So I plan on either moving up to 33s or 35s and I realize i need to regear. I have never done this before and I know its going to be difficult but I am too broke to pay someone a grand an axle to do it for me. can someone let me know what I am getting myself into with this one? like what tools I will need, will I need stronger axle shafts, is there a specific kit to get and is there anything other than the gears itself that I will need? if there is someone that is reading this and knows what to do/get, hit me up with as much info as you can. I love learning new things that will help me on future builds

 

Gearing is something that you have to get right the first time. As in specific measurements and the what not. I think you would wind up spending more money on more gears and the parts that will break if you get a single measurement wrong, then you will on having a professional gear it for you. Someone correct me if im wrong, thats just my understanding and what others have told me more then once..

 

You will need gears of course and bearing, shims, new gear bolts and depending on axles, a crush sleeve. As far as tools: torque wrenches both inch and foot pounds, dial indicator with magnetic base, case spreader (not necessary but helpful) strong impact capable of around 400 foot pounds plus. set up bearings, dept gauge, caliper and a press to put bearings on. Sure I'm forgetting something it's been a while since I've done any but by the time you buy all the tools that you will use ONCE you could have paid someone to do it and spent less. Like stated earlier if you don't have a good pattern after about 100 miles or so on the gears they will start to wear to a knife edge and then you get to buy another set. Oh and you need a lot of patience. I've done several set ups and it still takes me about 4 hours on average to get them right, per axle. That's why the labor cost so much.

 

I agree with SuperGlue. There are a lot of things that you can figure out as you go along, but transmissions and gearing are the two things that I am interested in playing around with. With my YJ that I had regeared, it was worth the cost knowing that it was done right and I didn't have to do any of the calculations.

If you want to do it, make sure you do it right the first time.

 

If your planing on 4.10's you might find a bolt in axle from another XJ in a junkyard. I paid $200 for a rear 8.25 and $250 for a HP D30. Not as cheap as somepeople get axles for but as I said they just bolt in. http://www.car-part.com/