do i need axle master rebuild kit

[is_wiz]

i want to upgrade from 3.50 to 4.56. i recently rebuilt my axles but didnt change gears. do i need a 4.56 rebuild kit or can i just get the 4.56 gears?
Thanks

 

[Skiddy]

is this for the front or rear, either way i would get the kit

 

[Rustytruck]

On the front you should get a kit since you will also need to change the carrier that means pressing bearings and shimming stuff. The rear you can swap the gears only but still need a crush sleeve and gaskits. At that point if you are changing the bearings too you might as well get a kit.
I personally would do it as you only want to do this once especially the rear as it is used full time not like the front axle.

 

[is_wiz]

I had the bearings replaced about a year ago. does that change anything.

 

[Crawdad]

I will be doing the same as you in the near future. I will go with the master rebuild kit front and rear w/ Yukon bearings. From what I've gathered quality gears produce quiet results. As far as the D44 carrier, I've been told a "thick" gear can replace a new replacement carrier. I'm still gathering information about that idea.

 

[Sabas]

Do the kit, we just did a friends and we spent time chasing parts on a Sunday Afternoon
Sabas.

 

[turbotim2]

I will be doing the same as you in the near future. I will go with the master rebuild kit front and rear w/ Yukon bearings. From what I've gathered quality gears produce quiet results. As far as the D44 carrier, I've been told a "thick" gear can replace a new replacement carrier. I'm still gathering information about that idea.

Yes you can use the thick gear on the 3.73- carrier. I installed 4.11's in mine and used the thick gear, it worked just fine. By the way, the rear axle of a Isuzu Rodeo from the mid 90's uses a D44 and thick gears and came with 4.11's or 4.56's. That is where I got mine from, just a cost effective alternative if you are looking.

 

[ken75ranger]

There are mini kits you can get. They have the shims, rtv, marking compound and crush sleeve. The bigger question is can you get the bearings off without destroying them?