Best Bay Area shop for gear install, differential work, and also REM?

I have a set of 4.88 gears in the mail, and as much as I enjoy working on the truck myself I am not at all confident to try and screw around with the differential. Looking for a spot preferably in the South Bay (Santa Cruz would be amazing but I don't mind going over the hill) but really any place that does good work and is fairly priced would be great.

Also curious about that REM treatment I've heard about, whether it's worth it or if anyone in the region offers the service. If not, any recommendations for a good spot to send them off to?

 

There’s a 4x4 and MORE in Scotts Valley

 

Yeah I saw their site and they sounded like a decent shop, maybe focused on Jeeps but I'm sure they could work on anything. I guess I'm mostly concerned whether I should look for a specific, differential focused shop, or if any decent mechanic should be able to do the install well. I see there's also a differential shop in San Jose, but yeah Scotts Valley would be much more convenient

 

Its a longer drive but Shaffer's offroad did mine and was great. I know a lot of other guys on here have gone to them. They just opened up their Union City, CA location (down the street from Kaiser). Not as close as SJ or Scotts Valley but a good option.

 

I went to Shaffer's and they did a fine job- 4.88's front and rear. Nice that they now have a closer location.

 

http://www.rearendspecialties.com/

This shop is mentioned a lot as the good-to shop in the South Bay (santa clara). Right over the hill from Santa Cruz and not as far as the east bay or tri-valley. I dont have any experience with them although if I were to regear, I would probably call them first.

And i didnt know Shaffers has a 2nd location now. Sweeet

 

Yup, they've posted it on their IG. When I was messaging them when they first posted it, they mentioned keeping the alameda location for fab work and union city for the rest of the work. Definitely nice to have them closer to me in Fremont.

 

Does $1800 for front and rear sound right? That's what they just quoted me, also do the ECGS bushing

 

I also used Rear End Specialties when I tore up my my rear diff in 2019.
I also damaged the carrier and rear locker. When they fixed all that they regeared front and rear to 4.88’s, installed an ARB air locker in the front, replaced rear wheel bearings and replaced the CV’s.
I supplied the locker and CV’s.
I would recommend them.

 

Well, so now I've been quoted $1540 at Shaffer's in Union City, and the $1800 at Rear End in Santa Clara, if I supply all the parts. Also 1-2 days vs 3-5 respectively... I'm thinking the extra 15 minute drive is worth $300 and half the time in shop, although I read a poor review on Shaffer's somewhere on here, but frankly you're gonna find whiners or unique, one off problems no matter where you look, so that may be my best bet regardless.

Am a little concerned about the break in period and driving back over the hill to Santa Cruz after install, but maybe I can just stop for some food on the way back and let it cool down in the middle of the trip, not sure how hard those rules for the procedure are during the initial 500 miles.

 

How heavy is your truck?
I had this same conversation with rear end specialties when I lived off Summit. How to get my fat ass truck up the hill. My truck is heavy so this was a legitimate concern. If yours is light enough it might not be a problem.

For me the plan was to park the truck at a friends in Santa Clara and drive my car or motorcycle between home and the truck and drive the truck to work in Fremont which would take about 20 minutes on surface streets. Which was ideal for the break in period.
But then I moved had no need to go up the hill.

 

I'm not sure what my additions have added, I have a fiberglass shell and steel sliders that add about 120lbs. So maybe altogether am around 400lbs over stock? I could always stop at the summit as well, and take it really easy going up (imagine going down into Scotts Valley would be easier on it, and I mean it's what, 15 miles altogether over 17?) But definitely don't want to put too much stress on the parts especially considering the investment cost, but think it would be more impact going down to Gilroy and over the pass, or through Saratoga and Hwy 9.

 

That sounds reasonably light to me.

 

I took my Tacoma there in 2015 to get the gears and ARB lockers, front and rear, swapped. Labor back then was $1150. Prior to this, I've taken maybe 3 Mustangs there for gear swaps as well. I never had any mechanical issues with any of their work. However when my Tacoma was worked on, I almost left without my stock gears and diff after paying. I assumed it was in the truck, but it was on their shelf. I was in a rush and they also over charged me $60 on sales tax.

Also, I've never really worried to much about breaking in the gears. With ever vehicle, I just drive back home like normal. Just drain the fluids after a few hundred miles and you'll be solid.

 

Yeah I opted for them, dropped the truck off this morning. They were a couple hundred more than Shaffer's but could get me in much sooner, and I figure the fact that they specialize in differential work has to be a positive. And I reached out to Nitro Gear as well, mostly concerned about going back over Hwy 17 but they said the grade wouldn't really matter, and should be fine as long as I don't drive it super hard for those first 500 mi.

 

For gear installs, I do like to use shops that specialize in them as well. When they aren't setup properly, the ring and pinion will whine/hum like crazy sometimes. Shaffer's is a great shop and I have many friends who use their service for all sorts of work.

Just drive it normal and avoid towing for those 500 miles and you'll be fine. Just be sure to grab your stock parts back.

 

Rear End Specialties will change your diff oil after your 500 mile break in as well. It’s included in the cost. They do it as a means to inspect the oil for proper break in.
When I was there they had a Ram Rebel in that just had a regear. The owner said he could t resist romping on the gas. The new gears were totally rounded over.

 

Man that makes me nervous although I take pretty good care of my truck. Guess I am surprised that the gears could be that fragile? But then again who knows exactly what that guy did, could have really run it hard, towed a 5 ton trailer right out the gate or something like that.

 

Yeah, from the sound of it the dude owed you to hammering on it. I think it was one of those Ram trucks that’s like 700hp and does 0-60 in 4 seconds.

 

This service being included in the cost was never ever once mentioned to me. I'm sure you could have them do it for a fee, but with all the cars I've taken there before, this was never implied as being part of the cost.