Differential Install

[Bob-Lob-Law]

I got the install kit at justdifferenti als.com.  I'm not doing the pinion gear as it looked like it was in perfect shape (imagine that).  I ended up having to take the differential out before I could check the pattern.  The differential was way too tight to do that.  Now, I'm just going back to basics.  I found a Youtube video on how to determine the proper amount of shim.  I'm going to try that out first then I'll go with the checking out the pattern. 

Here is the vid link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpOMSt2iEA0

Thank you for all your help guys.

[Scoobum]

Question. If you DON'T remove the pinion gear...and you install the caps the same as they come out and install the shims the same way they came out...should the gears not mesh the same? All you've done is bolted the ring gear to the new posi unit...and reinstalled the caps and shims the same as they came out.

[Pyro6]

I erased my earlier thoughts because I didn't see the YouTube drunken video. After seeing the PBR presentation, I had to rethink any input. Scoobum, you're partially right and I think that is where most problems start. All the dimensions of the replacement carrier including bearings, ring gear, and housing have to be exact. Throw in the new ring gear to old pinion, it seems to be a noise issue waiting to happen. Personally, I hate to see a new ring gear matched to a pinion that has alot of miles on it. Keep in mind there is two sides of the gear set set: drive and coast. I don't know about you, but when I decel from 120, I want all to be good and a soccer mom wants all to be quiet.  One of the issues he seems to minimize in the video is the pinion depth. At the end of the video he mentions he might have to redo his work, which may include pinon depth adjustment, or maybe not!! But, the pinion depth adjustments are shims under the pinion bearing. So that means, pull the driveshaft again, pull the axles again, pull the carrier again, press the pinion bearing off, install shims from your computations, install a new crush sleeve for preload and proceed. You Tube most times is good entertainment. You really have to sift thru the BS.

[Bob-Lob-Law]

Pyro6, I should have mentioned that I'm keeping the same ring gear too.  So, the ring gear and pinion should be matched up. 

Scoobum, I thought that everything would match up as well, but putting the left shim in was incredibly tight.  I'm thinking that there must be a couple of thousands difference, probably because all the bearings and the differential are new.  Not sure.  With there being some nasty storms here right now, I'm not able to work on it.  I'll have to wait until tomorrow. 

I'm thinking of just using the same shim on the right side and replacing the left side shim with one a few thousands thinner as the backlash was very little. 

[Scoobum]

I was wondering if you could get away with it...guess not.

[Steve Wood]

I have several times...