Has anyone (nonprofessional) done their own gear install yet? I am thinking about doing mine but just wanted to see if there was anything I needed to know before doing it. Like special tools or techniques to use or tricks of the trade. That sort of thing. And just wanted to see how many people have done an install.

 

Fortunately, I have never had to install a gear set.
I do know it is critical that it be done CORRECTLY for long service life.
My first step would be to get a service manual of some sort and read up on it. (Which I have done, although I have no plans to do this job in the near future).
Read about it, then decide if you want to do it yourself.

 

This is one job that should be done by someone with experience. To do it properly you need a lot of tools tht most people don't have lying around at home, press, dial indicator etc. Even a lot of mechanics have not seen the electric lockers (i have a rubicon), I know the guys in the shop that did the work and I was able to work with them to make sure that things like the internal locked/unlocked indicator was not bent and installed correctly. The gear set had to go in and out many times to get the shimming right so this is something you do not want to do lying on a garage floor. It isn't a simple parts replacement job. I recommend saving the money and get someone experienced with d44s.

 

I am a mechanic, or at least was a mechanic before my current job. ASE Master Mechanic Certification and the whole nine yards. Despite being a mechanic, I firmly believe that you can and should do most of the work on your vehicle by yourself. If you don't know how, you can find instructions on how to do it on the internet in great forums like this one or by buying manuals. Gears, however, are one of the things that I do not recommend doing on your own if you have no experience. I don't even like to do them, and I usually go to someone who spends a lot of time working on gears. Its not that they are difficult or all that complex, but there is a talent to putting them together, and it is something you can't learn from a manual.

Ask around in local garages, they will often direct you to someone who specializes in rear ends, because they are time consuming and a general pain in the a**, and if they don't do them all the time, they would rather have a quick job and make more money. If you have a hard time finding a mechanic, go to a drag strip and ask around who is good at gear swaps.

All that being said, if you want to do it yourself, plan on a full day's work on one diff. Take your time, prepare to get frustrated. Incorrect installation means that you will be buying new parts and doing it again in a very short time.

 

All of the above. I've been turnin wrenches for over thirty years. Engines and drivetrains were my specialty. Setting up gears is something that should be done by someone who is very familiar with doing it CORRECTLY. There are tons of people who "know" how to do it wrong.

 

The money you would spend on the tools to do it yourself would be close to what the labor would be to pay someone to do it for you.

 

Do it yourself. Its not as bad as everyone says it is. Make sure you get all the right parts before you start takeing things off and just take your time. A press and bearing puller is needed and dont forget that dial indacator.

 

You will also need a pinion depth gauge. And if you try and set it up yourself and get it wrong you just ate 2 sets of gears and bearing sets. I can remember doing my first set of gears when I was a young mechanic it took me all day to get it right.

 

You're dead right. It is not as bad as some people make out. BUT I gave the advice that I did because if it's something you've never done it can be rather intimidating.

 

I do all my own work and have been for decades. I will do anything from rebuilding the engine on down; EXCEPT gears. I owned a couple of used car dealerships in the past and would turn as many as 200 cars a month. Over the years I had a lot of gear repairs done. As you can imagine it's hard to sell a vehicle whose gears are whining. The one thing I learned is that you only have gears done by someone who does a lot of them AND is willing to spend the time to get them set up right. FWIW the dealership is usually excluded from the above club. A good 4x4 shop or driveline shop is what you want to look for.

Gears aren't something you need to know how to do unless you are trekking across Africa and lots carry spares. That means parts for front and rear diffs as they are different. And it seems the Ranger Rover is the only one that is set up for field servicing.

Put your effort somewhere else. If you go to the right shop, ask nice and aren't a PITA they may let you observe and help.