Im getting (or should be getting) a gear carrier w/ 3.73 ring gear and pinion gear off my friend. The carrier and pinion gear came straight out of another ten bolt. Theyre shimmed and they even still have new bearings attached. He tells me its pretty tricky and i believe him but i was curious to know how involved it is to swap out my present carrier and pinion gear for the new carrier and pinion gear.

 

You should check the pinion depth before you remove it from the old housing. All housings Are NOT the same. You still have to set them up as though they were new.

 

Be sure to save your pinion shim from the rear end already in your car.

Alot of the time, the shim that was installed in your rear will be pretty close. just press off the bearing, remove the shim. Press the bearing off the replacement pinion, remove that shim and put the shim from your original gear set on the new pinion. Install the bearing and put it in the housing, then stuff the carrier into place and check the pattern.

If you held your mouth just right and kept your mind clear of unclean thoughts, the only adjustment you will have to do is setting the backlash.

If the pinion depth is wrong, you can at least make an informed estimate of how much more/less shim you will need.

If you have access to a press, it's not that difficult to remove the pinion bearing.

Putting it back on is a piece of cake, set a coffee can on a hot plate with about 2 1/2" of oil in it and put the bearing in the hot oil for about 5 minutes and it will slide right onto the pinion shaft pretty easy. You may have to give it a couple of taps to seat it, but no biggie.

Good luck.

 

most or all 7.5 10 bolts will need a .035 pinion shim. the depth is etched on the pinion, check it with a depth mike. check bearing preload, make sure you do this or parts will be falling off and out of your rear. install the ring gear, set back lash, then check the contact pattern. not really hard to do but requires lot of tools most people don't have and you can't afford to not do it the right way.

 

the tools part is my biggest problem. My friend that im getting this from is knowledgeable and has tools so i guess ill ask him for help. Thanx.