littlebird

I have the 2.73 gears and am sick of the slowness. I dont know of any local shops that are reasonable for installing gears.
Is it worth it to pull out a junkyard rear end with 3.42s? I would guess a junkyard rear would need new seals all around, and I would probably like to have new bolts to use to attach it.
I dont really want to spend $2000 for an axle right now. maybe it would be better to have my gears swapped out by a shop, rather than swapping in a junk rear.

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

check some local rates for shops to do a gear swap.

FirstYrLS1Z

iTrader: (4)

A 'junkyard' rear would not necessarily need new seals,if it's not leaking.Look for an A4 3.23 and/or M6 3.42.If you pick one up and put it in,you'll then have your original as a spare as a quick replacement.

Latch

iTrader: (8)

Only thing to worry about is that a 3.42 rear would certainly have come from an M6 car, which means it's likely to have a shorter life expectancy than say a 3.23 rear out of an A4 car. Although going from 2.73s to 3.23s isn't exactly worth the hassle of buying and swapping rear ends...

garygnu

you can buy a new bolt in 9" housing and axles for $1050,if you can find a nice used 9" center section for less then $1000.

95T-A

I did exactly what your thinking of doing except my rear was completely shot. So we picked up a junk yard 3:42 rear end ,and i couldn't be happier. For 500$ it has new seals and all and was installed for that price I'd say go for it.

Big Al

iTrader: (1)

And then you get to deal with the torque arm. Or do you know where a housing and torque arm is $1050?

Al

SS SLP2

iTrader: (8)

1050 for 9" houshing/axels/bearing, use your backing plates and brakes AND YOUR OE tork arm, buy a junk yard center with the gear you want to run ( about 100-300) buy the center first so you know which axle spline COUNT you need to order when you order houshing YOU SHOULD KNOW if you need ABS or ABS/TC

this way you in a 9" for 12-1300, will be a lot strong than a rebuilt 10 bolt
later if you want you may buy a mose or strange center and then buy an adjustable TA

try BOB at Brute Speed
just my .02'
Johnny

garygnu

you will also need to buy the torque arm bracket from moser,which mounts to the axle housing.you can use your stock torque arm and beef it up with extra tubing.talk to BOB at Brutespeed for better infor.

SS SLP2

iTrader: (8)

the housing I bought from Bob came with the torque arm bracket at no extra charge
Johnny

96lt4c4

iTrader: (5)

Yup a 3.42 rear will have been beat on and will more then likely be noisy.