Carrier Question

Awhile back, I had the gears replaced in my front dana 30(long story short, the PO had 4.11 gears - don't ask - in the front and 3.54 gears in the rear!).

I know I plan on making the jump to 4.88 or 4.56 gears in the near future. My understanding is I won't need a new carrier for the front dana 30? Am I correct in that I'll just need a new carrier for the dana 44 rear?

Or would it be taboo to add thick gears for the rear instead?

 

The D 30 ratio split is 3.54 and down, 3.73 and up. The D44 split is 3.73 and down and 3.92 and up. If you have the 3.73 carrier, nothing wrong with using a thick gear.

 

Hm you are correct.

I told the mechanic at the time to just match 4.11 gears in the rear but he went on about how I wouldn't like it "that low" and how I should just have a 3.54 set put in the front. What a tool!

So I caved and I guess you're right - he screwed me and probably put 2.73-3.55 carrier in the front with the 3.54 gears. Oh well.

I appreciate the info though!

 

'80CJ is correct on the gear split.
By the way, the part the ring gear bolts to is the CASE, not the carrier. The carrier is the center portion that houses all the gears and diff bearings. For example, a Ford 9" or Toyota 8" have removeable carriers (also erroneously called third member, chunks, pumpkins, etc). A Dana 44 or 30 has an integrated carrier because the carrier assemby is non removeable.

 

[/quote] By the way, the part the ring gear bolts to is the CASE, not the carrier. The carrier is the center portion that houses all the gears and diff bearings. For example, a Ford 9" or Toyota 8" have removable carriers (also erroneously called third member, chunks, pumpkins, etc). A Dana 44 or 30 has an integrated carrier because the carrier assembly is non removeable.[/quote]

I disagree. The Case is what houses all the gears, (commonly referred to as the housing). The carrier has the ring gear bolted to it, and spider gears (or posi unit, etc.) inside, and bolts into the case. That is why it is called a "carrier break" when different ratio gears are used. This info is from Randys Ring and Pinion.
By definition, a case is something that houses something.

 

Nickmil is correct. The big outer shell is the carrier, because it supports or carries the bearings / differential assembly.
The part the ring gear bolts to is called the differential case, because encased inside it are the parts that actually do the differentiating (spider gears etc).
Don't be fooled by what is written in some books, Often technical writers get it wrong.

Thick gears are fine.

 

By the way, the part the ring gear bolts to is the CASE, not the carrier. The carrier is the center portion that houses all the gears and diff bearings. For example, a Ford 9" or Toyota 8" have removable carriers (also erroneously called third member, chunks, pumpkins, etc). A Dana 44 or 30 has an integrated carrier because the carrier assembly is non removeable.[/quote]

I disagree. The Case is what houses all the gears, (commonly referred to as the housing). The carrier has the ring gear bolted to it, and spider gears (or posi unit, etc.) inside, and bolts into the case. That is why it is called a "carrier break" when different ratio gears are used. This info is from Randys Ring and Pinion.
By definition, a case is something that houses something.[/QUOTE]

So then all my text books for the last 16 years I've been teaching this stuff on at a professional college level have been wrong? All the other instructors and professional instructional material have been wrong?

You buy a differential CASE from Randy's Ring and Pinion and in the box you get the part that the differential gears (pinion gears, shaft, and side gears) are inside of and the ring gear bolts to and right on the outside of the box it says differential case. So does every Spicer box that I've seen. You buy a Carrier for a 9" Ford and you get the whole section that bolts to the axle housing, not the part the ring gear bolts to.

This is a common misusage of verbage. Even professionals do it frequently to minimize confusion when dealing with the average Joe who only knows what he's read in magazines, seen on the internet, or heard from his buddies, most of which ends up using the wrong terminology.

I was just trying to clarify something so that the next person who tries to purchase something will ask for the right parts, not end up with the wrong parts.

 

For those who read this thread, Please don't 'cave in' to what your mechanic suggests if he thinks high gears are better. High gears have their place in road machines. If you want low gears, insist on it! A CJ with high gears is OK, but a CJ with low gears is FANTASTIC! 4:88's kick A!

 

Problem is, most people who take their jeeps to a mechanic(like I was doing at the time) probably haven't found this website as a resource yet. I had just got the jeep and was excited to take it out and play.

Imagine my surprise/horror when I couldn't get my jeep out of 4 wheel low in the woods(and had to have it flat bedded back 90 miles into town) only to find the gears were mismatched!

Even though it's been a few years, I'm going to swing by that mechanic's shop and ask/demand that he give me the original carrier and 4.11 gears because I never got them back, and well, they're mine.

I appreciate the feedback from everyone though.

As far as thick gears in the dana 44 are concerned, I know it requires some drilling. What all requires drilling in the process? Are any other parts needed with the thick gears besides the ring and pinion?

I won't be installing the new gears myself. I'm blessed enough to date a girl who's dad has been a life long mechanic and owns a small trucking company, thus has much experience with installing ring and pinions into his trucks. When I asked, he said it was a breeze installing themR)


-Nickmil : I appreciate the clarification on verbage.

When you say case, you mean this I assume(which is what I'm in need of for the dana 30) :

 

Using the thick gear would require that the ring gear bolt holes in a diff case with 3/8" holes (most older 44's) be reamed or drilled out to accept 7/16" bolts. Newer 44's like the ones used in Wrangler Rubicons have the larger bolts.

 

Yup, that is the case.