jka

Anyone who has changed the rear differential gear set on their truck.........help.

I got a call on a used 2003 dually, six speed with 31,000 kms. that is in showroom condition. It has the 4.10 rear end and I would like to change to the 3.73's. I haven't bought it yet but it is sure worth some consideration.

I called a couple of transmission shops and one Chrysler dealer and nobody really sounds like they want to do it.

Has anyone done this on a truck this new and if so did you go to a dealer? I'm wondering about the warranty. Any input would help.

Thanks.

thejeepdude

You'd be better off finding someone on here who has 3.73's and wants 4.10's. Then you just swap the axles between the two. Piece of cake, and a lot cheaper! Even if you had to drive 1000 miles it's cheaper and easier than swapping gears.

On the flip side, if you're good with tools, I'd give it a shot yourself, especially if you think you might have to do it again (makes the tools worth the $). I installed new gears and detroit locker in my Jeep and it's been beat on for over 30k miles on those gears and still goin strong. Just have to take your time and invest in the right tools.

blown32

Gear Venders overdrive might be a good way to go. Kind of expensive at about $2500 + instal but very strong and lets you split gears, not really needed with the close gears in a 6sp but could come in handy.

Just an idea

HO Cummins

For the price of gears, labor etc, your could buy some bigger wheels and tires, like some 19.5's

natloz2

hoopers rear ends in sunland ca was going to do my dad's swap for $550. his is an american axle- used to be dana before 2004 i believe. and any dodge dealer can change the speed parameter for you

hognutz

I think you should find someone to swap axels with. somewere out there someone is lifting a truck and would like 4:10's.

You should be able to find someone who will do the gear swap but it will not be cheap most likely if they are going to waranty it.

It should run about 1k realistically but sometimes shop's like to gouge you.

bulabula

jka, whats the rationale for changing to 3.73's? Better fuel mileage? It'll be minimal. Figuring the cost to do a gear swap of around $700 up, it'd take 80k - 100k miles of driving just to recover the cost of installation - after that your makin' money.

And make darn sure the guy who does the work knows what he's doing. Any hamfisted gorilla can handle an air wrench and do it, but it takes some finesse to set up the gears so they don't whine or make any other noise. Any differential noise to me is unacceptable - unless its a rock crawler.

If you must, I agree with the taller tire option when the originals wear out; with a trade option in 2nd.

I doubt there would be any warranty issues, unless the rear diff makes noise and you want the dealer to fix it under warranty .....

MOPE540

I agree 100%..That's why I bought the truck that has nearly everything I want..even though it has 4.10s, which i didn't want.
But my 5000 mile truck has a whine in the rearend (it lessens when the rear is warmed up). The '99 Durango I traded in had the gears replaced at 45k miles due to a bad pinion bearing...and my worst fear is that the Ram will have the same problem.
Question...would this gear whine problem be corrected by changing the ring & pinion? If so, I think it would be a good time to have them swapped to 3.73s. The warranty would pay for the rear gears, and I would have to cover the cost of the fronts..and that leads to the next Question,...roughly how much would it cost to do it? Any pros and cons?
thanks

Fummins

Agreed,im looking to swap if anyones interested.

bulabula

jughed440, I would hazard a guess that the rear gears would have to be replaced. New gears properly dialed in will be quiet.

I'm sure it'd be easy to have 3.73's put in their place. Warranty coverage aside, figure double the cost for doing both diff's on a 4x4.

You might want to ask your dealer if they do the work themselves or farm it out to another gear shop - then go over there and ask some questions about the whole process. And look the boss in the eye and get his personal guarantee that the gears will be quiet. I had a reputable place do my gears in the 'Stang; but before I let them do the work I had the manager take it for a spin with me in the car; during the drive I asked him if he heard anything, he said "no", I said "good, thats what I expect to hear AFTER your done putting in new gears". Guess what, the new ones were noisy. I turned around tossed the keys to the manager - didn't have to say a thing, he knew. He did me right ...... no questions asked.

The biggest con is cost; and concerning your front diff, I'm reminded of the old saying: If it ain't broke, why fix it??

I didn't see if you have a limited slip diff in the back, but if you do indeed go ahead and do the front gears, you might want to consider a LS unit for the front diff. Then you'd have a real 4x4, rather than a 4x3 like the rest of us.

Hounddog

I had a 1993 w250 4x4 that came with 3.55s.I bought 4.10s with the master overhaul package from GEARS AND REARS.Was told a big Nascar supplier.Came with gears,bearings diff and axels,shims,seals etc.A complete swap over kit.About $700 worth of parts and 16 hours labor.Of course that was old Dana's and 5 years ago or so.They also had a help line if you needed them which we did make one phone call to them.

jka

Thanks everyone for their input. It's one of those things, the truck looks good but I have my mind set on the 3.73 rear end. I took one for a drive with the 4.10's and I just felt the motor turned too fast. Most of my driving is done without our trailer in tow.

I suspected it probably wasn't the best idea to change the gears and you guys confirmed it. I like "thejeepdudes" idea to give it a try myself but I'm a woodworker not a mechanic. If they were made out of wood I'd be in good shape .

Thanks again.