Regearing help

[BlurpleXJ]

Anyone in the SEC have the time and know-how to help me regear the axles in my XJ? East Coast Gear Supply quoted me around a grand to do both diffs, and I have to think there's a better way. Slapping on a lift is as far as my know-how goes, and I'd love to get 4.10 gears installed to go with my 31's. 3.08 gears are just not cutting it. Maybe a locker as well. I'd be willing to pay for the expertise (beyond the usual beer-by-the-case haha). I'm hoping it could be accomplished in a weekend (the XJ is my daily driver). If anyone's interested, let me know. And if this is unreasonable, tell me that too. I'm a newbie four-wheeler, any learning is good learning. Thanks yall.

 

[PacificEd]

I can't help you with a gear guy but I had my gears done by Rock Solid Off Road Fab in Chattanooga. Tyler is a good guy and has good prices. He goes by Team Willys on .

 

[UNCC_99XJ]

$1000 for both is about right from a shop such as them.

You might be able to find it a little cheaper at a more "local" shop, but I doubt it.

I did my own gears last summer for the first time and it wasn't terrible at all. Rebuilt the whole axle from left to right w/ the axle out of the Jeep and on jackstands and it took the better part of the weekend, but I was moving slow and taking my time.

Do you have a certain brand of gears in mind you want? I bought mine through Tyler (Rock Solid) and got Nitro's with an install kit for a very good price. You're going to need a new carrier as well, the carrier break is at 3.73. I highly suggest getting in touch with Tyler and see what he can do for you at the very least on the parts. I may be able to get down that way at some point and help, but it's been a year since i've done them so i'd have to refresh my mind a bit (a lot...lol), and with the way my work schedule has been lately I'm usually spending my weekends doing stuff I didn't get done during the week.

The Nitro's installed VERY easily for a first timer. If memory serves, I didn't even have to play with the shims...re-using the stock ones got everything lined up right where it needed to be.

You'll also need a pair of set up bearings to use for test fitting everything in place...trust me when I say once you put the good ones on the carrier, they're not coming off unless you destroy them.

 

[Cnickgo]

Is that grand labor and parts? If so that is not a bad deal from ECGS. Ideally it would be nice to find someone willing to help, and get the nitros from Tyler, but ECGS has impressed me lately. They are the only reason I made it to the URE Jamboree last fall, waiting after hours for me to pick up some last minute parts (I had spider gear soup in my rear diff). So if you were to go to a shop they are a good choice.

If I knew gears I would be glad to help but that is one thing I haven't done yet. Hopefully someone with knowledge and experience can spare some time.

 

[BlurpleXJ]

I was ballparking on the price. Awhile back they gave me a quote to do the front axle for $600 when I was considering swapping to one of their built 8.8s in the rear. That's back when I had some deployment money to blow :laugh3:. Assuming they're of similar difficulty, they'd probably charge me around $1200 or so for both diffs. Not sure, but not worth my time to dig into since I don't have a grand to blow on gears right now.

I appreciate the advice on the parts. I'll probably just learn everything I can about regearing, call Tyler up and then tackle it when I get a four-day training holiday. At least then I have some leeway to get it back together before work. If not, well, there's always riding the bike to work.

 

[Ghost]

GL... Not sure how far you are but there is a guy local that does them for $300 per axle you supply the gears.

 

[Lowrange2]

It's not that difficult. If you can afford the Jeep downtime to learn it's a valuable knowledge to have. Just take your time and you'll be fine.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/articles/tech/billavista/Gear_Setup

Click that, print that, have it spiral bound and add to your library.

Buy the gears, set-up kits, a dial indicator and an inch pound torque wrench and you have it made.

Or bolt in a 4.10 8.8 and only re-gear the front.

 

[BlurpleXJ]

It's not that difficult. If you can afford the Jeep downtime to learn it's a valuable knowledge to have. Just take your time and you'll be fine.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/articles/tech/billavista/Gear_Setup

Click that, print that, have it spiral bound and add to your library.

Buy the gears, set-up kits, a dial indicator and an inch pound torque wrench and you have it made.

Or bolt in a 4.10 8.8 and only re-gear the front.

Thanks, I will keep that. I thought about the 8.8 model but not sure about it, I know you lose some clearance vs. the 8.25 and I'm not planning on huge amounts of lift (4.5" at most on 33's is the target).

I found a set of late model (hopefully 29-spline rear) axles at a junkyard that wants $350 for the set. So, I think my new plan is to yank those stockers, pretty them up and slap them under my current ride for a small gearing boost to 3.55. Then my jeep is a little more drivable in the short term and I can take my time and pretty up my old axles real carefully for the regear. Maybe add some lockers while I'm at it. From the sound of it, the last thing I want to rush is a regear. Thanks for the wisdom, all.