Ring and Pinion Install In Front Differential

[Sy Guy 0024]

Does anyone have experience installing new gears in the front differential? Ring gear is no problem, but setting pre-load on pinion worries me. Also, how would you check backlash since the pass side cover must be in place to hold the differential? I can do backlash on rear diffs, but front diff seems impossible. And what about shims? When I pulled my diff out, there were no shims between the carrier bearings and diff housing. Wonder if it was set up correctly to begin with...

Reason I ask is the local shop wants $250 to set up my front diff. That sounds a little pricey. I'd like to do it myself and save the cash if possible.

 

[2cold]

Get the preload spec, I think it's usually around 15 inch/lbs with new bearings and put a dial type inch/lb torque wrench on the pinion nut to measure the preload its easy. $250 doesn't sound that bad, around here it would probably be $300 + parts.

 

[Matthew Little]

ring and pin.

ring and pin.

If you have the 250, go for it, My friend and I have done many GN rears and when we did the front on my ty it took him 5 hours to set up the pinion. There are no shims because the diff housing has ajusters on each side that turn in and out with a castle socket. IF you want you can get a man. off of ebay for around 20.00 bucks for a bravada. Same drivetrain as these so same procedure on setup. I had to get the tools from a friend at the gm place, so if you don't have these tools don't try. Better to pay someone to do that (knows how) if you can find one you trust.
Thanks, Matthew 92ty #0194

 

[Sy Guy 0024]

Ahh, so that's what those castle-nut-looking things are for. Wondered why there were no shims behind the carrier bearings. I actually just talked to another tranny shop (the same one that did my GN's tranny), and he told me he could set it all up for $100! Probably will just let him handle it for that price.Thanks for the tips.

 

[djsan67n808]

for the front the shims are replaced with spanner nuts and in them are the pilot bearings.. and the preload on the pinion nut is from 25 -30 on ur inch pound torque wrench.... the bolts for the ring gear are torque around 80 lbs. and to measure backlash for the front you measure the pinion instead of the ring gear.. shoot for 7... k good luck