4.56R gears...

[S2Kr]

...from Rick's...

How long,or how much time,do you think,It would take,for an average,(professinal mechanic,)Honda dealer.) to install my gears,???

They charge,something,like $65.00 an hour,and I would like to get an idea of total cost !! ???

[S2KPUDDYDAD]

...from Rick's...

How long,or how much time,do you think,It would take,for an average,(professinal mechanic,)Honda dealer.) to install my gears,???

They charge,something,like $65.00 an hour,and I would like to get an idea of total cost !! ???


Well, lets see...The R (removal) and R (reinstall) of the rear will take about 3 hours. My install fee is $350 plus parts so guess on or about the same.

My advice to you is, go to a place were other S2000 members have gone before and had good luck. This is not an easy rear to setup it is important to find someone that takes pride in there work and is particular about what they are doing.

Good luck :)

[repiv]

Good friend, be very careful with Honda dealers. I have known a few that have zero experience with doing RWD rear ends. As a matter of fact, an old friend is a Honda tech in Edmonton and he says that nobody in his dealership has ever calibrated rear gears and they try not of accept jobs like that. If they are forced to do rear diff warranty work, they are compelled by Honda to just replace the whole diff.
Rear diff work is an old art that many of todays techs have no experience. The 4.56 gears are already naturally a bit noisey. If they are not installed absolutely correctly, they will be a nightmare. Keep in mind that the specs for the Richmond gears are NOT entirely OEM Honda specs. You are far better off finding a shop that has experience doing rear diffs. I have been told that the S rear diff is like a small version of a Dodge rear end. If the mechanic understands Dodge and/or Ford rear ends, you've got a better chance of getting it done right. Just print off the specs out of the Honda manual, along with the slightly different numbers for the Richmond gear.

To give you an idea of how long it took me..........
Removing the rear end, stripping it down so it's ready for the gears to be installed and calibrated, putting the cover and shafts back in and installing the pumpkin back on the car took me (working alone), about 5 hours. For my mechanic to swap the gears, calibrate it, took him another 3 hours. I'm sure a professional shop can do my part much quicker.

[sickyap1honda]

i agree with viper no tech other than me at my dealership,has a clue hoe to properly install ring and pinion,your hve to properly mesure runout,recently there was an article in honda tunning,about changing gears ,you can use gears from a kia sportage,the parts are cheap and work well.the article is very informative.i would find a shop that does alot of road race cars ,they would probably have more experience.

[repiv]

i agree with viper no tech other than me at my dealership,has a clue hoe to properly install ring and pinion,your hve to properly mesure runout,recently there was an article in honda tunning,about changing gears ,you can use gears from a kia sportage,the parts are cheap and work well.the article is very informative.i would find a shop that does alot of road race cars ,they would probably have more experience.

You are one of the few truly honest techs I've seen in my long journey through automotive life. I commend you for being this candid. :thumbup:
I know personally, one Honda tech whom I hold in high regard. He's in Edmonton, 200 miles to the north of me, and even he says, noone in his dealership will touch a gear calibration on an S2000, including himself. If I lived near him, he would the one I would trust to do work on my car. As it is, I have to do most of it myself.

[sickyap1honda]

sad but true,honda techs have more experience on oddesys than s2000,i just happen to own and love an s2000,i also came from a race shop,so yes there are certain things most dealerships just shouldnt play with.when it comes to a rear honda would want to just replace it not change it.i can do this work but most honda techs dont have a clue.by the way im rebuilding a s2k trans at work right now,it sucks,warranty and the guy had an act clutch in the car.i dont know how my dealership can warranty that ,

[repiv]

by the way im rebuilding a s2k trans at work right now,it sucks,warranty and the guy had an act clutch in the car.i dont know how my dealership can warranty that ,
That's quite odd indeed. Perhaps your dealership wants the revenue or the customer is a friend of someone high up. Or maybe the breakage would have happened anyway regardless of what clutch was in the car. The guy is lucky anyway.

[fltsfshr]

just for thought....but a good mazda mechanic can do a good job on honda's differential...it is a mazda after all. OMG does that mean it's a Ford?

fltsfshr

[Jasonoff]

After all that time and effort you get used to the new gearing in 4 days.

Well... I know I did :p

[repiv]

After all that time and effort you get used to the new gearing in 4 days.

Well... I know I did :p

Indeed, you do. But even today, I still marvel at how well this thing accelerates when push comes to shove. I gon't regret having done it.

[Jasonoff]

Take that 8lb of boost away and reply :D

[repiv]

Take that 8lb of boost away and reply :D

Sorry, it's like a drug. Each mod is another big hit.