The pinion depth shouldn't be hard to obtain. The pinion depth is based on the differential housing, so press off the old pinion bearing and re-use the shim since you're using the same housing. As long as you have a good gear pattern, you know your depth and backlash are both good. I build lots of differentials and it's not hard, but takes some patience if you want it right and don't want the customer to come back with a complaint.

 

if someone is interested in creating a diy video. I am a school teacher with all summer off in the Texas area and teach video editing.

 

I think the only thing I don't have is a press. I have everything else, and lots of patience and a perfectionist attitude for a job like this.

I am interested if any other do it yourselfers have tried???

 

Anyone know about how much it costs to have it done?

 

I charge a flat fee of 200 bucks per axle. That is unless it's something crazy, which the JK is not. That of course is labor only and doesn't include gears. GM warranty time pays like 3.0 hours give or take. That's around 60 bucks for the mechanic working on clock time.

 

Man If you were near me I would do gears for that price in a heartbeat. I was quoted about 1500 labor only for gears in my old YJ. D30,35. I was expecting the same or more for the jk.

 

Several years ago I had a Dodge dealership install gears in a '98 1/2 ton Ram. They charged right around a grand to do which also included installation kits.

I have an '84 Ramcharger that is my mud truck/camp runner that I did the gears in myself, I figured what the heck since it wasn't a daily driver. To my surprise it wasn't that bad if you have the tools. My best friend drag races and sets up rears every now and then so he had the tools. I remember it just being a lot of trial and error getting the backlash set. If you look at some manuals and read up on it a little I think you'd be alright. I personally don't have the confidence to install gears on a daily driver, but all in all the install wasn't near as bad as I expected.

Best of luck!

 

That's ridiculous.

 

Several different places here in Fayetteville, Nc are charging anywhere from 700 to well over 1500 for both axles.

 

WOW only 60bucks an hour down there at a dealer? Dealers up here in NJ charge 105-115hr