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+1, setting up the mesh is one of those things where experience with doing it many times is helpful. Setting up a diff is one of the few things I will outsource in my cars. I've rebuilt a ZF 5HP-24 automatic transmission (a notoriously complicated beast) on my bench, but I leave diffs alone. If you decide to tackle it though, I'll be watching with interest to see what you learn in the process. In my experience with watching your work through these pages, I know you're both thoughtful and thorough.Based on your own comment re not knowing much about rears I will recommend some caution. It’s not a hard job, but neither is it an easy job to DIY without some specialty tools. Patience and precision is necessary for the setup to run quiet and last. You can do it, just take your time. The chances of it being a simple remove and replace parts swap without some adjustments to gear mesh are slim.
You may need new gears because if they ate some chunks of whatever broke, the teeth may be chipped.
It may well be that easy. I’ve just never done it and have read enough horror stories from people screwing it up to be willing to let a pro do it. Then again, the last time I had to have a diff rebuilt was in my old suburban and I was living in Colorado, right down the street from one of the best 4x4 and driveline shops anywhere.Ok, I was just watching some youtube vids. It looks pretty simple to set the backlash properly with the dial indicator and shims. I'm not removing the pinion gear or anything, so I thought it could have been a DIY.
If it needed new gears as well, I'll take it to a shop. I'm gonna pop the cover off and look in there.
Unfortunately no. Deemed too weak by the aftermarket to offer anything.Slightly off topic: Is there a truetrac or any other non-open differential available for the front axle?