I'm contemplating swapping my ring and pinion and ARB into my full width housing myself. Anyone out there done it before and interested in helping? It doesn't look that hard, other than being a fiddly PITA. Hopefully doing this with the housing out of the rig will make it easier. Anyone interested in a tech day?

You know I'm game, I've got 5-7 D44 R&R under my belt. This would be my 1st high pinion.

Sweet! Thanks. From everything I'm reading the setup is pretty much identical. I'll touch base with you about timing once I've got parts. Turns out the ARB needs a special setup kit, and the process is a little different (depending on which generation ARB I've got, the shims may go on the outside of the bearings instead of between the bearing and diff). I don't suppose you've got a case spreader? Guys, please post up if you're interested in a tech day, I'm happy to host.

I'd love to learn and lend a hand

No need for a case spreader, just one pry bar at the top of the ring gear on a bolt, and one at the bottom, I hate case spreaders, I've never used them, and was taught not too by my father who's a 30+ year tech and previously race crew chief for Leonard Vasholtz, the only time the pry bar method sucks is on big diffs like d60's, sterlings, 14 bolts, etc. since trying to catch the big ass carrier isn't all that fun, unless you have a helper then it's easy

I am very interested so count me in.

I've got shims for either situation, I've also just used pry bars, wouldn't know what to do with a case spreader. Would it be a good beer holder?

I'm game depending on work load..

Awesome! I've had my Ring Gear and locker out before, but I was only replacing the locker (lunchbox) so it was only an R&R, but setting up gears would make a great tech day.

Putting the shims on the inside of the bearing is ideal then they don't get bent when pushing the carrier into the housing. Some setup bearings make the process a bit easier. Meaning an old set of bearing that the ID has been honed out so they slide right on/off.

I've got setup bearings now, made a set when I did my friends Jeep D44, hope the bearing is similar. Agree on the shim placement, I'll need to read up on the ARB requirements.

As long as you're careful you can feed the shims and carrier in at the same time, and lightly tap the carrier in by the outer bearing races with a dead blow hammer, as long as you are careful you won't wad up the shims, don't know if you still can, but once you found out the thickness you need on each side you could get one thick shim that was made whatever thickness you specified per side, some 4 wheel drive shops might have some left over

i have some d44 and d60 shims left over as well..

One day is doable with determined folks and no serious problems. Corey has it spot on, that's the technique we used when Crawler set up Willem's D44 locker.

Just thought of something. If we do this at my place, I need a shop press, correct?

Well.... A press would be nice, I suppose a big hammer could be pressed into service. I'll bring my diff bearing removal set, but that won't help put them back on.

I can get one. I've got a good HF coupon and now I've got an excuse, too.

Cool, I'd rec the larger 20 ton & don't forget the arbor plates

Thanks, that's the plan. I think arbor plates come with it.

The arbor plates are cast iron, and generally considered unsafe. The can shatter under load, causing firey shards of death to fly from the press. Consider buying a set of arbor plates from plate metal. Battlement has sets for sale.

Let me know how thick you want them and I will check our metal supply.

Thanks Gunni, you post prompted me to do some reading. Ouch! I'm surprised they haven't gotten sued. kbank, how about 1.375 or 1.5"? Can you guys do them with all the cutouts like the Battlement Fab or Swag Offroad plates?

Kbank, if you can make a set for Justin I'd also be interested in a set.

I will check out plate size we have and let you guys know tomorrow. I will make as many as I can depending on the material we have.

That would be awesome, thanks!

Sorry but we only had enough 1.5 plate to make one. No idea when we will have that size again. I will be in Denver next month and will check our yard then.