Regear Cost?

[marcusguy]

I've been calling around getting prices on front and rear gears and installation (99 xj dana 30hp, 8.25, 3.55 stock). All the quotes I have gotten so far are between $1250-$1500. Does this sound like a lot to you guys? The installs included bearings, and seals, but that still seems like WAY to much money to me. Opinions on these quotes?

Marcus

So Cal

[DeadEyeJ]

Yep, that price range sound horrible. Many shops around my area will set up a diff for about 150 bucks.

So 300 bucks for the install, plus, oh let's say about 400 for the gears, equals a whole lot less than they quoted you. Search around.

[RCP Phx]

Labor around here is about 200-250$ per axle!The install kits are usually about 75$ per axle.

[marcusguy]

DeadeyeJ-

Thanks for the advice man. I realize that things might be more expensive in southern california than other places, but from what you say, that much of a difference is unbelievable. They are saying about 700 for parts and the rest is installation. At this point, I'm reading up on what's needed to do it myself in order to decided if I want to figure it out for myself

My axles only have 50,000 miles on them. I understand that with everything out already it makes sense to replace bearings and all, but do I really need to?

Anyone else??

Marcus

[RCP Phx]

Bearings are a must on a new install.Gears are not something you can learn from a book.It takes alot of experience to do them.Even more important is the amount of specialized tools for the job(2 torque wrenchs,dial indicator,bearing puller,press,micrometer,etc.

[ChuckD]

What ratio do you want to run? I have and others have found complete axles, setup with at least 4.10. I understand if you want to go deeper you'll want to change out your gears, but with your axles that's only 4.56.

BTW, I may have a D35 4.10 non-clip with lockrite for sale soon.

[marcusguy]

I was planning on going with 4.56s. I thought for a long time about finding some 4cyl axles with 4.10s already in them. I just decided that I would be settling for that when I really wanted 4.56. At this point though, I'm starting to consider it again because of the prices I've found.

Marcus

[Ivan]

Sounds like most of the prices you're getting are based on some sort of computer generated labor program. I found similar pricing as well. Finally found a single owner based 4x4 shop where the guy simply quoted me a set price per axle for the install for a total cost of $600.00 for my 4.56's... no fancy-schmancy computer based labor quotes. That cost was total quote and he stuck to it. Unfortunately, those shops are few and far between :(

He had a heck of time installing the front gearing because the True Trac was crashing into the pinion gear. Turned out to be a "too thick" bearing which was causing the collision. He wound up installing a Toyota bearing to make it work. The rear 8.25 was just a bear in general to install the gearing. He had a hard time getting a good pattern on some Precision gears... get Superiors if you can. Took the poor guy 2 days to deal with my gearing, but he stuck to his price to the end... heck of nice guy.... I bought him his favorite bottle to tequila for his extra efforts....

Ivan

[marcusguy]

Ivan-

Do you mean $600 for the whole install, including parts? Maybe I'll just drive up there!

Marcus

Thanks, keep'em coming.

[RCP Phx]

Originally posted by Ivan

He had a heck of time installing the front gearing because the True Trac was crashing into the pinion gear. Turned out to be a "too thick" bearing which was causing the collision. He wound up installing a Toyota bearing to make it work.
Ivan

It sounds to me like you installed the wrong ratio carrier!I have not heard of any special bearing requirements?

[Ivan]

Sorry... should have clarified....that was labor for the install only. Gearing with master overhaul kit was another $585 total from Drive Train Direct, with free shipping on Fridays (limited time thing)...

Ivan

[marcusguy]

Just got off the phone with 4wheel parts (Want to try all my options) and their quotes was over $1400 as well.

Marcus

[Ivan]

Originally posted by RCP Phx
It sounds to me like you installed the wrong ratio carrier!I have not heard of any special bearing requirements?

Nope... the True Trac was the carrier, and it was the one called out for a D30. It wasn't much of a "crash", just enough to leave some gouge marks on the True Trac housing where the pinion hit. We're talking "thousandths" of an inch, but enough to interfere. Perhaps a miscut on the pinion itself...who knows. A slightly slimmer Toyota pinion bearing cured it....

Ivan

[RCP Phx]

Do you have the carrier part #,and what ratio gears?
I guess its not the carrier.

That still seems strange!!

[cbremer]

i got my gears (D-30 HP, D-44) done by the guys at 4XDoctor in Burbank... they charge $300 for the front, $250 for the rear for labor, and about $275 per axle for spicer gears and timken master install kits. Total: $1100-1150 (once you add in small stuff like tax, shop supplies, waste oil disposal, etc.)

it's about in line with your other quotes, but I knwo the setup was done right.

[juicexj24]

A set of gears for the Dana 30R-4.10 from Randy's were 140.00, master install kit was 75.00, carrier was 45.00, spider gears were something like 45-60.00. The rear is pretty much the same with an open carrier, or you could look into a Lock Rite, or Aussie Locker(199.99). Or go all out and get a ARB or Full Locker. You just need to see what you really need and what your going to use it for. But it was about 320 for the front of mine, labor was 250.00. I went with the 4.10 Wrangler D35 which had an ARB for 400.00. So look around the bone yards, my buddy just got a D30 for 50.00 with an ARB. So it pays to look. But count on about 1500 for the total deal.

[themud]

You can also look at boneyards for a chry 8.25 from a 97+ 4cyl with that you get 4.10s and a way stronger axle that the 35 will ever be thats what I did...That was cheaper than buying new shafts and gears and install kit plus install fees and I did it my self...
luck
themud
:D

[Kejtar]

There is a guy in Westminster OC that will do an install for you for probably around $300 (not too sure about the price as he just went up a bit). He did mine and couple other peoples in the area..... Also there is another guy in North San Diego area who will install your gears for pretty cheap....... drop me an email @ obiezyswiat@socal.rr.com and I will get you their contact info.....

Kejtar

[marcusguy]

The prices I've found on the web are around this:

superior gears
$199 rear
$139 front
$75-80 X2 for master install kits with timken bearings
$50 for front carrier (empty carrier, I see no reason to get new spiders)

This adds up to about $550. So that means that most places are charging me $800-900 labor. That's $400-450 per axle! Am I leaving something out?

Marcus

[REDXJ4FUN]

ya that you getting riped. most shops in my area incuding one that i work for from time to time charges 300 per axle if still in the jeep and 150 a pop if its already removed. and he has realy good prices it cost me 450 for 4.56 gears and install kits and i got a carrier for my rear 44 for 15 bucks on ebay.

[PhatXJ]

I've been quoted anywhere from $150 to $500 per axle for labor only on Gear installs.


Originally posted by RCP Phx
Bearings are a must on a new install.Gears are not something you can learn from a book.It takes alot of experience to do them.Even more important is the amount of specialized tools for the job(2 torque wrenchs,dial indicator,bearing puller,press,micrometer,etc.

I did a 4.88 and ARB instal on my D30 and D44, only special tools I had were a dial indicator for checking backlash and a set of callipers for doing shim calculations. A bearing puller would have been nice, but if you get a rebuild kit with new bearings, and you calculate out the shimming right, you shouldn't need to pull the new ones off after getting em on there, and the old ones you can total if you need to while getting them off.

Anyway, lots of patients, good mechanical inclination and a buddy thats done it before, and you've got it made :thumbup: Don't get me wrong though, I'm not saying anyone should run out and attempt a gear instal, it takes some know how.

:anon:

http://myweb.cableone.net/twizum007/arb/images/ARB_021.jpg

[DeadEyeJ]

Roger that Phat.

I self-installed a used set of 4.10's into my Bronco II last year in my driveway. I left the old bearings and spider gears in there. The only special tool I EVER used was a vernier caliper to measure the thickness of the factory shims. 6-states sold me a new shim pack. It wasn't very expensive if I recall correctly.
Because the original carrier was reused along with the original bearings, I just kept the total thickness of the new shims (including both sides) the same as the total thickness of the old shims. Then used some grease to see where the pinion gear was meshing with the ring gear. Played around with it for an hour or two, then drove it. Had a little vibration so I tightened the carrier bearings a tad (more shims). Worked great ever since.
Not very scientific, but very cheap.

By the way kids, don't try this at home....... it may not work so well for everybody!

[MudDawg]

Local drivetrain shop did mine...D-30/D-35...4.88's complete job including gears, all bearings, seals, etc....$1,300.00 and i got a warranty!!! Sounded expensive after looking at the prices for gears in the magazines..but after totaling the prices for everything including the special tools needed..it was a bargain..plus the drivetrain guys have to make a living, and you don't just plunk parts in place either...i know i don't give away my labor...just a thought...

[red87cherokee]

I got a quote for 4.10's and lockrights front/rear for a total of $1500 - I didn't have the $$$$$ so I had to postpone the work, but this was only about 2 or 3 months ago.

[DurbElites]

check out four wheel unlimited its like down the street on sepulveda and ask for i think his name is mike the head mechanic. and he gives good deals not sure for the final price but, i got quoted about 150-175 per axel out the door with precision gears install on my 8.25 and d30 reverse rotation. And 4 wheel parts can get precision gears for about (i paid) $475 after tax for front and back including master install kits, talk to brian he is a nice guy and works with you.

[olivedrabcj7]

I bought new 4.56's for my 8.25 in the classifieds on here for $65 shipped. Then i found some 4.56's for my 30 on ebay for 120 shipped. Yukons. I got a carrier for the front for free. I work at Auto Zone so i got all the bearings and seals at 20% off. Add another $10 for shim kits and im sitting at under $300 for gears and install kits.
Word on the streets is there is a guy in oklahoma that will do my gears for $100 per axle. that would make my total regear cost about $500. :sunshine:

[bobnoxious]

I wonder how many times the shop that is only charging $150-250/axle (lets see, that's 3-5 hrs labor @ a modest $50/hr for full tear down/clean and inspect/removal of old bearings on pinion and carrier for initial shim pack measurements/set-up of R&P depth-preload-backlash-carrier preload/finish assemble/re-assemble diff/fix all the broken and worn out stuff on the diff that you found when you took it apart) is willing to take apart and fine tune shims in order to get a great pattern and backlash and preload?? And how long/how many miles they are willing to warranty their set-up?

I know I won't let anything less than the best pattern/backlash/preload I can obtain out the door. I regularly have to rebuild diffs set up by "cheaper" shops. I know there are probably a few shops which charge little and do a great job, but they're the exception, not the rule.

A lot of shops which install gears aren't Warehouse/Distributors of gear sets, which means that they/we can't get a much better deal than the general public can, so don't expect to get the gears and set-up kits for internet prices, unless they're giving parts at cost...