14BFF Ring Gear Bolts

[BGKYK5]

So I am finally getting around to my R&P swap and now I am really confused. I have been following BillaVista's writeup on Pirate and reading the GM manual, but I still have some questions about ring gear bolts.

My master install kit (Motive Gear from PORC) came with new ring gear bolts, but they are 1.8" long and no lock washers were provided.

Now if I read BillaVista's article correctly, that length bolt will require a lockwasher to be the correct length. Why would they supply new bolts but not new lockwashers?

To muddy the waters further I have a 4.88 "thick" ring gear - is 1.8" even the correct length for that gear? Or do I need the 2.1"??

I don't want to wait longer or spend more money if I can help it, but should I just bite the bullet and get new bolts that don't require lock washers (like BillaVista) or get new lockwashers, or install it as is?

My guess is that I should get new flange bolts, but I am still confused about what they expected me to do with the bolts I have ????

 

[Muddytazz]

I would call Motive Gear and talk to them to find out.

 

[BGKYK5]

I have an email in to PORC, but I'll have to try and find some time to call Motive tomorrow from work (not easy - especially tomorrow ). Any ideas in the mean time to appease my impatience?

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

I would guess that you are supposed to reuse the lock washers.

Regardless, make sure you clean the ring gear bolts and the threads in the ring gear REALLY well with brake cleaner and use red loctite on the ring gear bolts (yes, I realize that this diff uses lock washers).

 

[BGKYK5]

This is what PORC said:

"They are the correct ring gear bolts in the kit and you NEVER use lock washers on ring gear bolts. ONLY apply the red locktite that came with the install kit."

Nobody was home at Motive Gear tonight at 6:45 (the earliest I could call). Their website says tech support is there 'till 7:00.

More confused than ever now....

 

[4X4HIGH]

FWIW the factory bolts in my 14ff did not have lock washers. When i swapped gears i had to buy longer bolts from the dealer and they still do not use lock washers.

 

[mrk5]

This must be one of those frustrating GM inconsistencies. My ring gear did have lock washers when I did my Detroit install. As far as I know, it's factory.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Every FF 14 bolt I have ever seen had lock washers

 

[K5er4Life]

Every FF 14 bolt I have ever seen had lock washers

Same here.

 

[BGKYK5]

Well for those who are interested, PORC and Motive Gear agree - I have the correct bolts & no lockwashers are required. This is different from the GM manual that clearly shows lockwashers. These bolts also do not have flange heads like BillaVista's no-washer bolts.

It turns out I was confused (I know, big surprise) about the bolt length. The longer 2.1" bolts are for the 4.56 and up carrier, and the 1.8" bolts are for the 4.10 and down carrier. Bolt length has nothing to do with the ring gear provided you have the correct one for the carrier. I have the 4.10 and down carrier with "thick" 4.88's so the 1.8" bolts are correct.... at least they should be the right length with lockwashers....

If they don't bottom out when tightening I'll run them as is. I'm sure it will be fine. Prolly just being too anal, but if I ever have a ring gear bolt failure or carrier/ring gear failure at a bolt hole... look out PORC and Motive....