I have a rc 60 and 14b and need to install the gears. I called up 4wps and besides being retards they wanted $$$$ for installs even with the 50% off they have now. (fawking $600 for the front without the gears).
rant off

Is there any one in the bay area ( san francisco) that can help me install them myself or any recomendations of shops here or in Sac?
thanks

OK LOOK HERE WWW.TDMACH.COM LOOK IN TOOLS. WE OFFER A PINION DEPTH CHECKER THAT A CHILD CAN USE. ITS THE SAME THAT RANDYS RING AND PINION SELL.....( WE SELL IT TO THEM) EVEN DANA CORP USES THEM IN THERE CLASSES THE DELUXE GOES FOR 295.00 AND THE STANDARD GOES FOR $228.00 PLUS SHIPPING AND YOU CAN START SETTING UP DIFF'S AND MAKING MONEY TOO............................................... .............:rolleyes:

Pick up the Technical video “How to install Ring and Pinions” It is worth the $79.95 and shows you how to set up all kinds of difs. (Including the D60). Also keep in mind the pinion depth tool is great to have, however only helpful if the new gear set is marked with the “CD” Check Distance. Not all gear sets are marked with this. (My Yukon gear set was not.) Even if you have the depth tool and a marked set of gears for the CD, you still need to check the gear pattern. This is completely doable, by watching the video and reading info on the web. Randy’s R&P web site has great install instructions. I installed my own 5.29’s and ARB’s in my Land Cruiser, with no previous experience and by only watching the gear pattern. It took me three set ups to get it right, vrs. the pro’s getting it on the first or second shot. They run quite and work outstanding. Just take your time and learn as much as you can before you start into it.

The bottom line to R&P work is if you've never done it before and have never seen it done, leave it to someone experienced in the "art." That $70 video and $200 pinion depth gauge will be worth their weight in shiznit when you forget one detail and smoke a brand new gearset.

Find a buddy that is experienced, have him do it, and watch over his shoulder. If he's a really good friend, he will "teach" you the art.

After having a friend do this with me on about a dozen R&P sets, I am only mildly confident in doing it myself.

cmk

i have never thought that it is that hard to do. i have set up about 5 sets of axles now and started out the first time and didnt know what to do. really it is piecing stuff back together the way it came out. run a pattern on it. get a pattern chart should come with gears the it will tell you if you need to shim it or not. really need a good bearing puller though. if i was in cali. i would come help you do it. dont waste your money on the depth finding tool i bought one for a couple hundred bucks and never used the thing because it was to complicated and what i got from it was no where close to what needed to be done. if you dont want to do it call a racing shop that sets up gears they tend to be cheaper than a 4wheel parts place and are better and quicker. a good bearing puller will run you a couple hundred get one with several different sizes to change in and out and you can use it on all kinds of axles and make yourself some money. get a video it will help somewhat not a whole lot but i really think that if you have any mech. skills you should be able to build the axles easily.

one more thing. i meant to tell you it will take you 3 or 4 times to get it right that is putting it all together and then pulling it all back apart beside taking the ring gear off the locker. sometimes more times than that i have never met a pro and have seen several of them put gears in other peoples stuff and none of them got it right the first time even with the special tools. alot of the mech. around where i live dont ever use the tools they put it in and take it out and run patterns until they get it right then they set the beaing load and the they are finished. took about 2 hr the first time to set up 1 axle with a pro helping me.

I just had my Dana 44 setup by 4WPS and it was $160. I supplied the gears and setup kit. This was with the axles removed, if the thing was completely assembeled it was going to be $300 and take them weeks. Might want to call back and check since they seem to get smarter in person.:rolleyes:

I don't think I'll be going back to 4wp. I know more than any of the guys I unfortunatly have spoken to, from gears to tires.

I am sure I can do the install but would rather have somebody(fellow wheeler) with some experience either install them or help me. I'd be willing to kick down some reasonable dough and :beer:.

Originally posted by Ken "cmk" Bozych
The bottom line to R&P work is if you've never done it before and have never seen it done, leave it to someone experienced in the "art."

Absolutely if you can watch someone else do the job you will be a few steps ahead. The key thing is absorb as much info before you begin. It can be done. Is it an art form? Yes. But learning what an acceptable pattern is how you do it. I also agree the $230 distance tool is not the way to go for just two set ups. One of the key things is what kind of a home mechanic are you? A. slap it together and fix it later when it brakes or B. Take the time to read the books, set the right toque settings, use thread locker when needed etc.

If you are a B type you can do it if you take the time to do so.

HELOCAT I HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH YOU WE HAVE A FORMULA TO FIGURE THE CD IF IT IS NOT MARKED ON THE GEAR. WE ALSO HAVE A FORMULA IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A MASTER HOUSING DEMENSION. SO WITH OUR TOOL YOU CAN DO IT ALL

Originally posted by 1SAWB
HELOCAT I HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH YOU WE HAVE A FORMULA TO FIGURE THE CD IF IT IS NOT MARKED ON THE GEAR. WE ALSO HAVE A FORMULA IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A MASTER HOUSING DEMENSION. SO WITH OUR TOOL YOU CAN DO IT ALL

how about buying a yellow star if you're going to pimp yo' shit on this board, a'ight???

There are several good shops in the bay area and/or sac. You can probably do it yourself as well - if you bought new gears, whoever sold them to you should be able to help with set-up info.

Originally posted by 1SAWB
HELOCAT I HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH YOU WE HAVE A FORMULA TO FIGURE THE CD IF IT IS NOT MARKED ON THE GEAR. WE ALSO HAVE A FORMULA IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A MASTER HOUSING DEMENSION. SO WITH OUR TOOL YOU CAN DO IT ALL


Dude hurry up and buy your star.... not sure what it costs but with the crowd on this board you need to be here more than a few days...

And YES i agree 100%

I bought TDs master kit over a year ago and yes you can do a setup WITHOUT any previous information from the old pinion or what ever...

You use the MHD (master housing depth) as the standard (usually listed in the FSMs) and measure what you got for your housing. Use this delta along with the +/- on the face, or along with the actual reading if its scribed on a pinion... Sounds confusing but once youve done one it all makes sense and it all works out real nice.

-mike