Gears! Do it yourself or take it to a Shop

MadHandle8169 · Apr 30, 2005

I'm going to install a set of 3.73 gears and a trac loc rebuild. I have been getting quotes for like $400 just for the labor however it is a rebuilt rearend with new bearings and what not.

For that kind of price I can buy all the tools and do it myself but how complicated is it. I have heard that if you don't install it right you run into a lot of problems.

So what's everyone think?

Engel · Apr 30, 2005

I got mine installed for 215 (ring and pinion) ended up paying an extra 70$ for crush sleeve and a bearing which came to about 290$. Add another 100 for a traction lok rebuild... sounds about right

Unless you have experience with rear-ends I wouldn't recommend it

Saleen8786 · Apr 30, 2005

yea if i was you i'd take it to get done, thats something you dont want to mess with

GRGT1994 · Apr 30, 2005

I'm doing mine at the end of May, and I'm totally green. So I'll get back to you on how it goes.

But do plenty of reading on as many "how to" descriptions you can find, then decide for yourself whether it sounds like something you can handle. But remember, you will sure care a whole hell of a lot more than someone working in a shop will about getting YOUR car right.

Here are a few to get you started.

http://www.corral.net/forums/showthread.php?p=4615810#post4615810
http://www.corral.net/tech/drivetrain/gears.html
http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=479678
http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=457056
http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=429117

Or just listen to the ney sayers and have a shop do it for you.

MadHandle8169 · Apr 30, 2005

I'll read up and I'll make my decision. It might be worth the $300 worth of labor to save myself from aggravation. I know when I installed my X Pipe by myself I got pissed easily. It was awesome once I got it all together by myself but during the install I wanted to break something.

Jack's95gt · Apr 30, 2005

If your doing it on the ground, it's very tough tighten the pinon nut setting the preload. It takes maybe 140 lbs of torque. That's like a 18" breaker bar with a 18" bicep behind it. You just don't have the angle and room to make it easy.

MadHandle8169 · Apr 30, 2005

O yeah I have like jacks and stands but that's not that high of a lift. So maybe I should just pay it and get it over with. The shop I'm going to is a very reputable mustang shop on the east coast and I was told that there is a warranty on the install.

KB5.0GT · May 1, 2005

Yeah, take it to the shop, cant go wrong with a warranty.

FastFord · May 1, 2005

Shop... most definitely!!

1hot5.0 · May 1, 2005

Take it to a shop. If they mess up, they have to fix it.

juiced_94gt · May 1, 2005

there easy to do if you know what your doing, if you dont take it somewhere, its a wise investment!

Venom351R · May 1, 2005

your going to need a berring press and a dial indicator, if you dont have the proper tools to do it yourself then eat the cost of taking it to a shop and make up the diffrence else were by installing other things on your own.

tderrick · May 1, 2005

That's certainly one job I would leave with a Pro...

RIO5.0 · May 1, 2005

FWIW...I do my own gears installs...I have the tools to do it and with them its an a/noon job taking my time....If you freak out putting in an H pipe then your really gonna loose it swapping your own gears... :damnit:
I think you already answered your question... Save yourself the greif and bring it to the shop...

GRGT1994 · May 1, 2005

Jack's95gt said:
If your doing it on the ground, it's very tough tighten the pinon nut setting the preload. It takes maybe 140 lbs of torque. That's like a 18" breaker bar with a 18" bicep behind it. You just don't have the angle and room to make it easy.

You might be a little off there. The proper spec for the pinion pre-load torque is 16 to 29 inch pounds if you are using a new crush sleeve. Your 140 foot pounds equates to 1,680 inch pounds. So you would exceed the proper spec by at least 1651 inch pounds (or 137.583333 foot pounds, since you seem to prefer that unit of measurement).

At the proper spec, your 18 inch biceps would work just fine with any inch pound torque wrench.

bonestock94 · May 1, 2005

Hey man, Im actually looking for a good mustang shop, which shop are u taking yours to? Thanks

MadHandle8169 · May 1, 2005

I am talking to is Wicked Motor Sports in Wall.

LaRocca's is also a really good reputable shop in NJ that is probably a little closer to you.

wytstang · May 1, 2005

Take it to a shop this is one thing you don't want to get done wrong.

wytstang · May 1, 2005

RIO5.0 said:
FWIW...I do my own gears installs...I have the tools to do it and with them its an a/noon job taking my time....If you freak out putting in an H pipe then your really gonna loose it swapping your own gears... :damnit:
I think you already answered your question... Save yourself the greif and bring it to the shop...

You forget to mention the lift you have as well.

qwick94GT · May 1, 2005

If you want them done right without a whine then I say go to a shop. Gears are more of a shop job.

Gears! Do it yourself or take it to a Shop

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