Differential Build
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 160
Likes: 1
Differential Build
Dear fellow members;
I want an honest answer on whether I should attempt to install a new set of 3.90 ring and pinion set in my differential.My current set of 3.90 gears have a whine that I have been living with for the past 5 or 6 years.
How difficult is this install?I am fairly good at doing mechanical work and have done a lot of work on my car such as new rotors,exhaust,,plugs,fuel rail and injectors,but have never attempted to enter into the guts of a part.
Any tips or advice would be very appreciated.
I want an honest answer on whether I should attempt to install a new set of 3.90 ring and pinion set in my differential.My current set of 3.90 gears have a whine that I have been living with for the past 5 or 6 years.
How difficult is this install?I am fairly good at doing mechanical work and have done a lot of work on my car such as new rotors,exhaust,,plugs,fuel rail and injectors,but have never attempted to enter into the guts of a part.
Any tips or advice would be very appreciated.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 4,549
Likes: 30
From: Shenandoah Valley Virginia
A differential build is a fairly complicated project. I would recommend obtaining the factory manual for your car and reading the removal and rebuild section thoroughly. Special tools are needed. You might consider an outside vendor from the forum like RTK or RPM to do the rebuild for you. Both organizations have excellent reputations.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 65
From: Rochester Hills MI
You will spend about the same amount of money doing it yourself or sending it off due to the cost of the tools and shims. I love doing this kind of stuff, but if you've never dug into parts that deeply, I would have a professional do it.
Factory gears are pretty simple to set up, but once you get to aftermarket ratios, a lot of the factory procedures get tossed out the window, and you have to get a little inventive. A lot of aftermarket gears don't have the measured numbers scribed on the gears, and it becomes an iterative process to get the correct mesh. If you are good with excel charts and extrapolation, it will greatly reduce the time it takes for each iteration of shims. Factory service manual is a must, and there are a few helpful threads on here if you do decide to attempt it yourself.
Factory gears are pretty simple to set up, but once you get to aftermarket ratios, a lot of the factory procedures get tossed out the window, and you have to get a little inventive. A lot of aftermarket gears don't have the measured numbers scribed on the gears, and it becomes an iterative process to get the correct mesh. If you are good with excel charts and extrapolation, it will greatly reduce the time it takes for each iteration of shims. Factory service manual is a must, and there are a few helpful threads on here if you do decide to attempt it yourself.
Last edited by SaberD; Dec 10, 2013 at 10:52 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 764
Likes: 19
From: odessa FL
My advice is no. Even if you have experiance with seting up rears, these are tricky.
For that matter, you have to be careful even with "professionals". Stick with RTK or RPM. I wish I had...
If you are happy with the ratio and the whine isnt getting worse and no bits in the fluid, it may not be worth it.
For that matter, you have to be careful even with "professionals". Stick with RTK or RPM. I wish I had...
If you are happy with the ratio and the whine isnt getting worse and no bits in the fluid, it may not be worth it.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 160
Likes: 1
differential build
My advice is no. Even if you have experiance with seting up rears, these are tricky.
For that matter, you have to be careful even with "professionals". Stick with RTK or RPM. I wish I had...
If you are happy with the ratio and the whine isnt getting worse and no bits in the fluid, it may not be worth it.
For that matter, you have to be careful even with "professionals". Stick with RTK or RPM. I wish I had...
If you are happy with the ratio and the whine isnt getting worse and no bits in the fluid, it may not be worth it.
