Chevy & GMC Vans

I am just wondering how one would replace the ring and pinion on the Astro/Safari vans? What tools are needed? How much time would something like this take? Whatever else is important.

Got me thinking if Zam still has his and is willing to sell it to you??.If not Dean surely is your guy for info.Might want to PM him.

I agree Lifted is the man, but I want to keep this public so we have a record of it. I did some searching and couldn't find anything which surprised me. That might be more of an indication of my lack of search ability.

Start reading...

Yukon gear installation manual.

Dunedog's gear swap.

The hardest thing is getting the pinion depth (or height, depending on who you ask) set correctly. The shim goes under the bearing, against the back of the pinion.

Setting the pinion bearing preload is a little tough, but not bad if you are patient.

Shimming the carrier to get the pattern right is also tough. You can get stackable shim packs, and the carrier needs to fit tight in the housing to put some preload on the carrier bearings, although how tight is hard to describe. It isn't really measurable, but you should be able to tap it in with a rubber mallet, and be able to pry it out without brute force. It is best to use solid shims if you can. I got lucky twice with factory shims but I was changing the carrier and bearings, not the R&P. It is a very slim chance that factory shims will work with a new R&P.

I recommend removing the housing from the vehicle. It is very hard to set the preload with the pinion horizontal, for that matter the entire job is way easier on stands or sawhorses than in the van.

I see I have some reading to do.