lagunaMS
Red Skull Member
This is in a 97 Chevy K1500 with 6" lift on 35s, factory IFS front diff, GM 9.5" semi-float rear axle.
If I want to replace ONLY the ring and pinion in my rear axle, what is the absolute minimum I need to do in order to not burn anything up?
I already have a spare front IFS diff rebuilt with 4.88s and will install that after the rear axle is re-geared. I already have the gears for the rear axle. I don't want to replace bearings/seals or anything because they're all good and I'll be switching to a full floater later. Also leaving in the factory G80 carrier. It sucks but it will do for now.
I want to do this for the meantime for 2 reasons: the IFS diff is already rebuilt and re-geared, and I already have the rear gears. A SAS is on the horizon but this will get me 4.88s while I gather the SAS parts.
Can I just remove the carrier, unbolt the old ring gear and install the new one, install the new pinion, put the shims on the same sides as how they came off, check the pattern, and go if the pattern is good?
I'm willing to buy the dial indicator and whatever else because I plan on re-gearing the new SAS axles myself anyway. I plan to search the other threads where people have posted their patterns and review the feedback people gave. In a perfect world my pattern will be close enough but I want to be prepared in case it's not.
Trying to avoid wasting $500 on this axle getting a shop to do this if this is semi-doable myself.
If I want to replace ONLY the ring and pinion in my rear axle, what is the absolute minimum I need to do in order to not burn anything up?
I already have a spare front IFS diff rebuilt with 4.88s and will install that after the rear axle is re-geared. I already have the gears for the rear axle. I don't want to replace bearings/seals or anything because they're all good and I'll be switching to a full floater later. Also leaving in the factory G80 carrier. It sucks but it will do for now.
I want to do this for the meantime for 2 reasons: the IFS diff is already rebuilt and re-geared, and I already have the rear gears. A SAS is on the horizon but this will get me 4.88s while I gather the SAS parts.
Can I just remove the carrier, unbolt the old ring gear and install the new one, install the new pinion, put the shims on the same sides as how they came off, check the pattern, and go if the pattern is good?
I'm willing to buy the dial indicator and whatever else because I plan on re-gearing the new SAS axles myself anyway. I plan to search the other threads where people have posted their patterns and review the feedback people gave. In a perfect world my pattern will be close enough but I want to be prepared in case it's not.
Trying to avoid wasting $500 on this axle getting a shop to do this if this is semi-doable myself.