Switching gear size

Is it easier to buy a front gear assembly from some where and put that in and then just change out the back? I am thinking about going to 3:73s on my z71. Thanks guys

Anyone?

I dunno, but I have an extra set of 3.73's sitting arround.

Oh yeah. Does anyone know if this is what i would need for the front?

eBay Motors: 99-06 CHEVY SILVERADO SUBURBAN FRONT PIG DIFFERENTIAL (item 150293608676 end time Sep-18-08 08:33:29 PDT)

Thanks guys

yeh thats it.jeez for that price maybe thats what ill do when i change my fronts.

I was told it might be cheaper to go with the whole thing instead of replacing the gears. Would i just have to pull out my old and in with the new or is there more to it?

youlle have to pull youre axels and stuff but no bigge.id say its definately easier.and itll be all set up.i mean if you change gears you have to crack the case and stuff also.find one for 410s and ill send ya mine.

Okay i did not know if i could do it my self or what. I dont know how to change gears and my mechanic said $1500 to do front and back or $700 to $800 for the back and if i could find a front assembely the front would be cheaper. But if i can do the front then all i will have to have them do it the back.

Damn, for that much I would just replace the gears--but only do it if you have a decent amount of experience doing so. If not, replacing the whole axle is the other option, which you could do yourself with no other prior knowledge. At that point, it is just taking something out and putting it back in the reverse order...

That's a cheap price IMO for the whole thing. The big rub here is that these front axles commonly have bad side bearings (especially the AWD axles LOL) that require cracking the case anyway. Add in the fact getting the pumpkin in and out (especially without a lift) is the more difficult part of the front gear swap (providing you have the special tools to work on the front). You could buy the one on eBay then split the halves to check the side bearings. If you don't turn any adjusters, you can then clean the case halves and bolt it back together with some GM anearobic sealer yourself. That way you could be confident it's in good shape AND have less down time by just swappings complete pumpkins. You could resell the old and make some money back.

If I were in your shoes AND you trust the mechanic, I'd buy the gears and stuff, pull the pumpkin, and have him rebuild it before reinstalling it myself.

BTW, the front CV axles can stay in the truck when the axle gets swapped. In fact, I remove the RH axle tube from the pumpkin BEFORE pulling out the diff and reistall it to the diff after the diff is reinstalled. Easier that way IMO.