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2THEXTRM
GenIII
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2/25/2003
12:49:42

Subject: Front Diff Gear Change
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Does the front diff require the same "setting up" as the rear gears(backlash, etc), anyone else did their gear swap themselves, if so what tools did you need and how hard was it. It looks like you have to remove the front diff to do the gear swap?

I have 3.92 gears that I have to install into my open diff and I am pondering the $600 for a professional shop to install or tackling it myself. I have access to a lift and prolly all the tools needed. I also will be installing a powertrax lock-right, that it appears should be easy to install myself. Thanks!

Flowmaster cat back w/15 inch chrome tip, Volant Intake, Poweraid TB Spacer, Splitfire Plugs, full synthetic fluids
3 inch body/1.5 inch Block Lift, 305 70-16 X-Terrains on AR Terons, Pro Comp ES9000's
Grizzly double/single rollbar with (6) Hella's, Manik Nerfs, Line-X, Hard Work & $$$$$$$$$$

jaggy
GenIII
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2/25/2003
19:52:13

RE: Front Diff Gear Change
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2thextrm,
let me know how that turns out, I want to swap my 3.55's for 3.92's soon. I am currently looking for a reasonable deal on the gears (dealer is smoking crack). where did you get yours?



2THEXTRM
GenIII
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2/25/2003
20:33:07

RE: Front Diff Gear Change
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It is not reasonable at all to swap gears in our Dak's, like everything else, it is overpriced. Wish I had ordered my truck and paid the $125 to upgrade to 3.92's with LSD then lol, would saved me about $1200 hahahaha. I got my rear diff gears from ebay last week, got lucky to come accross a dude selling bran new mopar gears with all the install goodies in an unopened kit. I got the whole kit for $145 shipped!!! Nice! Less than half of the $400 dealer cost. The front gears I just ordered from my local dealer as I have been waiting for some to come up on ebay for 2 weeks now with no luck and after I called to every known gear shop(randy's, richmond, etc.) and some unknown gear shops to only find that their pricing is right in line(around $260) with Mopar parts after I get my 20% discount so might as well stick with Mopar parts and not disturb my drivetrain warranty(not sure if it would using "generic brand" gears). I'll have around $700 into the gears and powertrax locker before install costs if I don't do it myself, not too bad considering.

I think the best deal for you is randy's ring-n-pinion for around $600 shipped for front/rear gears and the install kits. That's not too bad, I like my deal better, but you'll have to keep a close eye on ebay to save any money it appears.

Flowmaster cat back w/15 inch chrome tip, Volant Intake, Poweraid TB Spacer, Splitfire Plugs, full synthetic fluids
3 inch body/1.5 inch Block Lift, 305 70-16 X-Terrains on AR Terons, Pro Comp ES9000's
Grizzly double/single rollbar with (6) Hella's, Manik Nerfs, Line-X, Hard Work & $$$$$$$$$$

SilverstoneV8
Dodge Dakota
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2/25/2003
20:33:39

RE: Front Diff Gear Change
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you need a pinion depth tool. if you dont have one dont do the swap yourself.
you will also need a dial indicator for backlash.



Rob454
Dodge Dakota
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2/25/2003
21:08:29

RE: Front Diff Gear Change
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Word to the wise
if you have never installed gears let someone who knows do it. If you set them up wrong youll wear them out very fast. Ive done enough of them to know but my first one was a mess
Rob



2THEXTRM
GenIII
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2/25/2003
21:46:55

RE: Front Diff Gear Change
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I did some reading from the Mopar Repair Manual at my dealership tonight and think I will leave it to the professionals. $600 for installation with a one year warranty is peace of mind that my investment will not need replacement in 3 months.

Flowmaster cat back w/15 inch chrome tip, Volant Intake, Poweraid TB Spacer, Splitfire Plugs, full synthetic fluids
3 inch body/1.5 inch Block Lift, 305 70-16 X-Terrains on AR Terons, Pro Comp ES9000's
Grizzly double/single rollbar with (6) Hella's, Manik Nerfs, Line-X, Hard Work & $$$$$$$$$$

2THEXTRM
GenIII
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2/26/2003
18:32:59

RE: Front Diff Gear Change
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Jaggy, here is the same dude selling another set of 3.92's with the install kit on ebay! Starting bid is $125.00.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2405344527&category=33731

I just emailed about the front gears cause I didn't realize he was selling more than one set so he may be a "gear" dealer. I'll cancel my order for the front diff gears from dealer if he can hit me up with another good deal, I let you know if he does.

Flowmaster cat back w/15 inch chrome tip, Volant Intake, Poweraid TB Spacer, Splitfire Plugs, full synthetic fluids
3 inch body/1.5 inch Block Lift, 305 70-16 X-Terrains on AR Terons, Pro Comp ES9000's
Grizzly double/single rollbar with (6) Hella's, Manik Nerfs, Line-X, Hard Work & $$$$$$$$$$

Jaggy
GenIII
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2/26/2003
19:08:32

RE: Front Diff Gear Change
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Thanks for the heads up!
Nice score on the cams by the way.
beat me to the punch.
I am thinking about the KRC cams heard anything about those?



2THEXTRM
GenIII
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2/26/2003
20:00:16

RE: Front Diff Gear Change
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No problem, I couldnt' pass up the chance for HO cams with wedge tool for that price, they are only going up and up in price from the dealer. I don't think anyone has gotten the 206 KRC cams on this site yet and the EHO cams are not yet available.

Flowmaster cat back w/15 inch chrome tip, Volant Intake, Poweraid TB Spacer, Splitfire Plugs, full synthetic fluids
3 inch body/1.5 inch Block Lift, 305 70-16 X-Terrains on AR Terons, Pro Comp ES9000's
Grizzly double/single rollbar with (6) Hella's, Manik Nerfs, Line-X, Hard Work & $$$$$$$$$$

jaggy
GenIII
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2/27/2003
11:28:29

RE: Front Diff Gear Change
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the seller from Ebay is checking now to see if he has the gears that will work for our front ends.
I asked him to check for 2 sets.



jaggy
GenIII
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2/27/2003
19:54:36

RE: Front Diff Gear Change
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Seller has confirmed the gears will work on 2000-01.
he is checking my vin# to see if they will work for the 02.
I also asked him how many complete sets he can get, if he has a few I will host a group buy or direct him to the GB thread.



2THEXTRM
GenIII
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2/27/2003
20:51:57

RE: Front Diff Gear Change
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So he has gears for our 8" IFS front diff or he thinks the rear gears will work in the front? I know that the front/rear gears are different.

If he does have front gears for our 8" diff, that is sweet. You have the same front diff as my 01, so you would be all set too and a group buy would be even better, I might even take two sets and upgrade my 02 Dak if the price is right.

Glad I found this guy on ebay!

Flowmaster cat back w/15 inch chrome tip, Volant Intake, Poweraid TB Spacer, Splitfire Plugs, full synthetic fluids
3 inch body/1.5 inch Block Lift, 305 70-16 X-Terrains on AR Terons, Pro Comp ES9000's
Grizzly double/single rollbar with (6) Hella's, Manik Nerfs, Line-X, Hard Work & $$$$$$$$$$

NYSubDak
Dodge Dakota
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2/28/2003
01:16:13

RE: Front Diff Gear Change
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I swapped gears in my 2k 4x4 from 3.55 to 3.92. I bought the front gears from an online place who used the numbers off my diff to verify that the parts were correct. My mechanic disassembled the front end and voila, parts no fit. Had to rush a set from dealer. He got me a good price though. The thing that shyed me away from doing the gears myself was that the instructions for the C205 front case require stretching the case like 10 mils or so, and I didn't want to be responsible for cracking my aluminum case. I talked to my mechanic afterword though and he said he didn't have to strech it. The biggest issue he said he had was removing the inner half shafts. he said there was water trapped behind the seals, and the splines had seized. He said once he got them apart, he had to spend a decent amount of time cleaning the splines with a dremel to get them back together. He assumed I use my truck to launch a boat. I can't explain it though. It cost me about $700 in parts and another $600 in labor. I absolutely love the new ratio and the lsd was a great upgrade. But, I will never make the mistake of ignoring the gear ratio again when I buy a truck.



jaggy
GenIII
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2/28/2003
11:15:15

RE: Front Diff Gear Change
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He says that he has gears that will work.



2THEXTRM
GenIII
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2/28/2003
11:27:13

RE: Front Diff Gear Change
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NYSubDak, I agree with you on paying attention to the gearing when you buy a vehicle, saves alota cash and headaches. My next Dak will have the lowest gears available:)

jaggy, Did he say how much and if the install kit will be included? Thx.

Flowmaster cat back w/15 inch chrome tip, Volant Intake, Poweraid TB Spacer, Splitfire Plugs, full synthetic fluids
3 inch body/1.5 inch Block Lift, 305 70-16 X-Terrains on AR Terons, Pro Comp ES9000's
Grizzly double/single rollbar with (6) Hella's, Manik Nerfs, Line-X, Hard Work & $$$$$$$$$$

jaggy
GenIII
 User Profile


2/28/2003
11:59:12

RE: Front Diff Gear Change
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Message:
He has not contacted me this morning.
He wanted to confirm that the gears would work for my truck so He is checking the VIN#.
I am sure that it is the same as yours.
I will ask for install kits and intructions if available.

You and I are taken care of, just need to discuss price.
he is also checking to see how many complete sets he has, maybe we can hook some one else up with this price.

I took my truck back to the dealer and tried to make them put the 3.92's in one week after I bought it. I wish that I had done my homework on the gears then. They wanted about $1800 to do the job complete. I told them I would pay the difference of the option package.
The service manager did everything he could to not laugh in my face.
My sales man could tell that I was about to punch him in the face. They both recomended the 3.55's to me and when I wasn't happy they didn't care.
It was hard for me not to show up on someone's doorstep.

Anyway this will make me happy, getting a good price on the gears.



jaggy
GenIII
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3/06/2003
13:44:48

RE: Front Diff Gear Change
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I just talked to Randy's Ring and Pinion.
They are in the process of testing new gears now for our trucks.
4:10 and 4:56's!!!
they will be ready in another month or 2.
they will call me when they are ready.
complete set was about $460 shipped.
I think I am going to wait and get the 4:10's.
also there is a group buy on Yukon gears available for our trucks front diff, complete set was about $480 shipped.



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