The junkyards around here have some good deals on rearends, so I'm considering swapping my open 3.55 out if I can find a posi 3.92. One is bound to show up one day. What am I getting myself into? Is this going to be easy like it seems, or a nightmare to make Steven King proud? It seems like I should be able to just do the R&R thing, bleed the brakes (How do the anti-lock brakes affect that?), and go. But anytime the thought, "How hard could it be? What could go wrong?" enters the equation, it's time to ask those with the experience.
Also, what should I look for inside the pumpkin, besides the obvious broken stuff and huge amounts of metal sludge in the bottom?
Thanks, Gas.

 

Its very easy if the rear end you get is off another 1st gen Durango with the same drivetrain as yours (4x4 or 2wd). You will need new ubolts, cause you really don't want to re-use those!

1) Unbolt the shocks
2) Unhook the ABS sensor
3) Unhook the brake lines
4) Unbolt the ubolts
5) Unbolt the shackles and drop the rear of the leaf springs if the axle is over the springs.

Assembly is reverse. Then like you said, bleed the brakes. You won't have to worry about it being ABS cause the air introduced into the brake lines will be after the ABS control valve. I don't think I left out anything!

I put a Chry. 9.25 rear axle out of an '01 Durango in my '95 Dakota. It took me and a buddy 5 hours start to finish and that included welding new leaf spring perches and shock mount tabs on it... something you won't have to do.

 

Thanks, hopefully I can find one soon. I'd love a little more gear. I believe that the ratio change doesn't affect the speedometer due to the speed sensor location. Do you know if that's true? I know tire size will require calibration, but I'm thinking I'll get away with this.

 

what about getting it back in line

 

even distance on both sides