Is it possible to replace the guts (side gears, spider gears, etc..) in my 28 spline diff with 31 spline stuff? Or am I stuck buying a whole new one? I guess my question is are the cases any different? I would just as soon replace the guts on mine since it only has 25k on it and i already have 4.10s installed. It would also alleviate the need to do all the measuring and shimming BS.

Maybe this is hopeless, but I thought it was worth asking.

 

Cases should be the same, but to rebuild it you have to pull it regardless. Same work either way, if not more. Might as well buy the 31 (if your upgrading to that) swap the ring gear over and put it back together (remember you need new axles for the conversion). If your just fixing a worn 28, buy the rebuild kit for the 28.

 

+1. Can't do 28-31 with out new axles.

 

I know I would need new axles......I was just asking if it was possible to convert my differential to a 31-spline by replacing all the gears etc. Of course 28-spline axles won't work witha 31-spline diff.

 

doing further research, you can only buy the clutch packs for the diff rebuild, looks like you have to buy the hole thing.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ETN-19588-010/

 

You can buy 31-spline side gears and spider gears seperately, the question was will my current diff accept them and be functional.

 

Your getting yourself into more work than what would be worth it, you have to remove the diff regardless. Might as well just swap a ring gear instead of trying to rebuild and entire diff, just to put it all back in and find out you screwed something up. I doubt the cases are exactly the same, however I could be wrong but the only way to find out is to compare them, but then you would have a complete 31 in the first place.

 

I'm over it. I believe Haney about the pinion shaft measurements. IMO swapping out the side gears, spider gears, clutches would be 10 times easier than shimming, setting for backlash, getting the abs ring off and onto another diff and swapping ring gears. Its not as easy as just swapping the ring gear to a new diff.

 

well good luck either way