I get my 5.29 gears and master install kits friday. I pulled the rear end apart last night, and this afternoon I have been working on the front. I pulled the CV shafts out, drained the diff, pulled off the vacum lines, and the electrical 4wd plug. Now I am stuck on getting the whole front axle out. There is a large allen head bolt holding it in, near the front drive shaft. I think it is a 12 mm head. I only go up to 10 mm in all my kits. Here is a pic...

 

It's a 12mm. Do you have a harbor frieght around you? They have a pack of Allen headed sockets, pretty cheap and you get from like 5-6 up to 14mm

Once you get that bolt out you gotta find the sweet spot to get the diff out. I recommend removing the air line/breather bracket from the top of the diff.

 

i picked up the 12mm allen socket needed in a 3 pack from autozone for 9 bucks.

 

I'll be doing the same soon. I'll be watching.

 

I did remove the bolt holding the bracket on...I thought it would be a good idea...

I found the 12mm allen head at sears for $9.00. Now tommorow after work I can tear out the IFS and start taking out the old 3.73's out of both diffs

BTW my buddy and I had a arguement at work today about how fast my truck would top out in 5th gear with 33"s and 5spd tranny with the new gears. I think like 85mph, he says much less than that...whos right?

 

BTW my buddy and I had a arguement at work today about how fast my truck would top out in 5th gear with 33"s and 5spd tranny with the new gears. I think like 85mph, he says much less than that...whos right?



I can and do run 85-90 in fifth with a 22re with 5.29's and 35's (when I want to keep up with traffic and not be the rolling road block)on flat to slightly rising roads and my 3.0 5.29's and 35's as well, would do the same when it was healthy(starting 3.4 super charged swap now)

 

My 3rz with 33's and 4.88s I could go at least 110 without it falling apart and I still had rpms left, so 5.29's I bet I can still hit 110.

 

Yeah I totally agree with you, cause when I first got my tires on and had my 3.73 gears a new freeway opened up by my house and on the way home from work my truck maxed the speedo out and just keep pulling. so I think I will still will be able to cruise at 70mph without too much RPM's. Thanks for the reasurance though.