changimg the ring amd pinion in my silverado

[mike sager]

Hi all, I have a 2005 silverado 1500 with a 10 bolt rear end, 3.23 gear limited slip carrier. I want to change it to a 3.90 gear for better towing, what I was wondering was if I'm ok just swapping gears out or do I have to buy the whole shim pack and do the whole dial calabration deal? Any help is greatly appreaciated since I've been told 7 ways to Sunday what I should do. It's making my head spin.

[bigbadram51]

I would buy the gears and the master install kit...Since you got it apart why not spend the extra $100 in parts to make it new again. At the same time, I would go up to 4.10's and if you have the G80 carrier, replace it with something much more reliable.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by bigbadram51

I would buy the gears and the master install kit...Since you got it apart why not spend the extra $100 in parts to make it new again. At the same time, I would go up to 4.10's and if you have the G80 carrier, replace it with something much more reliable.

why go with 4.10 gears on a 2 wheel drive vehicle ????
this is basicly an EL Camino sedan...

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by mike sager

Hi all, I have a 2005 silverado 1500 with a 10 bolt rear end, 3.23 gear limited slip carrier. I want to change it to a 3.90 gear for better towing, what I was wondering was if I'm ok just swapping gears out or do I have to buy the whole shim pack and do the whole dial calabration deal? Any help is greatly appreaciated since I've been told 7 ways to Sunday what I should do. It's making my head spin.

you will need to install the whole diff...the shimming is required..the 3.73 ratio with the eaton locking diff is a good match....you will loose MPG but have more torque for towing...

installing a large transmission cooler will aid in keeping the engine/transmission cooler and this also will increase power...

the 3.23 rear diff is not what I consider a truck diff and is not reliable when you need a lot of traction..the name it has says it all LIMITED...

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by mike sager

Hi all, I have a 2005 silverado 1500 with a 10 bolt rear end, 3.23 gear limited slip carrier. I want to change it to a 3.90 gear for better towing, what I was wondering was if I'm ok just swapping gears out or do I have to buy the whole shim pack and do the whole dial calabration deal? Any help is greatly appreaciated since I've been told 7 ways to Sunday what I should do. It's making my head spin.

You will need to set it up to specs {bearing preload and back lash} or it will howl like a panther or a local tom cat on the prowl
And a good idea to replace bearings while you are in there.
Here is a good link to rear end spes and repair info.
http://www.differentials.com/install.html

[mike sager]

ok, here is what I picked up for the beast. I went down to the proformance shop and picked up an Eaton Posi Performance Diff, ordered a complete Richmond ring and pinion set and a Hypertech Max Energy Power Programmer. I appreaciate all of the input. I can do this for less than the dealer, and it'll be done right the first time. Thank you all- mike

[isie]

I personally would pay to have it done. It is a detailed job and you have to set the preload on the pinion, the backlash and make sure you have all the shims right. you do need certain tools, press, megnetic dial indicator, mics to measure shim thickness, good torqe wrench. I have these tools and wouldnt do it, I would let a professional do it, good luck with it .

[jyount]

Originally Posted by isie

I personally would pay to have it done. It is a detailed job and you have to set the preload on the pinion, the backlash and make sure you have all the shims right. you do need certain tools, press, megnetic dial indicator, mics to measure shim thickness, good torqe wrench. I have these tools and wouldnt do it, I would let a professional do it, good luck with it .

To each his own I guess. I wouldn't pay someone else to do it. There is no black magic in differentials, if you take the time to learn they are not hard to set up at all. Most of the guys at the local mechanic shops are boneheads on not much more than minimum wage, the don't care to learn to properly set up a diff, so I wouldn't trust my work to someone else. Yes, they should eat the money if they screw it up, but chances are you will deal with a lot of headache and downtime trying to get a bad installer to pay his way...

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by mike sager

ok, here is what I picked up for the beast. I went down to the proformance shop and picked up an Eaton Posi Performance Diff, ordered a complete Richmond ring and pinion set and a Hypertech Max Energy Power Programmer. I appreaciate all of the input. I can do this for less than the dealer, and it'll be done right the first time. Thank you all- mike

since you are getting the eaton locking diff, you must properly break in the gear set...this means no towing or long drives at high speeds for 500mi....then at about 1000mi before any towing is done remove the rear cover and clean/replace oil....only use the correct lube..

this is required so as to properly harden the gear teeth....if the metal over heats these teeth will crack .

[isie]

I agree with you jount, I would not take it to just anybody. I have a friend who does transmissions and rearends, and he is good at what he does I would have him do it. If someone can do it themselves then I say go for it, you probably will be happier with the set up when doing it yourself. I do all my own work and plenty for others I just know my personal limits, I just mentioned that it is detailed because in his original post he asked if he needed shims, or if he could just swap gears.

[bigbadram51]

Originally Posted by isie

I personally would pay to have it done. It is a detailed job and you have to set the preload on the pinion, the backlash and make sure you have all the shims right. you do need certain tools, press, megnetic dial indicator, mics to measure shim thickness, good torqe wrench. I have these tools and wouldnt do it, I would let a professional do it, good luck with it .

Im on the same side of the fence. Unless you are really comfortable with tools and setting up a rear end, I would take it somewhere to get it done. Things need to be exact to do this. Agreed I wouldnt just take it anywhere, I would find a reputable Off-Road shop, most of them do tons of gear swaps for larger tires. And besides, its two wheel drive, probably cost no more than $150 to ensure its done right and doesnt leave you stranded on the side of the road, becasue you blew up your rear end and it took your tranny with it. But you save $150