Rear end gear replacement. How much???
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,282
Likes: 172
From: Lake Wylie, South Carolina
Rear end gear replacement. How much???
I have the rear end carrier out of my vette and have the 3:70 gear that I want to put in it. How much should I expect to pay to have someone install and setup the gear? Acouple of Corvette shops in my area are talking $300 plus. And thats with me bringing them the carrier and the gear. This seems awful high when the back breaking work is already done for them. What about this video that Richmond sells, is this something that you can do at home after watching the video? thanks for the help and advice.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 43
From: San Antonio TX
Re: Rear end gear replacement. How much??? (wadew10)
That's a fairly reasonable price for a complete setup. Remember, you're paying for their expertise and, hopefully, a guarantee of their work.
Get a comprehensive quote that includes installing bearings and seals. You need a complete description of the work they'll be performing and what they're charging for that. An open-ended quote of $300+ leaves room for "You want bearings and seals installed? That's going to be extra."
Get a comprehensive quote that includes installing bearings and seals. You need a complete description of the work they'll be performing and what they're charging for that. An open-ended quote of $300+ leaves room for "You want bearings and seals installed? That's going to be extra."
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Rear end gear replacement. How much??? (wadew10)
I have done many rearends and I am NOT a mechanic or expert on anything. It is not hard . The shim under the pinion bearing is usually very close or close enough. I have done 3 mustangs recently and I just removed one set of gears and installed the next without any change and none of them whine. The only problem is removing the old pinion bearing to get at the shim which you need. I think $300 is too much for carrying the rear end in. Most mechanics don't change gears. Give it a try. What can you loose. If you need advice once you start the project e-mail me. I have done my vet recently and will change it again this winter.
Norval
Norval
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,004
Likes: 16
From: Gainesville, Florida
Re: Rear end gear replacement. How much??? (wadew10)
$300 is way high IMHO. Stay away from Corvette shops. The mere fact that they are "Corvette" specific allows a substantial markup over standard labor costs. Merely installing and setting up ring and pinion gears can be done by any automotive or truck shop that has differential or transmission expertise. A fair price is $100-$150 if all they're doing is setting the lash, preload and contact pattern of the gears if you're supplying the parts (gears, seal(s), gaskets, bearings, etc.).
While I agree setting up gears is rather straightforward, it requires the proper measurement tools and instruments to get them just right. So I would not recommend you do the install yourself unless you have them at your disposal and you know how to use them.
Mark
[Modified by mdsmith, 11:54 AM 9/5/2001]
While I agree setting up gears is rather straightforward, it requires the proper measurement tools and instruments to get them just right. So I would not recommend you do the install yourself unless you have them at your disposal and you know how to use them.
Mark
[Modified by mdsmith, 11:54 AM 9/5/2001]
