Doing gear swap today -- unbolt sway bar and/or shocks to drop axle down?

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

Hi guys, I am installing my 5L3Z-4209-B 3.55 gear whine replacement 3.55 gearset today. I have worked on RWD diffs before but not in an air ride equipped car. With the body up high on big jack stands, the rear obviously does not drop down enough for me to have comfortable access to get the carrier in and out. Do I drop the sway bar only, or the shocks as well? I didn't want to take the shocks off and let the axle droop if this will damage the air ride. The jack stands are 23" high and are maxed out, supporting the car on the frame on all 4 corners, so the tires are only maybe 3-4" off the ground -- if I let the axle drop I can rest it on another set of jack stands so I don't hurt the air bags.

Please let me know! I have my laptop in the garage and I am ready to start tearing this thing down.

Thanks

STeve

[fastblackmerc]

Hi guys, I am installing my 5L3Z-4209-B 3.55 gear whine replacement 3.55 gearset today. I have worked on RWD diffs before but not in an air ride equipped car. With the body up high on big jack stands, the rear obviously does not drop down enough for me to have comfortable access to get the carrier in and out. Do I drop the sway bar only, or the shocks as well? I didn't want to take the shocks off and let the axle droop if this will damage the air ride. The jack stands are 23" high and are maxed out, supporting the car on the frame on all 4 corners, so the tires are only maybe 3-4" off the ground -- if I let the axle drop I can rest it on another set of jack stands so I don't hurt the air bags.

Please let me know! I have my laptop in the garage and I am ready to start tearing this thing down.

Thanks

STeve

First - turn off the air ride suspension. The switch is in the left hand side of the trunk. You need to do this every time you raise the rear of the MM.

Second - there is no "carrier". The rear cover comes off and the gear assembly comes out the rear after you take out off the wheels, driveshaft and axels. You'll also have to disconnect the ABS sensors at each rear wheel.

You don't have to support the car at all 4 corners, just the rear frame at the jacking points.

I had my gear installed on a lift with nothing to support the rear end assembly if I remember correctly.

EDIT: you may have to remove the sway bar.

[Blackened300a]

I did my gears on a lift as well, Just support the jacking points and let the rear hang down.
I didnt remove the sway bars but did have to remove the ABS sensors to slide the axle a little farther out to remove the C-clip

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

Thanks, I already knew about the ABS sensors. It does look like there is enough room to get the carrier out without dropping the shocks/sway bar. I call the cast unit that has the spiders/posi/ring gear a carrier, I think that's pretty standard terminology for it. I certainly already realize that an 8.8 is not a drop out third member like a 9" (you think I'd be putting gears in an 8.8 if I didn't?) If you ever buy a posi unit it will be listed as a posi carrier unit.

[larryo340]

Thanks, I already knew about the ABS sensors. It does look like there is enough room to get the carrier out without dropping the shocks/sway bar. I call the cast unit that has the spiders/posi/ring gear a carrier, I think that's pretty standard terminology for it. I certainly already realize that an 8.8 is not a drop out third member like a 9" (you think I'd be putting gears in an 8.8 if I didn't?) If you ever buy a posi unit it will be listed as a posi carrier unit.

:agree: I've always called it a carrier no matter what rear housing it's in.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

I found I had plenty of room to work under the car with it on 22" normal sized jack stands. I am not a big guy, 5'10 160, so that helps. I was worried about not having enough room to tap the carrier in w/ the required preload on the carrier shims, but the cut out in the fuel tank really does give me enough room. Hopefully it won't take a million tries to get the pattern set up right. I'll work on setting the pattern a little at a time this week and hopefully be done for the weekend.