3.9 Final Drive - DIY Help
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: England
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
3.9 Final Drive - DIY Help
Has anyone fitted the 3.9 final drive themself ?
Looking to do this as a DIY project, but was wondering about shims etc when rebuilding the diff. They are available in various thicknesses, & I take it you only know what size/s you need when you are putting the thing back together, so does this mean you have the diff in bits till you can get the required thickness shims? or would you just buy a selection in advance?
I have all the tools I think I would need, bearing pullers, slide hammers, magnetic DTI guages etc & can make drifts & any jigs needed, so I think I can strip & rebuild it OK myself, but was wondering if there are any pitfalls I have not thought of...
Looking to do this as a DIY project, but was wondering about shims etc when rebuilding the diff. They are available in various thicknesses, & I take it you only know what size/s you need when you are putting the thing back together, so does this mean you have the diff in bits till you can get the required thickness shims? or would you just buy a selection in advance?
I have all the tools I think I would need, bearing pullers, slide hammers, magnetic DTI guages etc & can make drifts & any jigs needed, so I think I can strip & rebuild it OK myself, but was wondering if there are any pitfalls I have not thought of...
#3
Registered User
iTrader: (12)
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Man in the Sun
Posts: 2,222
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by orangeboy
Has anyone fitted the 3.9 final drive themself ?
Looking to do this as a DIY project, but was wondering about shims etc when rebuilding the diff. They are available in various thicknesses, & I take it you only know what size/s you need when you are putting the thing back together, so does this mean you have the diff in bits till you can get the required thickness shims? or would you just buy a selection in advance?
I have all the tools I think I would need, bearing pullers, slide hammers, magnetic DTI guages etc & can make drifts & any jigs needed, so I think I can strip & rebuild it OK myself, but was wondering if there are any pitfalls I have not thought of...
Looking to do this as a DIY project, but was wondering about shims etc when rebuilding the diff. They are available in various thicknesses, & I take it you only know what size/s you need when you are putting the thing back together, so does this mean you have the diff in bits till you can get the required thickness shims? or would you just buy a selection in advance?
I have all the tools I think I would need, bearing pullers, slide hammers, magnetic DTI guages etc & can make drifts & any jigs needed, so I think I can strip & rebuild it OK myself, but was wondering if there are any pitfalls I have not thought of...
#4
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: England
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by D350Z10
SEARCH button my friend!! There is a good 10 fourms about the 3.9 final drive!
If you had read the threads on the UK 350z site about peoples experiences with UK dealers, you might not want them to even change a spark plug for you, let alone rebuild your diff... hence I wondered if I could DIY.
I'll be importing the bits from, more than likely, Performance Nissan, so if I can get all the bits I need in one go that would be good. If I go into a dealer here and start asking for diff shims, well I can imagine the blank look on his face now
#5
Sponsor
Performance Nissan
Performance Nissan
iTrader: (11)
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: So-Cal - Ready to go?
Posts: 8,783
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
If you have the tools you should be set...
but... there are many many different size shims you will need to have handy for the install... Alot of people purchase all the shims, do the install and return the ones that are not used...
There are about 16 different sizes... They are not cheap either... That would be the biggest issue...
I can find the tollarnces for you...
Its hard for you to purchase all the shims and then return the un-used... we usually do that for local customers...
but... there are many many different size shims you will need to have handy for the install... Alot of people purchase all the shims, do the install and return the ones that are not used...
There are about 16 different sizes... They are not cheap either... That would be the biggest issue...
I can find the tollarnces for you...
Its hard for you to purchase all the shims and then return the un-used... we usually do that for local customers...
#6
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: England
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yeah, there is a lot to choose from . I'll look into getting shims from over here but, importing again, may well be quicker though.
I was looking at changing the bearings as well, but at $175 is this essential? (9000 miles on mine)
Does this normaly get done on a FD swop or do most people reuse the old ones if on a low mileage?
Have you had much feedback from those that have done this themself as to how they got on with it?
I was looking at changing the bearings as well, but at $175 is this essential? (9000 miles on mine)
Does this normaly get done on a FD swop or do most people reuse the old ones if on a low mileage?
Have you had much feedback from those that have done this themself as to how they got on with it?
#7
Sponsor
Performance Nissan
Performance Nissan
iTrader: (11)
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: So-Cal - Ready to go?
Posts: 8,783
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Most people use new bearings...
I havent had any customers who did it on their own... most local people we sent to a gear shop we work with...
Even with the gear shop some bearings were damaged during removal of the factory pinion and the side bearings... so in some cases, you are stuck getting them anyway...
You definatly need a new Pinion Nut and Spacer Housing (crush sleeve)
Let me know if you need the part numbers for the different size shims...
I havent had any customers who did it on their own... most local people we sent to a gear shop we work with...
Even with the gear shop some bearings were damaged during removal of the factory pinion and the side bearings... so in some cases, you are stuck getting them anyway...
You definatly need a new Pinion Nut and Spacer Housing (crush sleeve)
Let me know if you need the part numbers for the different size shims...
Trending Topics
#10
Sponsor
Performance Nissan
Performance Nissan
iTrader: (11)
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: So-Cal - Ready to go?
Posts: 8,783
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Originally Posted by SnakeBitten
OT...Would the 3.9 void my warranty.
but, if you go to your dealer for a problem with your rear end because of a noise (could be from installing with shims too big / re-use bearings) then it would not be under warranty...
but, with a part like this, 99% will now know you put anything different in the car...
#11
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: England
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jason@Performance
I havent had any customers who did it on their own...
I havent had any customers who did it on their own...
So parts needed would be...
Pinion gear & ring gear $850
Side Bearing x2 $85
Side Bearing Oil Seal x2 $12
Drain Plug Washer x2 $3.90
Final Drive Gear Bolt x10 $20
Final Drive Side Gear Cir-clip x2 $1.40
Pinion Shaft Oil Seal $8.95
Pinion Shaft Crush Sleave $9.50
Pinion Nut $5
Front Pinion Bearing $34.95 (Item & price from 350evo's site)
Rear Pinion Bearing $54.95 (Item & price from 350evo's site)
Couldn't find the Front Pinion Bearing & Rear Pinion Bearing on PNP's website, I guess they can supply them OK or that I just missed them
So about $1085.65, plus whatever shims. Anything I've forgot? I'm asuming you can reuse all the driveshaft, halfshafts, & pumpkin nuts & bolts?
#12
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
Originally Posted by orangeboy
Ah, my misunderstanding. When you said "A lot of people purchase all the shims, do the install and return the ones that are not used..." I thought you were talking about regular people DIYing, not the guys from a gear shop
So parts needed would be...
Pinion gear & ring gear $850
Side Bearing x2 $85
Side Bearing Oil Seal x2 $12
Drain Plug Washer x2 $3.90
Final Drive Gear Bolt x10 $20
Final Drive Side Gear Cir-clip x2 $1.40
Pinion Shaft Oil Seal $8.95
Pinion Shaft Crush Sleave $9.50
Pinion Nut $5
Front Pinion Bearing $34.95 (Item & price from 350evo's site)
Rear Pinion Bearing $54.95 (Item & price from 350evo's site)
Couldn't find the Front Pinion Bearing & Rear Pinion Bearing on PNP's website, I guess they can supply them OK or that I just missed them
So about $1085.65, plus whatever shims. Anything I've forgot? I'm asuming you can reuse all the driveshaft, halfshafts, & pumpkin nuts & bolts?
So parts needed would be...
Pinion gear & ring gear $850
Side Bearing x2 $85
Side Bearing Oil Seal x2 $12
Drain Plug Washer x2 $3.90
Final Drive Gear Bolt x10 $20
Final Drive Side Gear Cir-clip x2 $1.40
Pinion Shaft Oil Seal $8.95
Pinion Shaft Crush Sleave $9.50
Pinion Nut $5
Front Pinion Bearing $34.95 (Item & price from 350evo's site)
Rear Pinion Bearing $54.95 (Item & price from 350evo's site)
Couldn't find the Front Pinion Bearing & Rear Pinion Bearing on PNP's website, I guess they can supply them OK or that I just missed them
So about $1085.65, plus whatever shims. Anything I've forgot? I'm asuming you can reuse all the driveshaft, halfshafts, & pumpkin nuts & bolts?
front and rear pinion bearings are a nesessity?
#13
Sponsor
Performance Nissan
Performance Nissan
iTrader: (11)
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: So-Cal - Ready to go?
Posts: 8,783
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Originally Posted by gatti-man
front and rear pinion bearings are a nesessity?
#17
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Jason@Performance
there are many many different size shims you will need to have handy for the install... Alot of people purchase all the shims, do the install and return the ones that are not used...
There are about 16 different sizes... They are not cheap either... That would be the biggest issue...
There are about 16 different sizes... They are not cheap either... That would be the biggest issue...
#18
Sponsor
Performance Nissan
Performance Nissan
iTrader: (11)
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: So-Cal - Ready to go?
Posts: 8,783
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Pre-made yea...
But any experienced gear shop can cut their own shims...
Most likely your local dealer will not have in stock...
if you find out the sizes you need, we can overnight them for you...
But any experienced gear shop can cut their own shims...
Most likely your local dealer will not have in stock...
if you find out the sizes you need, we can overnight them for you...
#20
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: England
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by orangeboy
So parts needed would be...
Pinion gear & ring gear $850
Side Bearing x2 $85
Side Bearing Oil Seal x2 $12
Drain Plug Washer x2 $3.90
Final Drive Gear Bolt x10 $20
Final Drive Side Gear Cir-clip x2 $1.40
Pinion Shaft Oil Seal $8.95
Pinion Shaft Crush Sleave $9.50
Pinion Nut $5
Front Pinion Bearing $34.95 (Item & price from 350evo's site)
Rear Pinion Bearing $54.95 (Item & price from 350evo's site)
They have never heard of a 'shim kit' & couldn't find it on the parts system at all. I won't tell you how much they wanted per individual shim
Diff/gearbox shops are quoting about $840 in labour alone, if I supply all the parts needed, bearings, seals etc...
Would save me a lot of time to get someone else to do it for me, but it won't be cheap
Decisions decisions