My final gear swap project

[PantsDants]

Got all of my installation parts! Interesting thing I noticed was the pinion spacer that I got was made of metal (41231-24010). I was under the impression that it wouldn't be; I thought that's why they sold solid spacers as a replacement. Any ideas?

Now I'm just waiting on my ring and pinion. Spence had to order it as he didn't have it in stock. I still hope to have it sometime next week.

[37]

Originally Posted by PantsDants

Got all of my installation parts! Interesting thing I noticed was the pinion spacer that I got was made of metal (41231-24010). I was under the impression that it wouldn't be; I thought that's why they sold solid spacers as a replacement. Any ideas?

Like I said in another post (and am too lazy to track down), you'll have zero issues with using an OEM crush sleeve. You aren't putting down enough torque to shove the pinion forward. My stock sleeve was reusable and the new one I purchased is still in the bag.

The issue with OEM crush sleeves (which are steel, not plastic or aluminum) is that cars making a ton of torque can potentially drive the pinion forward. The crush sleeve gives and now there's slop in the rear end. A solid spacer prevents this.

A crush sleeve simply eliminates one more step in the shimming process. It's not a bad part whatsoever in an OE application. You'll likely never compress yours further than it is now, especially given how little torque this engine has.

If it helps you sleep at night, you'll trash your factory gearbox long before the crush spacer compresses.

[PantsDants]

I didn't realize the OEM crush sleeve was made of steel. That's why I was surprised when I saw a big honkin' metal thing. Actually I don't really know what I was expecting it to look like at all. Haha

Still waiting on the ring and pinion. Kinda dying over here.

[CajunFRS]

Subscribed!

[PantsDants]

Quick update: Tracking says my ring and pinion should get here tomorrow. I've called the diff shop (Northwest Differential in Kirkland) and am set to drop everything off with them on Monday!

[PantsDants]

Alright so the diff shop has all my parts. The guy I dealt with seemed rather surprised that I had all the bits and pieces to go with the installation. They should hopefully get to swapping the ring and pinion this week, and I'd be looking at some time next week to have the carrier installed. This is all ideal, "all the parts actually fit right" scenario though.

Anyway, he gave me a heads up that the diff may make some noise due to the fact that the final ratio is so short and that they're aftermarket gears. He said not to be concerned with it unless the noise changes. He also commented on the fact that my car is "megaphone-shaped", so any noise changes should be easily noticeable.

The other thing he recommended was that I hold on to my oil. They plan to put what he called "break-in" oil in it and have me drive easy on that for a few hundred miles, then drain it and fill with the good stuff. After reading about how nasty that stuff gets with the factory fill on our cars, I'm not surprised that he'd recommend that.

[PantsDants]

Just to update and prove I haven't fallen off the face of the planet: Diff shop still has my stuff, they just haven't gotten to it yet. I'm like a kid trying to sleep on Christmas Eve over here.

[Nightbringer]

Originally Posted by PantsDants

Just to update and prove I haven't fallen off the face of the planet: Diff shop still has my stuff, they just haven't gotten to it yet. I'm like a kid trying to sleep on Christmas Eve over here.

Not even my car and I feel the same. :P Pretty much the moment you give the word that it's good to go I'm going to order for myself. Really appreciate you being the guinea pig on this one man! The cost difference going through Weir is insane.

[Fast_Freddy]

Originally Posted by Nightbringer

Not even my car and I feel the same. :P Pretty much the moment you give the word that it's good to go I'm going to order for myself. Really appreciate you being the guinea pig on this one man! The cost difference going through Weir is insane.

Cusco should be ashamed charging $1000 for a $250 set of Toyota gears but then they wouldn't be "JDM". Assuming that all 1986-1992 Supra 8" diff ring and pinion gears do fit our diff, I've found 4.56 sets for as little as $142 from National Drivetrain. At that price a final drive ratio change might be the best bang for the buck mod available.

[PantsDants]

Originally Posted by Fast_Freddy

Cusco should be ashamed charging $1000 for a $250 set of Toyota gears but then they wouldn't be "JDM". Assuming that all 1986-1992 Supra 8" diff ring and pinion gears do fit our diff, I've found 4.56 sets for as little as $142 from National Drivetrain. At that price a final drive ratio change might be the best bang for the buck mod available.

The thing to keep in mind here though is that the labor cost for having the ring and pinion swapped in is fairly pricey in itself; I was quoted $400. If you have the tools and know-how to do it all yourself, I would agree this is the best bang for the buck by far.

[PantsDants]

Update time: Shop called me to let me know the carrier has been assembled with no issues! Now I just have to wait until they can free up a lift so they can install it.

More waiting yaaaay. At least now we know for sure that Weir gears do indeed work! As a side note, once everything is good to go, I'll have a set of practically brand new 3.9 gears to sell...

[Mr.]

awwwwwwwwwww yeahhhhhhhh maybe those people whom engineered remembered our cars remembered how sweet is300 was and incorporated in the design like finding Easter eggs in a video game. (subbbed)

[SportInjected]

Originally Posted by PantsDants

Update time: Shop called me to let me know the carrier has been assembled with no issues! Now I just have to wait until they can free up a lift so they can install it.

More waiting yaaaay. At least now we know for sure that Weir gears do indeed work! As a side note, once everything is good to go, I'll have a set of practically brand new 3.9 gears to sell...

That's some good news right there!

Once you get your car back, I was wondering if you could post a complete parts list for this swap just one last time? I'd mainly like to know what diff washers and bearing shims were used, so that others can possibly avoid buying all of the ones listed earlier.

Thanks!

[PantsDants]

Originally Posted by SportInjected

That's some good news right there!

Once you get your car back, I was wondering if you could post a complete parts list for this swap just one last time? I'd mainly like to know what diff washers and bearing shims were used, so that others can possibly avoid buying all of the ones listed earlier.

Thanks!

Weir sells a shim kit that I bought with my ring and pinion for $15. Spence did write down what size to start with, but I'm under the impression that every car will be slightly different in terms of the sizes needed. It's safer to just buy them all in the kit rather than hoping one specific one will work and then it turns out it really doesn't. :P