Differential Rebuild Kits
 

Anyone have any experience with the differential rebuild kits? Are they junk? Seems convenient that all parts are in a kit. :cheers:

I've never seen a "complete" rebuild kit, bearings, seals, shims, rings don't make the kit complete. If clutch-pack is included it could be said to be "more complete" but I've never seen a kit that included the pinion washers that are almost always needed. You might maybe post a link to what exactly you're thinking is "complete".

A "kit" from most (dependent upon what's included), a clutch-pack and pinion washers would do a typical "rebuild", some(me) might consider that a "maintenance pack". Plan on checking the shaft/pin to case fit and maybe needing either or both. If that were the case then a carrier complete plus bearings etc. could be considered a better buy.

If time permits you remove first and confirm the condition.

I bought all my rebuild parts at rockauto, it came out cheaper to buy the bearing kit, crush sleeve, and axle seals seperate then to buy the whole kit for 160, and i was able to pick timken bearings. This was for a dana 44 and did not include the parts to rebuild the trac lok, Im going with a true track and 373 gear. Here was my order,

TIMKEN DRK339A Differential Bearing and Seal Kit $ 89.79 $ 0.00 1 $ 89.79
USA STANDARD GEAR USA33086 (USA-33086) Differential Crush Sleeve $ 7.48 $ 0.00 1 $ 7.48
USA STANDARD GEAR USA30275 (USA-30275) Axle Shaft Seal $ 9.64 $ 0.00 2 $ 19.28
Discount $ -5.83
Shipping Priority Mail, Ground $ 13.98
Order Total $ 124.70

Looking at your order I don't see any shim kits SO maybe you've been there before and have many OR ...... WHAT? You've also no short-axle retention rings that are selective when assembling. What you've listed is maybe all that you need but the repair/rebuild/maintenance of a D44 using the Trac-Lok requires much more.

No i haven't done the rebuild before and i'm still waiting on my true track to do it. Like i said in my post this does not include the parts to rebuild the trac lok, im using a different locker. You are right the shim kit was not on there I thought it came with the bearing kit. The bearing kit does come with the crush sleeve, pinion nut and washer, and marking compound. The shim kit is 6 bucks, I will have to order that. I didn't know I needed retention rings, none of the other kits had them.

You need a pinion shim pack(for the head end/rear) and a differential side bearing shim package. The retention snap-rings are selective and with the change to the Tue-Trac I'm quite sure you'll need that package also. You can't tell until the final assembly and the same is true if a clutch-pack is added to the maintenance/rebuild of the Trac-Lok.

As others have stated, it is (typically) a bearing and seal kit.

A jumping off point rather than a comprehensive "rebuild" kit.

At a minimum you will need a dial indicator and a press to install it properly.

A bearing oven helps a bunch. (I use a thick steel plate from a rail road tie, with a high intensity light above it and an ir thermometer.)

There will be shims, clutches, dye, etc..

I should of specified it was a bearing and seal kit. The seal is leaking on my drivers side so I figured it would be a start with the kit. I just wanted to make sure they weren't junk.

Thanks for listing the part numbers. I may go this route if it turns out to be cheaper. :cheers:

No. We use them all the time.

The difference is the bearings. Timken are good. National are. Even some of the foreign bearings like Koyo are good quality and not junk.

IMO, watch out for the China things masquerading as bearings though.

I wouldn't install those if someone gave them to me.