ok guys, this is by no way complete. there are just soo many people wanting to do this theirselves. I started 2 days ago switching out my stock 3.55's to 4.10's. here's a few quick pointers before i actually start the instructions.

A: if you have never seen the inside of the pumpkin, take it to someone and let them do it or at least help.
B: really no way around this. you HAVE to have a lift. if not, wow, this is going to add on like 10 hours.
C: make sure you know what you're ordering. don't ASSUME you know what you have. I sell aftermarket parts for a living and going by RICHMONDS website i ordered the wrong things.
D: when you get the new ring and pinion, get a master install kit. trust me.
E: when this arrives in the mail or however you get it, make sure that the numbers on the ring and pinion have the same batch numbers.
F: INSPECT the ring and pinion. alot of times they have burrs or marks on them from shipping. you can take a dremmel and polish these down in a heartbeat. here's a link i found last night while I was doing it
http://www.ring-pinion.com/TipOfTheDay.aspx?TipID=9
G:don't start this thinking you are going to learn as you go. you are going to be just like me and scratching your head ALOT.
H: I'm doing this for everyone out there. while you may or may not agree with it, please at least try to appreciate what i'm trying to do. i've searched EVERYONE's instructions, and to me the pictures are poor and the instructions are vague.

THIS IS NOT COMPLETE. BEAR WITH ME AND I WILL HOPEFULLY HAVE THE FULL VERSION THIS WEEKEND WHEN I"M DONE.

what i've done is basically take about 10 sets of instructions and i'm turning them into one. guys please, don't get pissed at me if something doesn't work. i'm doing this for reference only.

right now though i am only going to merge two sets of instructions. (i don't have the manufacturers approval to do this, just hoping for the sake of the gearhead they don't mind)
http://www.ring-pinion.com/Content/H...lation_Kit.pdf
http://www.drivetrain.com/ringpinioninstal.html
http://www.differentials.com/install.html

First things first, get the truck on the stand and look at your differential. there should be two metal tags on it. on those tags is what rear end you have and the gear ratio. double check and make sure this matches up the gears that you purchased.

Due to limitations here, i am just going to put tips for now.

Disassembly:
getting the bearings off:
i tried the claw puller, i tried using a press. most presses though its going to be too narrow at the bottom. guys, i didn't take a pic of it when i was doing it but i will update it in the final version.

couldn't find any good pics of instructions clearly stating disassembly of the ring gear. the best and easiest way: sit the carrier on a piece of wood (so you don't scratch up the bottom of it) with the bolts facing you. loosen the bolts halfway. next, take a ball pin hammer and start going around the bolts tapping the down. this will cause the ring gear to seperate.



on your new ring gear, make sure the back of it is SMOOTH. if it's not, polish it off really good.


to install the new gear on the carriage, take a clean rag, put a few drops of NEW gear oil on the rag, and wipe both the ring and carriage down where they contact, removing any debris.

basically, take the carriage like you had it when you removed the ring and flip it upside down. put the new ring gear down on the carriage. start a few new bolts from the bottom (don't forget the threadlock!)

you're not supposed to use the bolts to tighten the ring gear against the carriage. so what i did is this:


i only put enough pressure on it to fully seat it and to hold the carriage while i torqued the bolts. You're supposed to torque them down 75lbs for the 9.75 rear end.

 

that's it for right now till i get some more good pics. i'm taking my time and trying to write everything down. here are some links ya'll might find useful

http://www.yukongear.com/Downloads/T...structions.pdf (probably one of the best install sheets)

http://www.drivetrain.com/ringpinioninstal.html (lacks good pics)

http://www.differentials.com/install.html (lacks good pics)

if the pics worked on this, it would DEFINITELY be the best page
http://www.pirate4x4.com/articles/te...sta/Gear_Setup

spec sheet: http://www.differentials.com/specsi.html

http://www.accuautoparts.com/index.jsp

http://neapco.com/n_products-catalog....php?pdffile=3

i will post more when i rewrite everything. hope this helps SOMEONE out.

**CRASH**

 

here is alittle tip that i use, after you press off the old bearings use a die grinder or dremel and grind off the inner race of the old bearing so they slide on and off the new carrier and pinion, you just made yourself some setup bearings, this will make the setup prosses a milion times easer. just becarefull when you are pulling the old bearings off that you dont bend the bearings if you do they wont work as setup bearings. good luck.

 

going to have to remember that today. yeah the whole backlash still has me scratching my head a little, and no one in the shop has changed gears in forever. thinking about going and kidnapping someone who HAS done it and seeing if they will show me lol.

like i stated before, this isn't something you wanna do for the first time ALONE and on YOUR truck. just too many places to go oops

 

backlash is easy, you have the magnetic base dial indicater set on the pumkin the dial on the gears the amount that it moves to engage the gears is the backlash, once you tear into it and start to realize the function of were to put the shims to get it to move this way and that then it will be easy for you. the first time i did a ring and pinion it took me 8 hours to get it right, now i can do it in two if everything goes smooth. just take your time, you will get it.

 

good deal. going to have to go get me the dial and try her out. see i couldn't find ANY good detailed pics, and everyone elses instructions jumped around too much.

might be hitting you up for some help lol

 

no problem, the instructions that come with them are pretty vague. the first time you do one it is alot of trail and error. remember just because you have perfect backlash doesnt mean you will have a good wear pattern, the setup bearings you make out of the old ones will come in handy, if not you will be at the bearing press most of the time. and whatever you do dont press on the new bearings till you have everything setup perfect, if you put the new bearings on and then keep pulling them on and off to chang the shim thikness you will bend them, use the old bearings and races for the setup process and the new stuff for final install, good luck.