Gearing DIY?

steve500

Test Drive
Location
Helper, Utah
Hey guys, I wound up with a 3 rib 3.36 M205 that turns out not to be a 3.36 but instead it's the 2.97. I purchased it freight nearly a year ago, so, I don't have much leverage to bring up the issue to the yard I purchased it from.

I am seeing this as an opportunity to switch the m205 and my factory m226 rear over to 410s for my 33" tire setup. I am an avid DIY person but I have not done differential gears before. I want to hear from an experienced gearing person whether this is something I should try to take on or not. What special gauging/measurement tools will I need and is the cost steep?

thanks
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
I am willing to turn a wrench on just about damn near anything.

Gears are an art form.

For me, it's "exchange money for goods and services"
 

Brunnie

Bumpers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Colorado Springs
From my days (long ago) watching a friend set up his race car with various gear ratios I learned that you need 4 things.

1 - Patience
2 - No adult beverages
3 - TIME
4 - PATIENCE

We spent hours getting things adjusted just right. Prime is right.... if'n you ain't done it afore... pay someone.
 

meisanerd

Need Bigger Tires
Rebuilt the diff in my friends Landcruiser about a year and a half ago, took us a weekend. Like, literally a weekend.Friday night for like 4 hours, 14 on Saturday, and another 6? on Sunday. He is a mechanic.

We had to repeatedly disassemble and reassemble the thing to get the backspacing just right, or really bad things happen. Really expensive, bad things.

Next time we are likely to follow Prime's advice. Also, Brunnie, you are missing a few Patience in the list of things you need. Like, add 5 or 6 more of them in there...
 

XterraRising

Bumpers Installed
Location
Utah
If you are willing to learn, can acquire a few tools, like a dial indicator, calipers, etc, you can do this job yourself. If you’ve never done it before, try to find a friend or someone who’s doing it and ask to help. Chances are they will jump at it if you aren’t a flake, and you’ll learn a few things. Taught my son how to rebuild a rear end on my old Jeep a few years back.
 
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