driving through the taco bell parking lot when the rear tires locked up and the jeep didnt wanna move... so in an attempt to get it out of the drive through i jumped in 4 low and pulled my rear end out of the drive through twisted the driveshaft like a twizzler put it up on a trailer and took it home. tore open the diff to find 2 pea size chunks of metal in the oil. they came from the pinion gear .... so got a driveshaft and now im going back to the junk yard to get a pinion gear... i have no clue how to replace it... or any angles or tricks to make it work. not to mention that the jeep i drive is rare and a transmission mount alone cost about $300 so im hopping the 5 speed Lerado in the junk yard will have a pinion gear the will fit...ANYTHING WILL HELP>>>

 

replace the whole setup... easier (DIY)... and cheaper...

 

i can get another pinion for $20 from the salvage yard...its from another 5 speed jeep...just not sure it will fit.. and if replace everything in the rearend i have to replace the front end also ...damn lol anways

 

At this point, I'd say you should just replace the whole rear axel.

 

oh wow...really? what about the front axle? dont they have to be changed together? it took me like 6 weeks to find a ring gear for it when the berrings came out of the race about 7 years ago...its just rare i guess ...so how safe you think it would be to just drop the rear end out of the 5 speed Lerado at the junk yard and roll it under mine? and what all will that intell?

 

setting up rear end takes some know how and expensive tools.You need dial indicators and several good tourque wrenchs.You need to set pinion preload and side bearing preload.You will need set up bearings .If you don't have the tools take it to a local shop you trust.Money well spent.

 

Nope, you can do just the rear as long as you make sure to get a gear ratio that matches the front.

Dropping the rear end out of the Laredo at the JY and putting it in would be fine as long as the gear ratio's match and its out of an XJ. Depending on tools, experience and rust the job can take anywhere from under an hour to 3 or more. to remove a rear axel you have to disconnect your e-brake cables, brake lines, disconnect the rear driveshaft, the bottom shock mounts and undo the u-bolts that hold the axel to the springs...its really that simple. To install a rear axel you just do the reverse..and once everything is hooked up, adjust the e-brake cables and bleed your brakes.


Unless he's building a Dana44 or something, re-gearing the axle would be pointless. It'd be super expensive and he'd still be stuck with stock.

 

thats what i said... replace the WHOLE THING....

 

Ring and pinions are a matched set and should not be replaced individually. You stated that you replaced a ring gear (only) on your front axle in the past. You're lucky it's held up. Probably lasted this long only because of limied 4wd use at low speeds.

Replacing the rear axle with a JY axle containing the correct gear ratio is going to be the least expensive option.

 

x2............

 

wow... i love this fourm thing ...ok so it sounds like i am going to just cool the axle out of the lerado and under my olympic pioneer ... thank you guys alot!!! you will be hearing alot more from me

 

just make darn sure your gears are the same front and back!

 

unless you're into blowing up driveline parts

but yes, make absolutely sure you have matching gears front and rear

 

Those Pea sized Metal pieces you found were probally part of the Pinion bearing....I think your jeep just didnt want TACO BELL....

 

how can i be sure?