Check my gear contact pattern please

[Scuba Steve]

Like I said, tell me if this is good or not. It is a 14ff with detroit. Bearing preload was 31 in lbs, backlash is .005 at the lowest spot and .008 at the highest. The average backlash was .006-.007 in most places. Shim was .010

Coast side


Drive Side

 

[Stomis]

Looks pretty perfect to me.

 

[readymix]

Pinion looks a little deep to me.

 

[Stomis]

Pinion looks a little deep to me.

Yeah on a second look its a little deep on drive side. probably only need a couple thousandths though

 

[readymix]

Add .002 to the pinion shims

 

[76zimmer]

Is this housing out of the vehicle?
How did you hold the pinion while setting the preload to the crush sleeve/pinion bearings?

 

[Scuba Steve]

OK changed the shim to .012 here are the pics
coast side


drive side

 

[Scuba Steve]

76 zimmer,
Yes it is out of the truck. I held the pinion bearing carrier in a big vise and held the pinion with a big c clamp. I tried using a pipe wrench but did not have one that fit good. I then hit it with a impact, trying not to go to far like i did the first time.

 

[76zimmer]

thats what I'm worried about too, I talked with a couple people, and they said start with the old crush sleeve first, and only if you have to, use the new one.
I've also read about using a press to start the crush on the new sleeve.
Its new to me, so we'll see how it goes here pretty soon.

 

[Scuba Steve]

I tried using a press with a piece of exhaust pipe but it crushed before the sleeve did anything at about 11 tons. I am in the military so I used the auto craft shop on post. They had a 3/4 impact, but my 1/2 IR impact did a better job. The crush sleeve breaks fast. It will hold steady at about 5-10 in lbs and then jump to 25 before you know it. I wrecked my first one. It was only a $33 mistake.

 

[readymix]

Looks better, what was the BL at?

You might need another .002

 

[Scuba Steve]

Back lash is .008

 

[readymix]

I just realized how big the pics you posted are

I thought the pattern looked deep at first, but after zooming in on the last one, the pattern looks god there. I would run it like that.

 

[76zimmer]

Back lash is .008

That is adjusted by the collars on the sides?

 

[readymix]

On the 14FF and 9" axles, yes.

 

[Stomis]

Ughhh you never use an impact gun to crush a sleeve. Thats a good way to ruin them. Get the right tools. A 4 ft breaker bar and the proper tool that threads into the yoke to stop it from spinning.

As said it should take 8-12in pounds to rotate rear. You need an old school mechanically type torque wrench.

 

[readymix]

As said it should take 8-12in pounds to rotate rear. You need an old school mechanically type torque wrench.

That is only true for used bearings. New bearings should be closer to 30 in/lbs

 

[Stomis]

That is only true for used bearings. New bearings should be closer to 30 in/lbs

Good to know I'm doing one on monday lol. I always just check alldata for the exact spec though.

 

[76zimmer]

Ughhh you never use an impact gun to crush a sleeve. Thats a good way to ruin them. Get the right tools. A 4 ft breaker bar and the proper tool that threads into the yoke to stop it from spinning.

As said it should take 8-12in pounds to rotate rear. You need an old school mechanically type torque wrench.

this threaded tool is the one in the GM service manual that bolts to the yoke?

 

[Stomis]

this threaded tool is the one in the GM service manual that bolts to the yoke?

Yes it has a large hole in the center for you to access the pinion nut and tighten it and through bolts onto the yoke.