

 

[Captain Ledd]

Thanks for the concern on how involved it is , but I do realize the close tolerances and procedures that I need to follow.

If you truely knew the tolerances, and the procedures you need to follow, you have answered the 2nd half of your statement.

I just didnt know if diferentials could be installed from one housing to another rather than unbolt and rebolt the ring gear . Also are the spacers that are between the carrier bearing and housing , machined specifically for the housing that they came out of, like the bearing caps. Any info would be great.

I'm not 100% sure what you're asking. So I'll answer as best I can.

The spacers are shims, very precision thicknesses, used for adjustment of the ring and pinion (theres sets on either side of the carrier, and also along the pinion itself). Can they be swapped? Yes, but ONLY if used in conjunction with other shims because they will NOT yeild the same pattern in a different housing. In some cases even pulling the shims out and immediately put back in can change readings. You should receive some extra shims in your install kit.

Honestly if you don't know what these are and what they do, you're going to ruin that ring gear, GUARANTEED. I'd never advocate the "just take it to a shop" mentality, but you have so much more to read and learn, that I cannot type it all in a single post.

Will the differential swap with the ring gear still attached? Yes, but in terms of setting it up, will the other carrier (ring gear still attached) mean less/easier set-up later on, NO. Each component is unique, you will never, ever, ever, have two axles with R&P's set up exactly the same.

I do encourage you to set up your own differential, but please do more research, there is more than plenty of write-up and tech articles covering how to set these up.

You have a long road ahead of you, it's good to see the enthusiasm.

The #1 thing when doing this, is patience. You will probably find the end of yours.

 

[-Nathan-]

^ agreed. Also, you didnt mention anywhere about installing the matching pinion....you do know that the ring gear and pinion set have to match? especially from a used gear set? If youre going to set it up, focus more on getting a good coast pattern, rather than drive. I dont mean to sound discouraging, but it really seems that you arent aware of what you are getting yourself into. Setting up a differential is NOT simply a bolt in affair.