How hard is it to change gears yourself? Is it worth the trouble, or better off just leaving it to some mechaninc? From one to ten (ten being the best), I'd rate myself about a 6.5 in terms of mechanical inclination.

Goin' from the stock 4.10's to 5.29's...

 

well, if you want to tackle it yourself, then more power to you, but you'll need the tools and the press to do it with and then you have a chance of messing up your new bearings w/ the press or not getting the backlash or preload right and messing up your new gears. not including the press, the in-lb torque wrench and the dial indicator is going to run you $200+ for decent stuff. if it's a one-time thing, then it's usually better to just pay for a quality job...

 

I'm probably pretty similar to you in terms of skill. Rebuilt a tranny, couple of transfer cases, done timing chains, clutches, heads, etc. I do most of the work on my truck, but I left it to a pro to set up my gears. Maybe someday I will get a used third and practice with my old gears or something. I think this is a case where experience really makes a difference, no matter how much skill I think I have.

 

Agree with the above. But don't "leave it to some mechanic." Leave it to a good mechanic who is known for setting up gears properly.

 

yeah... the more research I have been doing has had me thinking in the same direction... anybody know of a descent (and affordable) third-member shop around tucson, AZ? I found a place that does front and rear for $825.

 

should be about $150-$200 each with you pulling them out and the shop installing the gears on the bench. you're close to doubling that when the shop has to pull the diff/third themselves and then reinstall them. add somewhere between $500-$700 for gears and master install kits that will have new bearings and shims to set them up correctly.

 

I'd agree that around $175 is fair for just setting up the gears, not pulling the thirds out or anything else. Setting up third members with ARBs for a bit more is fair, since there is some additional work in plumbing the locker and putting in the bulkhead fitting. So that's $300 to $400 in labor alone. Does the $825 include parts or not? Per axle (so x2), gears are about $200 to $250 or so, bearings and seals should be about another $200 (very much depends on the axle). So figure if you buy the parts, $800 for gears, bearings, etc. Add the labor, so plus $300. A basic regear if you pull the third members should be about $1000, give or take. This does not factor in the additional cost of traction devices. An ARB locker is about $750 (so $1500 for 2), a Lock Right I think is about $300.

 

my boss does setups on any axle for $250 + parts, but he's pretty meticulous about his work.

 

Check in with ZUK on this board. He does a lot of rear end stuff up here in Chandler and may be able to help you out with either a recommendation or a deal good enough to drive up for. Good Luck.

Mike

 

Anybody know of a cheaper, better hobby?

 

LOL!

I don't think knitting costs too much. Everything else fun takes loads of cash. At least my hobbies.

Course, needlework does get you to places like this:

 

i think i'm doomed to have expensive hobbies. trucks, fishing, and computers. why couldn't i have taken up hiking or something

 

i hike... siting in my truck

 

BTW...
4WheelParts.com is willing to sell me a set of 5.29's (YES- front and rear), AND 2 complete installation kits for $430!!!

Genuine Gear, BUT, nice warranty

 

but what you'll soon realize is that it's not the warranty that counts, it's the quality of the gears. most of the time installation runs more than the price of gears, and the warranty doesn't cover that...