Just installed 33s on my 2010 1500 GMC and it has the 4.8 (lol).
The truck came with 3.23s and even with the stock tires it was to low of a gear for that small engine.

I would like to install 3.73s or 4.11s still not sure yet - might just flip a coin.
Anyone have or know of a write up? I will be doing both rear and front, from the looks of it - looks easy but it's my DD and i do not want to mess up. I would like to do it my self because i want to learn. Will have a shop press the bearings.

Please Help? On youtube there is a f150 install that is 23min long and might be totally different but seem straight threw.

 

its pretty simple. are you swapping in tru-tracs?

if all you are doing is swapping gears *i can only tell you about the rear gears*

take wheels off
remove rear drum covers
drain/remove rear cover
number the bearing caps with a punch 1 punch for left and 2 for right.
take off bearing caps
tap out the C clips for the axles. you may have to have someone push in for you.
take a big flat head and push the axles out make sure to be as careful as possile
make sure you keep track where the shims went for the locker
take a big *** pry bar and pry the locker out
take the nut, rear yoke off tap your pinion out and press off the stock pinion bearing to get that shim pack. then put the stock shim pack (it has to go the same way it came off) on your new gears, press on the new bearing. install the pinon to spec, put your ring gear on the locker *left hand threads dont mess them up*
reinstall everything and check your wear pattern with some yellow paint.
done

 

I am just going to do gears, looking to do 3.73 or 4.11s.
"take a big *** pry bar and pry the locker out" It does not just come out? You have to pull the **** out of it to pull it out of the housing?

 

Another problem is since the tires and wheels my trans temp in the ctiy is around 160-190* thats alot!!!
Hoping the gears will help cool down the trans by it having to work less.

 

ya it will help definately.. but get yourself a tranny cooler like a 40k tru-cool..

 

you have to pry it out, its not that bad honestly. you dont have to press it out or any crazy crap like that.

your tranny temps are not going to go down with the gears. the 3:73/4:10s are going to be more rotations vs your 3:23s. if you want your tranny temps down, add a bigger tranny cooler.

 

i bet money they will go down...... right now he is straining that converter and its just building heat.... with that gear swap it will take some of the strain off of his converter. and it will be able to lock up sooner...

heat builds when it is "slipping"

 

good write up

http://www.gmfullsize.com/forum/show...t=gear+install

 

Just ordered my rear 4.11s with the smaller install kit. My bearings should be good still. Truck only has 3300 miles on it. Will install next week - Front gears will be installed before winter.
I will reprogram the computer for the gears and tires, also might tighten up the shifts a little. Will be using EFIlive.

 

btw thats an awesome write up, have much more confidence! Now i am scared when it comes to the front...