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TexasTodd
Dodge Dakota
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11/11/2005
16:16:14

Subject: Installing rear end gears,...???
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I'm going from 3.55's, to 3.92's.

(please don't tell me to go shorter, I have a manual, and want to use 1st gear.)
I've read the Dodge manual on it.
Searches here don't seem to work w/o being a member now.
If you've done it, can you give my any pointers?



GraphiteDak
GenIII
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11/11/2005
16:28:37

RE: Installing rear end gears,...???
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I just had FUN (not really) doing mine. FOund good instruction online. SOmeone over at another Dodge Truck forum seems to be very knowledgable.

Ring and Pinion work seems to be taboo to many people. Even seasoned mechanics.

I'm sure you have witnessed my recent posts of my 4.56 gears in action???

But yeah, I've got the AUTO where my 1st gear STILL will come close to 40MPH.



toolfan
Dodge Dakota
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11/11/2005
16:32:52

RE: Installing rear end gears,...???
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use Google search "images" and you can normal get good info from that.



bigd
Dodge Dakota
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11/12/2005
08:06:57

RE: Installing rear end gears,...???
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graph could you post the link to the website you are talking about if you still have it. Im still debating on doing it myself (won't save much as I would have to buy a good amount of the required tools... but then i would have the tools :) ) or having it done locally. I have been asking around for about a week and Ive only had two places recommended to me. One changed ownership a few years ago and seems to be just a general repair shop now. The other is on the ct/ri border, about a two hour drive from me.



Mike S.
Dodge Dakota
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11/12/2005
09:32:33

RE: Installing rear end gears,...???
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I've done a gear change in both my Dakotas and a friends. I bought the spanner wrench that you need for adjusting backlash from Randy's ring and pinion. You can check out there website at www.ring-pinion.com. They have a lot of info there and are really nice to talk to if you have questions. I burned there tech line up on my first install. LOL.. Anyhow give them a try for install info.
Mike S.



TexasTodd
Dodge Dakota
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11/12/2005
17:47:23

RE: Installing rear end gears,...???
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Thanks to all.

So, you DIY'ers, had to use the shims, right?

I'm a seasoned wrench, but not sure if I want to do this, and have it off just slightly.

Graph,

Even with my 3.55's, I'm lucky it I get to 30mph in 1st!



Mike S.
Dodge Dakota
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11/12/2005
18:33:01

RE: Installing rear end gears,...???
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My Dakotas are a 91 and a 97 and by buddies truck is a 99. All of these have adjustable spanners in them, no shims. Instead of shims the rear has threads made into the actual housing and threads on the inside of the bearing caps. The spanners screw in and out to adjust the carrier left and right. To use the tool I got from Randy's you must remove the axles all the way and the tool goes in the housing in place of the axles and is keyed to fit in the spanner. The tool accepts a 1/2 inch drive ratchet or torque wrench. Hope this helps
Mike S.



2003 4.7
Dodge Dakota
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11/13/2005
03:17:03

RE: Installing rear end gears,...???
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Hey Todd I did'nt have to use the spanner wrench on my 9 1/4. I just used my big ugly screwdriver to back off the spanner nuts through acsess hole in the pumpkin cover. You will need a bearing kit, crush sleeve, and pinion nut along with new seals(it's easier to replace them while everythings apart) Take an impact to back off the pinion nut that holds on the u-joint yoke. It may take a little persuasion for the pinion to come out. After the pinion is out, take a drift punch to drive out the old bearing race. Press the bearing off of your stock pinion and throw it away(the bearing), I've seen too many rears go from this cheap part. remove and save the shim behind it. put it in the same place on the new pinion behind the bearing. Press on the new pinion bearing. Drive the new bearing race into the axel housing. place crush sleeve on pinion and oil the bearings. install the new pinion seal, and then u-joint yoke, torque the pinion nut to the specs in your service manual. Remove and keep all the bolts from the ring gear/carrier, if your changing the ring gear carrier, (eg Aburn)then you need to carfully drive the tone wheel off with a brass punch. Even if your not changing carriers don't damage the teeth on the tone wheel, it controlls anti lock brakes, and speedo. After the tone wheel/ring gear is on the carrier (warming the ring gear under a heat lamp sometimes makes it easier to fit) put locktite on the ring gear bolts. start all the bolts and run down by hand. Torque the ring gear bolts in a criss-cross pattern(like tighting lug nuts on a wheel)to the specified torque. Press the new bearings on the carrier(if you excanged it for an aftermarket one) If not then put the races back on the correct bearings. put the carrier back into the race cups, while holding the carrier in with one hand get the correct cap(you did mark them left and right up and down did'nt you?)and thread in the cap bolts hand tight. Repeat for the other side. Now slowly snug up the caps in a criss-cross untill there snug. Now put on your magnetic dial indicator onto the axel housing. Zero your indicator, and gently rotate the carrier back and forth to check backlash. Snug up both of the spanners, and then chek backlash. The requiered backlash should be engraved into the ring gear. adust the carrier left(out of the mesh)for more backlash. Or right(into the mesh) for less backlash. now torque the bearing caps as specified. Recheck backlash, mine moved slightly while I was torqueing the caps. A couple thousandsth wont really matter. then take your big ugly screwdriver, or the spanner wrench and preload the carrier bearings a little. I liked that my screwdriver flexed and kept me from over loading them. Recheck backlash. If it's all good and everythings in place, put your axels back in, put the axel clips back on and reinstall the spider dowel. Button up your diff cover, and fill 'er up.
Depending on the gearset you have, it will have a different break in. My richmonds said to run 15 miles and then let cool twice. And to change fluid after 500mi.
I put the Aburn super street LSD carrier and 3.91 in my REG CAB NV3500 HD. I have really enjoyed the setup, I still get around 19mpg highway @ 60mph and know my city milage has been increased.
Good luck man!



TexasTodd
Dodge Dakota
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12/01/2005
20:31:53

RE: Installing rear end gears,...???
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Wow,

That's alot of stuff.

I just planned on going from 3.55's, to 3.92's,
already have the LSD.

Can all this be done while in the truck? Do I have to remove the axles?

I've rebuilt motors, never a differential.





GraphiteDak
GenIII
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12/02/2005
18:11:06

RE: Installing rear end gears,...???
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LOL I've been away too long :)

You have to slide the axles out about a foot each side. With drum brakes I bet you would not need to do anything to the brakes. With my read disk brakes I have to remove my calipers first.

I also used a BIG UGLY SCREWDRIVER to do my spanners :) Haven't heard that terminology in a while for the screwdriver LOL!


The rear you can do in the truck. I'm going to have to drop my front axle. Maybe tomorrow it looks to finally get it done.

The only SHIMS you need are for the pinion itself.


Randy's ing and pinion is where I donwloaded the instructions. I bought the gears at accuautoparts.com





2003 4.7
Dodge Dakota
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12/07/2005
01:41:18

RE: Installing rear end gears,...???
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Sorry Todd, yea you need to remove the C clips from the end of the axel shafts and pull the axels out some like Graphite said.
Graphite, big ugly also sees duty as pry bar, hammer, convincer, and weapon ;p



TexasTodd
Dodge Dakota
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12/08/2005
16:19:15

RE: Installing rear end gears,...???
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Hey Graphite,

Hope you received the CD by now, mailed a few days ago.

Todd



GraphiteDak
GenIII
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12/08/2005
22:46:59

RE: Installing rear end gears,...???
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Ooh, I forgot about that. No haven't got any CD yet. Hopefully soon then Thanks :)




I am laughing at the big ugly screwdriver... hold on. I'm gonna go take some pix of what HAPPENED to my big ugly screwdrivers during my gear swap.....















GraphiteDak
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12/08/2005
23:16:01

RE: Installing rear end gears,...???
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OK check it out...

When it was time to crush the crush sleeve, my impact wasn't cutting it. So I grabbed my large 1/2" breaker bar aith an extension. I stuck these screwdrivers in the holes for the pinion yolk to TRY and hold the pinion from turning.
It didn't work!
I had to borrow my father in laws heavy duty impact and that crushed my crush sleeve :)






Those are 12" or so screwdrivers. It is hard to tell the size in the picture.

This of course was AFTER I tried to straighten them out!

DUH-OH!




GraphiteDak
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12/09/2005
18:43:05

RE: Installing rear end gears,...???
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Hey Todd. I got the CD today. Thanks. It's for 2002 and mine is a 2003, but most things should be the same.

How did you get your hands on that? Do they actually SELL shop manuals like that?



TexasTodd
Dodge Dakota
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12/09/2005
21:05:18

RE: Installing rear end gears,...???
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A frind in the area,
goes by the handle of
Lurkin
gave it to me. He's got a QC, 2002, AWD, 4.7, HO cams,



toolfan
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12/09/2005
22:55:53

RE: Installing rear end gears,...???
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those big ugly screwdrivers must of not have been harden steal to bend like that G.D lol one you straighten pretty well idk about the other.

[ and some mods to blow it up]

GraphiteDak
GenIII
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12/10/2005
00:49:31

RE: Installing rear end gears,...???
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Well turning the pinion bolt was a 1/2" breaker bar about 2 feet long. Had a extension on that :P

The screwdriver couldn't hold the pinion yolk from turning as you can see!



2003 4.7
Dodge Dakota
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12/23/2005
02:01:27

RE: Installing rear end gears,...???
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Graphite Dak, Sweet screwdriver man! I've twisted up some like a pretzel too.



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