I was thinking about getting a new rear end. I was wondering if anyone out there has installed it themselves, how they might have done it, and how hard was it. Also I'd like to know what would be the most all around efficent Rear end for Max Excelleration and not too much Torque.

thank you.

 

As far as I know, a rear end swap should be simple and straight forward. I'm not axactly sure what the Moser, or other rear ends come with. To get the old one out you would just unbolt everything like drive shaft, LCA's, PHB, brakes, parking brakes, etc... Again not sure what a new one comes with but if you need to, transfer the old stuff to the new rear end. You will need a jack to remove the old rear and and prop up the new one while connecting stuff.

If the rear end is just that, no other components, don't re-use things from the old one like bearings, seals, and I think thats it. But new wheel bearings and seals, avaliable at any auto store all for about $30. Really, no tools are needed for it that you really shouldn't have.

I haven't done it but I know someone who has done it himself and he said it was easy and straight forward.

Good Luck!!!

 

......Looks and thread again.......

Are you talking about a rear end, or rear end gears?!?!?! Well gears would be an easier install than a whole rear end....hehe

I don't know anything about installing gears yourself, after looking at them for awhile I think it is straight forward also. just unbolt the old one and out in the new one. You will need to remove the differential though, and I think the driveshaft too I hear a lot of peeps get people to install them though. If you are expirienced, I say go for it.

For gear size, it's all about how and where you drive. If it's all street, no highway, go for 4.10's. Street/Highway go for 3.73's. Mostly highway, some street(like me) stay w/ stock.

 

Rear end is simple. Unbolt & remove, swap needed parts bolt in.

Setting up gears can be tricky, gotta know what your doing or have someone that does help you with the right tools.

 

Changing the whole axle assembly is "easy", although very labour intensive.............but just simply a whole lot of nuts and bolts.

Changing just the gears (which is probably more common, and probably what you're talking about) isn't as much "hard" work, as it is "technical" work, and definitely a couple special tools required beyond just simple wrenches and ratchets, ie: a bearing puller, a micrometer (or other means of measuring gear depth and backlash within thousandths (0.001") of an inch) and patience . Really, swapping gears probably isn't for the "Do-It-Yourself-er", but gears themselves are fairly cheap, and it shouldn't cost too much to have an experienced shop install them.

In regards to which gears (ratio) you'd want? Well, that depends on A) what transmission you have, and B) what you want the car to do. You said "max acceleration, and not too much torque" --- that's sort of contradictory?! More torque applied to the ground will help you accelerate better, but if you want top speed "acceleration", you'd want higher ratio gears, but they will hurt your acceleration off the line. If you've got a 6-speed, 4.10's sound like a popular gear, although 3.73's seem like a common choice too, and for an automatic, go with either 3.73's, or at least 3.42's to get good acceleration (FWIW, I'm happy with the 3.73's in my A4 ).

 

Just the opposite actually. When replacing a whole rearend (assuming gears were already installed) the process is painless and can be done within an hour. Unbolt shocks, panhard bar, torque arm, and remove springs. Install new rearend in reverse order.

Installing gears requires a lot of precision measurement such as pinion depth and backlash plus proper pattern. If changing gear ratios or gear brands you must make sure everything is installed exactly right or you will have a very whining rearend that will blow up in a matter of days. When you factor in the cost of a bearing puller, bearing press, and backlash dial indicator you will be spending more on tools than you would getting a professional to install them.

If you don't have a performance shop in your area that does gears look for a 4 Wheeling shop. They often are experts at gear swaps.