Cascade Crew

Leejo2005 · Member Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 466 Location: Kennewick

Anyone have a pinion depth gauge I can borrow? I'm setting up an axle to swap into the bird and I'm at a standstill until I can set the depth accurately.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 3:20 pm Post subject:

Use the old shim and set backlash. Go old school.

Don't know many people or shops for that matter that have a depth tool for this axle.

Usually if you don't straight use the original shim, you start there and look at the pattern and adjust from there. Gotta have a special bearing puller or you'll ruin the bearing using a bearing seperator tool.

Alphius · Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 3:37 pm Post subject:

Leejo2005 · Member Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 466 Location: Kennewick

Will it use the same shim or close to if I'm changing ratios? I'm putting 3.70 gears into a 9 bolt. I had to change carriers as well as the old one was 2.77 2-series.

It also appears that the install kit I ordered isn't entirely correct. The shims seem quite a bit smaller in diameter than the factory ones I took out. I suppose I can start with them and see where it gets me but I'm sure it's not going to be 100% what I want.

Leejo2005 · Member Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 466 Location: Kennewick

Axle tube cleaned up and painted. Welded lca brackets on yesterday as well.

rjmcgee · The Hammer Joined: 08 Jan 2004 Posts: 2328

Think of it this way, pinion shim goes with the housing, not the gears. Gears are a precision made piece, the housing isn't. It's close, but each housing can be minutely differant.

Leejo2005 · Member Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 466 Location: Kennewick

Makes sense. Ill get started on it hopefully on Sunday

Leejo2005 · Member Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 466 Location: Kennewick

I decided to check the fit on all my parts and to my dismay I have discovered that 9 bolts used 2 different inner pinion bearings. The ones I bought are the more common and larger ones. The ones that fit my housing are the smaller lesser known ones. Westbay has the ones I need but I'm pissed that I'm going to have to trash my $30 never used bearings as I hastily pressed it onto the pinion already. Hopefully the difference in height on the bearings is compensated for by the depth of the bore in the case because I don't know how shimming it 1/8 or more inch would work.

I'm also concerned as I'm sure the smaller bearings were sufficient on the 2.77 gears as there was less stress on them then with the taller gears. I guess I'll have to wait and see. The shims on these go between the bearing cup and the case so if the depth is incorrect i just have to tap out the cup and re shim. I'm planning on reusing the old cup to set the height just so I don't damage the new one taking it out if I have to, although the old one wasn't damaged during removal. Anyways due to further setbacks I'll be waiting a bit longer to get it put together.

Leejo2005 · Member Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 466 Location: Kennewick

So I have finally begun the process of swapping the axle into the car. I have the old one out and I've bolted most of the suspension stuff back onto the axle. I'm going to wait until I can find the tool to adjust my control arm joints before I continue. Hopefully I can get it going without too much of a fuss. Plumbing the brakes is my largest concern right now.