i am going to do a gear swap in my 2003 ram with a hemi. I am looking mostly at 4.56. but i have also seen 4.88. i am wanting my 1/4 mile to be lower. also i have 59000 on my truck. do i need the master install kit or jus the minor install it. if i get 4.88 will i have to buy a new diff cover . I have all the tools to do it. has anybody done 4.88s. for break in i was planning to change my fluid many times so i dont know if need new bearings because there wont be any metal shavings getting in the bearings or not. where are the best places to buy gears. thanks

 

if i ever did a gear change it will be 4:88's but i cant find a smart guy to do them that is a art find a good install guy.

 

you will need the master install kit because you will need all the shims to set your backlash and gear depths correctly

 

yup, will need the install kit, and if you have a 4x4, forget the 4.88s, nobody makes them for the IFS front, Ramhunter1 is hittin' that crack pipe again...

 

the minor install kit comes with shims, marking compound, pinion seal,crush sleeve.

 

oh i forgot to say i am just getting the rear diff. i have a 2wd regular cab

 

rule of thumb is minor kit for under 30k miles, major for over. Besides, those Timkin bearings are a hell of a lot better than the ones in the AAM axles...
And yes, that would make you a candidate for 4.88s and if you plan on changing fluids that often, a diff cover with a drain would be nice, although you'd still want to pop it and have a look, at least after break-in...

 

so the master comes with the gears plus that? personally i would replace the gears whiled your in there and get it over with. you will need a new pinnion gear for sure because you replace it and then you reduce the risk of them going and you wrecking your new gears.

sorry for the miss communication, different suppliers have different things at the shop

 

ok thats what i wanted to know if i needed bearings or not the 30k rule is what i wanted to know. I have 59000. im just trying to be cheap cause im a college student going to UTI and trying to be cheap. now i just want to know if anyone used the 4.88s or are 4.56s a better choice.

 

what size tires on the back?