I'm about to re-gear my 85 4runner with 5.29's and have been looking all over for info and photos to help. But what I can't find is what to do after the gears are back in the third member and ready to install back into the axle. What do I have to do at this point to drive my truck away happy and not destroy it?

 

huh? Like you seal it and put it on the axle tube, torque the nuts down, slide the axles back in, bolt on the drive shaft, put the brakes and wheels back together...then fill with oil?

 

So you don't have to paint the ring gear to see where the pinion is meshing?

 

Ohhhhhhhhh....well your question was a little ambiguous....

YES. You have to check the backlash, pinion preload and gear pattern...

http://www.gearinstalls.com/index.htm

 

^^ x2.. and after its setup properly don't forget the break in procedure.

 

I would paint my teeth and check the pattern before I tore down my original gear...

It should give you confidence of seeing what the new paint mark's supposed to look like and not from a computer screen.



EDIT: And if you get just one diff, you can take your time building it, and just throw it in one weekend, and still be able to drive your truck while you do the front...

aka, ZERO down-time.

 

Hey Big Blue, other WA residents, any suggestions for shops to do a check up on a couple thirds locally? I just picked up some second hand 4.88 thirds. I was thinking it might be a good idea to have someone go over them, before I bust out the old 4.10s....

 

Well, If you really want to pay someone, Randy's ring and pinion. Should be close to you.

 

I think I'm going to do the paint test, see how things line up. I know I can remove and install a 3rd...but I don't know enough about them to tear one apart. I don't want to tear it down, only to tear it down again Thanks for the info, I' don't know what kind of money I'm looking at, I'll inquire...

 

The thing about gears is YOU ARE gonna be building it to tear it down to build it. That's just how you set it up.

 

Oh and I'm on the rock anyways so I'm not sure where to advise you to take your stuff too down there.....

 

I think the idea is with two sets thirds a lot of down time can be prevented.
I'd like to make sure I don't put gears in that need maintenance. Know what I mean?

 

Right, you have complete thirds you want checked out. Check the pattern, the pinion preload and the backlash. Check for chipped teeth, wear on the gears...etc...

 

Sounds like time for more reading, thanks Big Blue