netvvork

I have heard anywhere from "easily in your driveway with some basic tools" to "dont ever dig into your diff unless you have 10 years diff experience". Im guessing reality is somewhere in between. The darn thing is almost 500$ and to have it installed will be a few hundred more. Im not a mechanic but fairly competent with tools and did my whole suspension and rear drums (worst thing ever-screw those damn springs). Should I be scared to tackle this job at home?

EDIT: Sorry, this is for a 2001 with an 8.25.

aka"dude"

Do you own a dial indicator, calipers, and a die grinder? Would your wife be pissed if you put car parts in the oven or freezer?

00t444e

What axle are you installing it in? If you are just changing the carrier and not the gears then all you have to do is measure backlash with a dial indicator before you remove the old carrier, then get the backlash the same when you put the Truetrac in, the 8.25 is easy to set backlash because it has side adjusters so you can adjust your backlash without removing the carrier to change shims.

netvvork

Its the 8.25 and, yes, I am only doing the carrier without changing anything else.

netvvork

No dial indicator yet. Going to have to use the oven when wife aint home

Morat

RIP my friend...

2drx4

A cheap magnetic base dial indicator from Horror Fraught or whatever Chicom direct you like to buy from will get it done. You'll also need to buy or make a backlash adjusting tool for the 8.25 and have the needed extensions to use it. You will need a good torque wrench to torque the ring gear and cap bolts, and having a vice or press around to hold it makes that a lot easier. A press for installing the bearings is nice, but not necessary, as you can just warm them in the oven (or BBQ) and they will basically drop on or only need some light persuasion (freeze the carrier to make it even easier).

Beyond that, you'll need new ring gear bolts, the carrier bearings, the truetrac itself, some gear oil, and some RTV and 'normal' consumables like rags/brakeclean/etc.

There isn't anything really hard about doing it in an 8.25, but be prepared to spend a bunch of time on it and maybe have some friends around for moral/beer support.

netvvork

Thanks for the tips. I think I will do this myself.

00t444e

Get a lube locker gasket instead of RTV, they are reusable and you don't have to deal with the RTV mess and waiting for it to set up. Also don't use synthetic gear oil with the Truetrac.