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Differential Rebuild Cost


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I am going to have an 8.25 rebuilt and probably add a helical gear style LSD to drop in the 1991 Comanche. Just called a shop and asked what the rebuild labor would be with a LSD install and the quoted price was around $700. Any idea what is reasonable for this? That seems kind of high. 

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43 minutes ago, ghetdjc320 said:

That is high but depends on market. $250 was what I last paid when I had someone else do it back in 2012.

I was thinking about $400 if I am bringing them a bare axle without the shafts and brakes (leave everything else alone). I don't think that 700 even included paint...

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I was quoted $400 in 2018 here in South Louisiana. Ended up buying my own tools and doing it myself for my Nova.  I'll be doing my MJ this winter, don't know how far Baton Rouge is from ya but you help me with mine and we can do yours gratis one weekend. 

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If you have a press you can do it yourself. In the absence of a press I used a bottle jack, freezer, pipe, the sun and my MJ. Throw the carrier in the freezer overnight, let the carrier bearings sit in the sun or put them in an oven at like 150*. I used a pipe that was the same size as the inner race and used a hydraulic jack to press on the bearing using the frame rail of my MJ. Worked great. On the 8.25 I believe you don’t have any shims inboard of the bearing since you have adjusters. You’ll need whatever tool (like a spammer wrench) to adjust the carrier. I also think the pinion has a crush sleeve. I’ve setup several diffs and bought the special clamshell pullers and it makes setup a breeze. We all have to start somewhere. You’ll for sure need a good dial indicator with magnetic base ($35 ish online). Helpful to have a pinion yoke holder also. 

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I have a press (air over hydraulic because I am lazy =P). I also have a newish dial indicator that I have used like 2 times. Its not so much that I am worried about not having the tools or ability, its that if I spend almost 1k on on the rebuild parts and LSD I don't want to end up with a pile of scrap metal after a year. 

 

In any case, the axle I am picking up is a 27-spline. I am still buying it as it will get my new truck on the road, but I am thinking about trying to find an 29 w/3.55 (should be easy) to actually do a rebuild on. 

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17 hours ago, Torq_Shep said:

I was thinking about $400 if I am bringing them a bare axle without the shafts and brakes (leave everything else alone). I don't think that 700 even included paint...

 

I paid $350 labor for gears/locker installation on a stripped rear axle. 

 

Then the front D30 gears were swapped with the axle still under the truck for $500 labor.   

 

$700 seems high but it's unclear if you are looking for more than just gears.  You mentioned paint...? Are they cleaning up the axle shafts and replacing those bearings too?

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16 hours ago, Torq_Shep said:

I have a press (air over hydraulic because I am lazy =P). I also have a newish dial indicator that I have used like 2 times. Its not so much that I am worried about not having the tools or ability, its that if I spend almost 1k on on the rebuild parts and LSD I don't want to end up with a pile of scrap metal after a year. 

 

In any case, the axle I am picking up is a 27-spline. I am still buying it as it will get my new truck on the road, but I am thinking about trying to find an 29 w/3.55 (should be easy) to actually do a rebuild on. 

I’d diy. What led me to start setting up my own gears is a botched “professional” install. Put my YJ in reverse and the ring and pinion locked up. No one will care more about your Jeep then you do. If your patient and willing to learn the process, you will do better work than most shops out there. 

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I'd go the DIY route.  I changed the carrier out in my Libby C8.25 for an LSD.  Mine came with the bearings installed already and I left the pinion alone, otherwise I swapped the ring gear to the new carrier and had to setup the gears.

 

First time I've ever done gears and I triple checked everything over and over and it seems it's correct as it drives fine.  Will be cracking it open here soon to do the first fluid change. 

 

Give it a shot!  Can always take it to someone later if you hit a point you aren't comfortable moving forward.

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