Incomplete Dif. Upgrade

Hello,
My right rear wheel bearings needed replaced, so I started that project
tonight. I drive a '94 Chevy K1500. As I found myself in the middle of the
project, it required opening up the diff. cover, removing the retaining clip
on the axle, and pulling the axel out. I decided that maybe while I had the
diff. pulled apart this far, I probably should do the wheel bearing on the
other side. Then I thought about it some more and decided maybe this would
also be a good time to change my axle ratio from 3.08:1 to 4.1:1. So.... I
left my truck mostly disassembled for the night.

I don't want to change my front diff. just yet, due to $$ constraints (I'm
only thinking of doing the rear since I have it pulled apart right now, and
really don't want to do this all again). I know that it should be ok to
drive the truck as long as I don't use 4 wheel drive.

Now, my question...

As a safety precaution... is it OK to pull the front drive shaft, and run
without it until I can go ahead and change the gearing in the front diff.
(probably October)?

Thanks!
NW

"NetWeasel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hello,
> My right rear wheel bearings needed replaced, so I started that project
> tonight. I drive a '94 Chevy K1500. As I found myself in the middle of
the
> project, it required opening up the diff. cover, removing the retaining
clip
> on the axle, and pulling the axel out. I decided that maybe while I had
the
> diff. pulled apart this far, I probably should do the wheel bearing on the
> other side. Then I thought about it some more and decided maybe this
would
> also be a good time to change my axle ratio from 3.08:1 to 4.1:1. So....
I
> left my truck mostly disassembled for the night.
>
> I don't want to change my front diff. just yet, due to $$ constraints (I'm
> only thinking of doing the rear since I have it pulled apart right now,
and
> really don't want to do this all again). I know that it should be ok to
> drive the truck as long as I don't use 4 wheel drive.
>
> Now, my question...
>
> As a safety precaution... is it OK to pull the front drive shaft, and run
> without it until I can go ahead and change the gearing in the front diff.
> (probably October)?

Yes.

Well ya might as well put it out just so you don't get the urge to use the 4
wheel drive. I changed the gears in my 92 and left it in and didn't have a
problem but damn it was tempting to use the 4x4.
"John" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "NetWeasel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Hello,
> > My right rear wheel bearings needed replaced, so I started that project
> > tonight. I drive a '94 Chevy K1500. As I found myself in the middle of
> the
> > project, it required opening up the diff. cover, removing the retaining
> clip
> > on the axle, and pulling the axel out. I decided that maybe while I had
> the
> > diff. pulled apart this far, I probably should do the wheel bearing on
the
> > other side. Then I thought about it some more and decided maybe this
> would
> > also be a good time to change my axle ratio from 3.08:1 to 4.1:1.
So....
> I
> > left my truck mostly disassembled for the night.
> >
> > I don't want to change my front diff. just yet, due to $$ constraints
(I'm
> > only thinking of doing the rear since I have it pulled apart right now,
> and
> > really don't want to do this all again). I know that it should be ok to
> > drive the truck as long as I don't use 4 wheel drive.
> >
> > Now, my question...
> >
> > As a safety precaution... is it OK to pull the front drive shaft, and
run
> > without it until I can go ahead and change the gearing in the front
diff.
> > (probably October)?
>
> Yes.
>
>

It is quite fine to remove the front driveshaft. I am doing this on
my '97 Suburban. I had it regeared to 4:11. Makes one fine pulling
machine and only cut gas mileage by less than 1 mpg on hway. and
actually increased mileage in city. Make sure you have proper tools
to set pinion depth and backlash. It you don't, you will spend a lot
more money getting it fixed right with the next set of gears real
soon.

Just my 2 pennies,
Robbie.

On Mon, 04 Aug 2003 03:17:42 GMT, "NetWeasel" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Hello,
>My right rear wheel bearings needed replaced, so I started that project
>tonight. I drive a '94 Chevy K1500. As I found myself in the middle of the
>project, it required opening up the diff. cover, removing the retaining clip
>on the axle, and pulling the axel out. I decided that maybe while I had the
>diff. pulled apart this far, I probably should do the wheel bearing on the
>other side. Then I thought about it some more and decided maybe this would
>also be a good time to change my axle ratio from 3.08:1 to 4.1:1. So.... I
>left my truck mostly disassembled for the night.
>
>I don't want to change my front diff. just yet, due to $$ constraints (I'm
>only thinking of doing the rear since I have it pulled apart right now, and
>really don't want to do this all again). I know that it should be ok to
>drive the truck as long as I don't use 4 wheel drive.
>
>Now, my question...
>
>As a safety precaution... is it OK to pull the front drive shaft, and run
>without it until I can go ahead and change the gearing in the front diff.
>(probably October)?
>
>Thanks!
>NW
>
>

FWIW: I drove for three years with two different gear ratios, 3.55 front and
4.56 rear. I did use the 4x4 from time to time, I just made a point of not
using it till I really needed it. In soft sand or mud there's not enough
traction to cause any binding so I never broke anything.

But I was glad when I regeared the front to match the back.

Sean

"sidewinder" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Well ya might as well put it out just so you don't get the urge to use the
4
> wheel drive. I changed the gears in my 92 and left it in and didn't have
a
> problem but damn it was tempting to use the 4x4.
> "John" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > "NetWeasel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > Hello,
> > > My right rear wheel bearings needed replaced, so I started that
project
> > > tonight. I drive a '94 Chevy K1500. As I found myself in the middle
of
> > the
> > > project, it required opening up the diff. cover, removing the
retaining
> > clip
> > > on the axle, and pulling the axel out. I decided that maybe while I
had
> > the
> > > diff. pulled apart this far, I probably should do the wheel bearing on
> the
> > > other side. Then I thought about it some more and decided maybe this
> > would
> > > also be a good time to change my axle ratio from 3.08:1 to 4.1:1.
> So....
> > I
> > > left my truck mostly disassembled for the night.
> > >
> > > I don't want to change my front diff. just yet, due to $$ constraints
> (I'm
> > > only thinking of doing the rear since I have it pulled apart right
now,
> > and
> > > really don't want to do this all again). I know that it should be ok
to
> > > drive the truck as long as I don't use 4 wheel drive.
> > >
> > > Now, my question...
> > >
> > > As a safety precaution... is it OK to pull the front drive shaft, and
> run
> > > without it until I can go ahead and change the gearing in the front
> diff.
> > > (probably October)?
> >
> > Yes.
> >
> >
>
>

Yes, as I looked into the tools needed, I decided to put that project on
hold. I'm sticking with the 3.08 gears for now. I'm going to get an
estimate from a shop that I was referred to. If the estimate is ridiculous,
I'll go ahead and buy/borrow/rent the tools that I'll need and do it myself.

What should I expect to pay for such a job so that I know if they're
reasonable?
My truck is a 1994 Chevy K1500. 4.3L.

-NW



"Robbie" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> It is quite fine to remove the front driveshaft. I am doing this on
> my '97 Suburban. I had it regeared to 4:11. Makes one fine pulling
> machine and only cut gas mileage by less than 1 mpg on hway. and
> actually increased mileage in city. Make sure you have proper tools
> to set pinion depth and backlash. It you don't, you will spend a lot
> more money getting it fixed right with the next set of gears real
> soon.
>
> Just my 2 pennies,
> Robbie.
>
> On Mon, 04 Aug 2003 03:17:42 GMT, "NetWeasel" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> >Hello,
> >My right rear wheel bearings needed replaced, so I started that project
> >tonight. I drive a '94 Chevy K1500. As I found myself in the middle of
the
> >project, it required opening up the diff. cover, removing the retaining
clip
> >on the axle, and pulling the axel out. I decided that maybe while I had
the
> >diff. pulled apart this far, I probably should do the wheel bearing on
the
> >other side. Then I thought about it some more and decided maybe this
would
> >also be a good time to change my axle ratio from 3.08:1 to 4.1:1. So....
I
> >left my truck mostly disassembled for the night.
> >
> >I don't want to change my front diff. just yet, due to $$ constraints
(I'm
> >only thinking of doing the rear since I have it pulled apart right now,
and
> >really don't want to do this all again). I know that it should be ok to
> >drive the truck as long as I don't use 4 wheel drive.
> >
> >Now, my question...
> >
> >As a safety precaution... is it OK to pull the front drive shaft, and run
> >without it until I can go ahead and change the gearing in the front diff.
> >(probably October)?
> >
> >Thanks!
> >NW
> >
> >
>
>

"NetWeasel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Yes, as I looked into the tools needed, I decided to put that project on
> hold. I'm sticking with the 3.08 gears for now. I'm going to get an
> estimate from a shop that I was referred to. If the estimate is
ridiculous,
> I'll go ahead and buy/borrow/rent the tools that I'll need and do it
myself.
>
> What should I expect to pay for such a job so that I know if they're
> reasonable?
> My truck is a 1994 Chevy K1500. 4.3L.

Depends on the shop, and who picks up the parts. I sourced all the parts,
and the shop did the job for $200. I've been running them for seven years
now, so I guess they did a good job.

3.08 with a 4.3L? Ouch!

Sean