Gear Install on 8.5 10 bolt

[lhorne81]

Just be cautious of the price. A new Eaton or Yukon differential is better with the upgrade to 30 spline axles.

I am guessing that he will sell it to me at a bargain. I always thought that Eaton made good differentials. I wasn’t in the market to upgrade axles. Unfortunately I am on a limited budget.

 

[big gear head]

Trial assemblies just tighten the nut until the bearing preload is correct. Final assembly tighten the nut until the crush spacer crushes enough for the correct bearing preload. There is no torque setting when setting the bearing preload. Pinion bearing preload for new bearings is 19-21 inch pounds.

 

[lhorne81]

Big Gear Head - I am at 0.008 backlash on my ring gear. Is that a good starting point? Should I continue to try to shim?

Thank you for all your help!

 

[lhorne81]

First stab with marking compound. Backlash is at 0.008.

Shine or shame?

 

[big gear head]

The pinion is a little too deep. Take about .003 out of the pinion shim and try again. Yes, .008 is pretty good for backlash.

 

[badazz81z28]

First stab with marking compound. Backlash is at 0.008.

Shine or shame?

On mine I shot for what’s on the ring gear?? Is there one stamped on your gear? The spec is .008-.010” Btw, the reason why I use a nylon nut is because I didn’t want to keep pulling on and off the top lock nut. It’s eats into the nut and the gear with constant on and off. Lock nuts should be one time use only. The nylon nut is easy to to take on and off but holds the preload.

 

[camaro71/holland]

Btw, the reason why I use a nylon nut is because I didn’t want to keep pulling on and off the top lock nut. It’s eats into the nut and the gear with constant on and off. Lock nuts should be one time use only. The nylon nut is easy to to take on and off but holds the preload.

Most of the time I use the old nut, since it's been on and off at least once and not so tight/locking any more. I keep a box with different sizes used nuts for rears that, for whatever reason, don't come with one. Then on the final assembly I use new nut from the kit.

 

[lhorne81]

The pinion is a little too deep. Take about .003 out of the pinion shim and try again. Yes, .008 is pretty good for backlash.

When I went to remove the pinion bearing, I noticed that it was not fully seated. I was able to get a 0.020 feeler in the space between the shim and the base of the pinion. I did a little math and re-shimmed the pinion. I had it pressed on and fully seated. I think it is worse than before.

 

[lhorne81]

I also find that getting the carrier caps hand tight vs torquing the caps to 60ft lbs reduces backlash.

is this normal?

 

[big gear head]

Yeah, that's way too deep now. Take about .010 out of the pinion shim and try it again. I don't torque the bearing caps when doing the trial assemblies, but I do get them tight. Are you sure that you have them on the correct side and turned in the right direction?