Here's the situtation: I just had shoulder surgery and I'm now well enough to try this install.
I have never been into a diff except to change oil, replace axle seals, and install third member style diffs. (never set up a ring/Pinion). I already have an OBA & have the air controls & plumbing installed.
I'm going to start with the rear (Dana 44 3.73). Today I'm building a housing spreader (from the SWB).
http://bbs.off-road.com/ubbthreads/s...ue#Post1443395

I have already drained and cleanup the diff. Found nothing broken but the spiders & keeper pin appear (to me) to be very worn/loose and the spider/axle splines not as bad but some play. Normal??? Bad thing? Need new Axles too? Spider made of softer metal than the axle???? Just pull the axles and check the splines for visual wear???
Ring & Pinion show little wear .... not sure what to look for here. Nothing broken, chipped and no obvious wear pattern on the gears. I have the used Ring & Pinion with the used Locker but appears to be a lot less work to transfer my Ring on to the locker. Previous owner says they are almost new and appear that way. Found no metal in the oil, just water sluge.
Some one has been in here ahead of me but not sure what was done other than use that rock hard gasket cement!
I'm looking for advice, "old indian tricks", web links, tools needed, etc
Any & all thoughts welcome
Thanks

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Get a Gear install kit, Dial indicator, and destructions and go to town. But there is more to it than just bolting the gear on the carrier, dropping the pinion in and running.

There's plenty of discussion on setting new or used gears on this board.

my question is, what's your question? Only question I saw was about Spider Gears.. if you're going with an ARB, then who cares about their wear... toss them.

keep track of where all the shims were and use them again.
the number 1 cause of failure is the ring gear bolts falling out. MAKE SURE YOU USE RED LOCKTITE ON THE RING GEAR BOLTS.
I have done lots of gears, and I have never needed a housing spreader. I just pop the diff out with a pry bar....sometimes I hit the end on the pry bar with a mallet.

Thanks malbritton
Been reading/searching on this board and others. I think I have all the tools/ARB instructions/Jeep TSC manuals/etc needed when the housing spreader is finished.
Just hoping for some more info, items to avoid, problems others have had.
What is in the 'gear install kit'? I have shims, bearings already. If I re-use my ring, this is all I need right?
What about the axle splines? just 'eyeball' them?
[ QUOTE ]
the spider/axle splines not as bad but some play. Normal??? Bad thing? Need new Axles too? Spider made of softer metal than the axle???? Just pull the axles and check the splines for visual wear???

[/ QUOTE ]
[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/RockOn.gif[/img]

Install kit also has seal(s), crush sleeve, new Ring Gear bolts.... as well as an assortment of shims, Oil Slinger if you like to use those....

Splines, I'm thinking they'd be pretty obvious if there's something wrong with them. Twisted, worn... missing.. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Dana 44 doesn't have a crush sleeve.

I got the axles pulled today, the splines appear to be ok. But one of the outer axle seals & bearing is shot, so I'm already shot of parts.
Also removed the rear springs also today, that was a job! New rear Alcans arrived today. After an hour pounding and impact wrenching I gave up and cut all the bolt heads & nuts off. Tomorrow I'll remover the carrier and start learning.
Thanks for the input, probably be back tomorrow with more questions.
[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yourock.gif[/img]