Good price for an axle rebuild

[Daedalus454]

So what is a reasonable cost for a professional shop to do a full rebuild? My D35 rear is pretty much shot (loud bearing noise at all speeds, gradually getting louder, no change after swapping both axle bearings & seals, original lube looked like thin tar), and I found a 29-spline chryco at a good price, but it needs bearings too. The seller (who runs an auto shop) says that he'll do it for ~150 + parts if I buy his axle. Just want to make sure I get the job done right for a good price.

I considered doing it myself (I used to be a professional aircraft mechanic), but I decided that with only one Jeep it wasn't worth it to buy the tools and take the risk that I'd ruin something.

 

[Lowrange2]

I'd go with the mechs offer. Sounds like a deal to me. The rebuild kit runs about 75 bucks. So 75 bucks for labor is pie.

 

[Daedalus454]

Actually what I meant to say was that $150 is labor only, the rebuild kit would be extra. So with your ballpark price of $75 for parts, plus ~$75 to actually buy the axle, I'm looking at $300 or so, maybe more depending on how expensive the parts run and if the guy is *really* willing to sell me the axle for the "Pick-A-Part" price. Obviously that's a lot more than a $75 junkyard axle, in your opinion is it worth it to pay the extra and get one that's been rebuilt?

(I've hit local junkyards for the past two weekends and have yet to find anything better than semi-floating D35s and beat-up looking 27 spline 8.25s)

 

[hysiderafter]

If he knows what he is doing and warrants his work that is a great deal for labor. You could easily spend $350 or more for labor to overhaul and setup the differential at many shops. You might ask for an estimate on the cost of parts to make sure he isn't hoping to make up the difference there. This is also a great time to install a locker if you are thinking about doing it anyway. If that's not in your plans or you are thinking of an Aussie or other lunchbox locker then it really doesn't matter since gear setup won't be required a second time.

 

[Daedalus454]

He told me that he personally isn't comfortable doing get setups, and that the actual work would be done by his buddy, who has done gear setups before and is "very knowledgeable" about gears, so it sounds like there wouldn't be any warranty.

I asked about parts, and he said that he would charge me the actual cost of the parts but to expect them to cost around $100.

If I get a 29-spline 8.25 I will definitely wait for an Aussie locker, so that's not something I need to worry about at the moment. This seems like a logical time for regearing, but with the stock 225/7?R15 tires I don't need that now, and I can't justify buying new tires when the ones that came with the Jeep are nearly new. Besides, I'm saving my pennies for a lift of some sort.

 

[daredevil]

Is there anyone out there that can give me advice on how to set up a differential? I keep getting the same response..."Take it to a shop." I can't afford the shops prices to do the rebuild. I am getting quotes of $350-400 per axle. I just need to find out how to set the proload and how to measure the backlash. I can figure the rest out. Can anyone help?

Thanks in advance.

Matt

 

[Stihl029]

have you tried to contact randys ring and pinion. I have heard that they are very helpful, or Tom Woods, or whomever you bought your gears and/or carrier from? if you are in the market then Randy's is close to you and has good info on thier site as well. have you searched much on this site? I have found this site to be a chest of knowledge?

 

[daredevil]

I've searched in the forum a few times. I'm really new to this. I got my first XJ in July. I have 3 now. The bug kind of hit me hard. I'm trying to do this on my own so that I know in the future. I'm not only nuts for these things, but I am trying to start a company doing some aftermarket stuff for the XJ spedifically right now and then will branch out into accesories for other rigs. Do you know what city Randy's is in? Is just Randy's or is it Randy's offroad, 4x4, etc? Thanks for the help.

What I am ultimately trying to do is install 4.88s in a Ford 8.8 and a HPD30. I would ask the people I bought the gears from, except I got them of Craigslist. I got a smokin' deal on them. The guy I got them from had them still sealed in the boxes. They were still shrinkwrapped and everything. He also had the install deluxe install kits with all the bearings. He also included the Ford 8.8 axle with a full set of disc brakes, and the HPD30 axle also. I got the whole package for $300 plus a 2 hour round trip drive to Castle Rock, WA. I had decided that I wasn't going to regear as it was too expensive to buy the gear sets and the install kits. I figured I was going to be into the whole project for over $1500 all said and done. As of right now includeing gas for picking up the axles and gears, the new spring perches I bought and the welding, I'm into the whole mess for about $350-360. I'm trying to keep this the poor mans axle build. I'm on Social Security disability. Did I mention that my screen name is what it is because I am legally blind??? I do all my own wrenching, but I need someone to kind of walk me through the axle build.

What I thought I would do was build the axle and get it meshed where I thought it should be with the old crush collar installed and take it to someone to inspect my installation and tell me if I screwed it all up. Does that sound like a decent plan to you? I used to be a proffessional A+P mechanic, but I fell down some stairs a few years back and detached both my retinas. Head trauma sux. =0) Now I build on my Jeep and take my best friend and GF out wheeling so they can break it and I have something to fix again. My buddy Scott wants to get me behind the wheel on a trail sometime soon. We'll have to see how it goes. If I do wind up doing a trail I'll have to get someone to shoot pics/video so I can share my experience with everyone on the forum.

Anyway...I digress. I'll let everyone respond to that before I post any more.

Thanks again.

Matt

 

[stewie]

I would post up in your chapters forum and see if there is anyone that can walk you through the process. When I regeared my XJ, I found a local member who does drivelines at a GM Dealer accross town. He was a HUGE help. If I was to get all the tools to do it, I would not hesitate to do it again. Most guys here love to share thier knowledge.

 

[Stihl029]

hey kool i know what that three thing is like last year between my neighor and I we had 5 around here it kinda reminded me of my high school days with my brother and I on VW's. well here is Randy's site http://www.ringpinion.com/ Also here is an awesome build site its pirate 4x4 but its loaded with knowledge as well so many many thanks to BillaVista: http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/
Oh and here are some more gold mines:
http://www.madxj.com/MADXJ/technical/TECHNICAL.htm
http://www.go.jeep-xj.info/


Sorry for jumping on ya about searching, it just that so many people do not bother to search and automatically throw threads up so there are alot of duplicates. Today there were two headlight issues that were posted and they have the same troubleshooting procedure.
Yeah I know that one of the guys here who works on rigs will save the spacers as he disassmbles differentials and marks where they went and uses that as a starting point. From there if you use some yellow chalk you can see how the gears are engaging and adjust them.
Might I also reccommend that you look for and either read or purchase High-Perfomance Jeep Cherokee XJ Builders Guide 1984-2001 (ISBN 978-1-932494-14-3)http://www.cartechbooks.com/vstore/...636&St2=58311&St3=83270&Product_ID=3619&DID=6 It was put out by www.cartechbooks.com and written by Eric Zappe a fellow Member who has made alot of notes and specs into one quick and handy book to browse.
well good luck and let us know if there is anything else you need assistance on.

 

[daredevil]

Thanks for the killer info. That helps me out a lot. I'll check out the book and do some research on those sites you gave me. I also made a call to a buddy of mine tonight that has apparently done this for a few rigs already. He is willing to help me out. Unfortunately the guy I bought my gears/axles/install kits from gave me the axles completely disassembled already. There was a Ford8.8 all hollowed out and a HPD30 in likewise condition and a huge cardboard box full of parts and four smaller boxes with the new gear sets and install kits in them. I got a great deal on the stuff...but I also got6 myself a heck of a puzzle. It looked like someone puked differential bits into the back of my Jeep on the ride home.

Thanks again for all the help.

Matt