by Larry Shepard

(Taken from Jeep, Dana & Chrysler Differentials: How to Rebuild the 8-1/4, 8-3/4, Dana 44 & 60 & AMC 20)

Today many different types of rebuild kits are offered. For example Jegs offers four levels of rebuild kits: the half kit, the complete kit (defined as the half kit plus pinion and differential bearings, new ring gear bolts, and marking compound), the mega kit (defined as the complete kit plus axle bearings and seals), and the ring-and-pinion plus the complete kit.

The two big catalog centers, Jegs and Summit, have similar kits but do not offer all kits for all axles and all ratios. The large distributors are drivetrain specialists, which include DTS (Drive Train Specialists) Randy’s Ring and Pinion, Mancini Racing (specializes in Chrysler axles), Precision Gear, and the Ring and Pinion Shop. Most of these distributors put together rebuild kits to meet their customers’ needs, which may vary from the approach by catalog centers.

An obvious source for rebuild kits are the ring-and-pinion manufacturers themselves. The most common are Auburn Gear, Richmond Gear, Yukon, Spicer/Dana, US Gear, and Motive Gear. Also, Moser (the biggest performance axle manufacturer) and Timken (a bearing manufacturer) also offer rebuild kits.