Cost to re-gear axles

Joel · #1 12-23-2006, 06:42 PM

Quick question- What have people been paying for a gear swap? (did a search and went through 300 posts and got nothing- gear and swap are just too common) one shop quoted me $450 labor per axle for just the gear swap not including extra labor for lockers, which is alot!
Also, in a Dana 44, do you really need a case spreader to swap the gears? I've heard both yes and no. Anyone try it at home with good luck? If I don't get a better price, I am thinking about doing it myself. Going to 4.88s and probably 2 ARBs or rear detroit and front ARB [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] before Moab this year.

Thanks

LEVE · #2 12-23-2006, 07:14 PM

Your quote is about right, not including the locker.... Axle work takes time, and patience. Can it be done you but it comes with a pucker factor, you do it once and you do it right or the costs go way up.

Do you need a spreader tool? Do you want to do it right? You could make your own tool.

Jim_Lou · #3 12-23-2006, 07:22 PM

Here's a picture from the FSM. As you can see it's pretty simple. You can make one from three pieces of heavy angle, like 1 1.2 X 1/4, a piece of pipe and a piece of 1/2" tthread rod. There's a lot more work to do without it than it'll take to make the tool.

GoldToyBox · #4 12-23-2006, 08:38 PM

I just did my axles last winter, ARB's front & rear. It was my first time doing this and it was quite a learning experience. The rear, done first, took over a week and the front took almost a week working by myself. Point being is that anyone can do it. Take your time. I built a spreader out of the junk pile .... I don't recommend trying to change gears without one.
If you go the shop route ... removing the axles your self might save a buck or two.
I also highly recommend getting the axles on the bench if you do it yourself ... I did the rear on the bench and the front still on the vehicle, it was a real pain working undernith the rig.
[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/RockOn.gif[/img]

jdoggmoney · #5 12-23-2006, 11:15 PM

I removed the carrier out of my front D44 to re-seal it during the SOA build and pulled the rear carrier to install a lockright. Didn't need a spreader on either axle. Just a little motivation with a large pry bar (36"). [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

LEVE · #6 12-24-2006, 12:12 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I removed the carrier out of my front D44 to re-seal it during the SOA build and pulled the rear carrier to install a lockright. Didn't need a spreader on either axle. Just a little motivation with a large pry bar (36"). [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Sure... all ya gotta do is move it .005" to .008" to get the case out and drop it in... it's not my method of choice, but it does work. Who am I to argue with success?

JeepDawg · #7 12-24-2006, 02:23 AM

I've done it a couple of times.....I'll never do it again.....I can make more working overtime and use that money to pay someone to do it....and still have money left over for beer and other jeep parts....

The pice quoted sounds kinda high....I paid $250 to have my front done....and that included installing the locker. Excluding an ARB locker, I see no reason t charge that much more to install a locker.

Lord....I must be getting old.....I'm starting to pay someone to do some of the work on my jeep.......

Rio_Grande · #8 12-24-2006, 02:31 AM

200-250 if you strip it down yourself,, make sure and mark the caps!!

With or without the locker. The only locker that takes much more than the norm is an arb, but it is not that difficult or time consuming.

KentuckyCrawler · #9 12-24-2006, 08:47 AM

If you are going to have a Detroit installed. Take it to someone who knows about their quirks. I had one put in the rear of my TJ along with gears ($300). The guy that did it pulled it out 2 times because he was not familiar with the slop in the locker. FYI a detroit with 4'88s will give you about 90deg of drive shaft slop. Check out their website. If you do mostly hwy driving I'd pony up for the ARB.

Use a 4wd shop if their is one near you or find a friend with experience.

Brad

Rio_Grande · #10 12-24-2006, 10:05 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Use a 4wd shop

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed but research the place first,,, We have one local that the only thing I would take there is gears,,, Just because he uses the same guy I do.... Just cause they call themselfs offroad shops only means they had the dough to get business cards bought and a building rented.... Sorry for the tangent I just have fixed alot of simple stuff screwed up by "Offroad shops" Just hate to se anybody throw 4-600 bucks out and get screwed by some guy who thinks they know what they are doing!!