Hello!

Has anyone attempted to do a differential ring and pinion change on their own? I know that the tolerances are very tight and very precise, but I'm trying to find out if it's at all possible to do on your own. I've found someone who's willing to do a straight trade on the differential gears in my truck (he gets my 4.10's; I get his 3.54's) for both the front and the rear axle, but I'm real unsure about paying a shop to do it (broke college student ).

Also, are any special tools needed? I'm mechanically inclined (my truck has only seen the inside of a shop once since I got her, and that was just to set the injection timing); I'm just a bit apprehensive because I've been told in the past that it's real easy to mess up.

Any (constructive ) comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

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2001 VW Jetta TDI, 5 speed, daily driver
1991 Ford F-350, work in progress
1984 Ford F-250 4x4, 6.9l turbo diesel, 5 speed manual
Previous oilburners: 1980 IH Scout, 1984 E-350, 1985 M-B 300D, 1979 M-B 300SD, 1983 M-B 300D
Spark-free since 1999

Setting up a rear end PROPERLY is not hard. It can be very time consuming and frustrating because there are several things that need to be measured very precisely and you can not measure them until everything is asembled. As far as special tools, there are few types of feeler guages, other than that it is just time and patience. You may want to stop by a local car repair shop and watch them do it so you have a general idea of what is involved. Most repair manuals take the assumption that you are familair with the mechanics of a R&P assembly.

Good luck and let us know how you make out.

Here is some food for thought!!

http://www.thedirtforum.com/differential.htm