Rear End

[Extreme]

So I am thinking about dropping my rear end and cleaning it up. As well as swapping in a set of 3.73s. If I do this what should I look for and is there anything I should replace since Ive already got it out of the car? Any reccomendations?

[s.reef]

I would dress it up with a TA rear end cover

[meissen]

Has the car ever been driven in the winter? I wouldn't even waste my time on the bolts if so and just use a cutting wheel to cut all the bolts straight off. Seriously, trying to get the bolts off normally is the biggest waste of time if the bolts are the least bit rusty because you won't be able to reuse them anyway due to the rusty threads.

That said, talking about replacements, I'd recommend buying some grade 8 bolts to replace the main suspension bolts with.

[JoeliusZ28]

Has the car ever been driven in the winter? I wouldn't even waste my time on the bolts if so and just use a cutting wheel to cut all the bolts straight off. Seriously, trying to get the bolts off normally is the biggest waste of time if the bolts are the least bit rusty because you won't be able to reuse them anyway due to the rusty threads.

That said, talking about replacements, I'd recommend buying some grade 8 bolts to replace the main suspension bolts with.

you MUST use grade 8 bolts. and ill emphasis brians point because i told him the same thing before he tried taking them out himself

Sawzall FTW.

If it is a high mileage rear end i would recommend a new pinion seal and possibly axle seals. but pinion seals are cheap and simple.

[white96TA]

clean er up and throw some paint on while its out of the car

[meissen]

you MUST use grade 8 bolts. and ill emphasis brians point because i told him the same thing before he tried taking them out himself

Sawzall FTW.

If it is a high mileage rear end i would recommend a new pinion seal and possibly axle seals. but pinion seals are cheap and simple.

Oh no - I'll stress this... sawzall is great if you have like... carbide tips or something but those hardened steel bolts will churn through the sawzall blades like CRAZY. Even with the sawzall it took us over 2 hours to cut the bolts out. Get a carbide wheel grinder and be done with it. Jon seriously cut through the bolts holding my exhaust together in like 2 minutes.

[formula57]

if your already gonna be pulling out the carrier to put in new gears you miswell just spend the extra couple hundred to ensure your rear end will hold up. moser sells great axles for just under $300 and a bearing rebuild kit is only around $100. i just think of it as if your gonna do a job do it right once. the only other advice would be converting to the 9" depending on what ur using the car for.

[JoeliusZ28]

Oh no - I'll stress this... sawzall is great if you have like... carbide tips or something but those hardened steel bolts will churn through the sawzall blades like CRAZY. Even with the sawzall it took us over 2 hours to cut the bolts out. Get a carbide wheel grinder and be done with it. Jon seriously cut through the bolts holding my exhaust together in like 2 minutes.

I guess i had good blades then because i had mine out in 5 minutes

[meissen]

Guess so. The white Milwaukee blades we used took FOREVER. We were burning through them in 2 minutes - if that.

[bigjon88]

ya but b i am crazy remember gas tank and pb blaster...

[steddy]

Also make sure that the carrier will accept the 3.73 ring gear.

[Extreme]

Thanks for all the replies. I am planning on using the stock carrier. The 373s should go right in. I'll probably grind the bolts off. It's got 60k on it it's not terrible condition as the car was never winter driven. What all is in the bearing rebuild kit? I'm going to look for a cheap dress up kit. Any suggestions where to order from? I'm working with a real limited budget.

[steddy]

I believe the bearing kit should have the crush sleeves and such with it.....I think. I would go with the Torsen(?) kit. Not something to go cheap with. Also, the cover that was mentioned isn't a bad idea either. It has a reinforcment to the bearing caps that will keep everything together quite solidly.

[meissen]

Btw - not sure what kind of suspension mods you have but now would be a great time to replace shocks, springs, LCAs, panhard bar, etc if you have the cash to do it. You'll be touching all of those things if not fully unbolting them anyway so swapping them out for new stuff is moderately easy.

[Extreme]

Btw - not sure what kind of suspension mods you have but now would be a great time to replace shocks, springs, LCAs, panhard bar, etc if you have the cash to do it. You'll be touching all of those things if not fully unbolting them anyway so swapping them out for new stuff is moderately easy.

It's stock right now. I'm on a limited budget but roughly what do lca's and panhard run? Also I'm probably going to pick up a set of stock replacement axles, mine are fine but have 60k on them.. So just gonna throw in new. Where's the best place to order through?