Differential Tooling required?

[81LM1]

I'm going to be taking apart my differential over the winter and replacing bearing as its howling and I have a pretty bad pinion seal leak.

Do you need any special tools to install the carrier shims, or can I just slide them in by hand?


Tools I Already have a ;
- Dial indicator
- Snap on Inch pound Dial Torque wrench
- bearings Checker

I'm going to make a Pinion yoke Tool holder so I can hold the pinion while I check backlash and torque the pinion nut.


anything else I would need?

thanks

 

[camaro71/holland]

Long punch to drive old races out.
Slide hammer to get old axle bearings out.

 

[big gear head]

When you get ready to disassemble the rear end mark the right bearing cap and pay attention to the orientation of the caps. They must go back on the same way. Do not mark the left cap with a punch or anything that puts a mark into the metal. The left cap takes most of the load and putting marks in the metal will make it weaker.

You will need a press and a bearing separator to get the bearings off of the pinion. Getting the bearings off of the differential is much more difficult and may require a special tool. I have a puller that is made just for this, but it cost almost $400, and you probably don't want to spend that for one rebuild. You may be able to cut the cage off of the bearing and remove the rollers. Then use a MIG and run a hot bead all the way around the bearing race. This will loosen it up some and make it easier to get off.

 

[81LM1]

When you get ready to disassemble the rear end mark the right bearing cap and pay attention to the orientation of the caps. They must go back on the same way. Do not mark the left cap with a punch or anything that puts a mark into the metal. The left cap takes most of the load and putting marks in the metal will make it weaker.

You will need a press and a bearing separator to get the bearings off of the pinion. Getting the bearings off of the differential is much more difficult and may require a special tool. I have a puller that is made just for this, but it cost almost $400, and you probably don't want to spend that for one rebuild. You may be able to cut the cage off of the bearing and remove the rollers. Then use a MIG and run a hot bead all the way around the bearing race. This will loosen it up some and make it easier to get off.

Thanks for the reply and tips,

how hard is it to install the carrier shims?, is a tool required?

 

[70lt1z28]

Good advice but IMO you can pin-punch mark the caps as long as you stay away from the stress areas, which extend inward from the bolt holes. As long as the punch marks are on the outside area, there is very little stress from the carrier and the pinion forces. Actually, if you look at the photo a significant stress riser is the factory machine cut just in from the bolt towards the bearing diameter. This should be lightly ground to a radius to remove the sharp corners. Again, IMO FWIW.

 

[big gear head]

Why do you need to mark both caps? Just mark the right one and be done with it. No need to mark the left one at all.

The shims will need to be tapped into place. If they slide in easily then there is not enough preload on the bearings. If you get the shim in and you can pull the differential out by hand while pulling as hard as you can then it is not tight enough.

 

[70lt1z28]

Why do you need to mark both caps? Just mark the right one and be done with it. No need to mark the left one at all.

The shims will need to be tapped into place. If they slide in easily then there is not enough preload on the bearings. If you get the shim in and you can pull the differential out by hand while pulling as hard as you can then it is not tight enough.

You don't unless you have several sets of spare caps sitting around and you want to make doubly sure they don't get mixed in. Same thing as rear main caps. I mark them too. Just habit I suppose.

 

[camaro71/holland]

You will need a press and a bearing separator to get the bearings off of the pinion. Getting the bearings off of the differential is much more difficult and may require a special tool. I have a puller that is made just for this, but it cost almost $400, and you probably don't want to spend that for one rebuild. You may be able to cut the cage off of the bearing and remove the rollers. Then use a MIG and run a hot bead all the way around the bearing race. This will loosen it up some and make it easier to get off.

I use the same bearing splitter for that. I tighten it firmly under the bearing, place the thick plates from my press upright, then I can rest the splitter right on the edges of the plates and press the bearings off. Will take some pictures next time.

 

[81LM1]

Why do you need to mark both caps? Just mark the right one and be done with it. No need to mark the left one at all.

The shims will need to be tapped into place. If they slide in easily then there is not enough preload on the bearings. If you get the shim in and you can pull the differential out by hand while pulling as hard as you can then it is not tight enough.

So no special required to install the carrier shims just a dead-blow hammer?

 

[81LM1]

So no special required to install the carrier shims just a dead-blow hammer?

A buddy of mine has a bearing heater so no press is required