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Charlie, what you are proposing is trading the simple job of maybe replacing the TABs on a used, complete rear end for the very technical project of setting up a differential. To answer your one specific question--the two bolts on either side of the gearset are securing the differential bearing caps. They have to be removed first before the gearset can go anywhere. This type of rear requires the use of a housing spreader to release the the gearset at each end. The spreader is U-shaped and has tabs that fit into the round recesses on each side of the diff housing and a bolt to crank down on to do the spreading. You can probably find this tool at a shop that does a lot of Jeep work. Now consider this---the machined parts of your differential---the gears, bearings, gearset housing, etc are all made to very close tolerances. The differential housing itself--not so much. So if you dissassemble a differential and add new bearings or gears chances are you will be able to use the shims that came out, if it is all going back into the original housing. Switch these parts over to a new housing and you will have to set your pinion gear depth and side to side shims for the ring gear. This is a trial and error process which may require installing and removing the bearings a number of times. So as to not wear out the shafts the bearings ride on while doing the "set-up" I utilize old bearings with the center ground slightly larger so they can slip onto the shafts easily. My advice would be to find a clean used unit with the same gear ratio as you now have. You can use a differential with the speed sensor along with your cable driven speedo. If you're lucky the TABs will be in good shape--if not, you'll spend a tenth of the time replacing them as opposed to rebuilding a diff. -- Dave
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