Chevrolet Front Differential Set Up: Reusing Old Gears
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Date: 2020-08-05
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Comments and reviews: 10
Joe
Don't mechanics run a tooth pattern test for pinion depth any more?
I don't know how the gears can live if they don't sit on each other correctly.
I built differentials for many years and the pinion 'backlash' was what's left after everything else is perfect.
Being concerned about backlash is a false flag.
Used gears are always a gamble if you don't put them back exactly where they were worn into; they'll rapidly flake off the case hardening if you miss it just a little.
Modern bearings are pretty damned close in tolerances and frankly, you might get away with this since you are using the same bearing manufacturer and part numbers - right?
I would never take a chance on destroying the case hardening on the gears by missing the pattern - not in the slightest!
I love all your other work - but this job - the way you did it - just plain ol' scares me!
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Don't mechanics run a tooth pattern test for pinion depth any more?
I don't know how the gears can live if they don't sit on each other correctly.
I built differentials for many years and the pinion 'backlash' was what's left after everything else is perfect.
Being concerned about backlash is a false flag.
Used gears are always a gamble if you don't put them back exactly where they were worn into; they'll rapidly flake off the case hardening if you miss it just a little.
Modern bearings are pretty damned close in tolerances and frankly, you might get away with this since you are using the same bearing manufacturer and part numbers - right?
I would never take a chance on destroying the case hardening on the gears by missing the pattern - not in the slightest!
I love all your other work - but this job - the way you did it - just plain ol' scares me!
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jim
MMMMMMMM, i am 64 now but when i was 20 I had a 67 Camaro with a 427, 12 bolt with 456 gears, a GM dealer installed the gears for the previous owner with no warranty and it always made noise until for me one day it go too noisy so I replaced the ring and pinion, bearings, crush sleeve, etc. I got LUCKY with pinion depth and installed the right thickness shim 1st time, after that they give a pack of different thickness shims to achieve proper gear pattern for left to right ring gear depth, I never checked backlash only pattern with white paint so I kept swapping shims until the pattern looked perfect, it was quiet as can be considering it was a 456 ratio and durable as it saw some drag use with slicks, NO issues.
Amazing how that locking tab destroyed some internals there and fortunately the ring and pinion were untouched.
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MMMMMMMM, i am 64 now but when i was 20 I had a 67 Camaro with a 427, 12 bolt with 456 gears, a GM dealer installed the gears for the previous owner with no warranty and it always made noise until for me one day it go too noisy so I replaced the ring and pinion, bearings, crush sleeve, etc. I got LUCKY with pinion depth and installed the right thickness shim 1st time, after that they give a pack of different thickness shims to achieve proper gear pattern for left to right ring gear depth, I never checked backlash only pattern with white paint so I kept swapping shims until the pattern looked perfect, it was quiet as can be considering it was a 456 ratio and durable as it saw some drag use with slicks, NO issues.
Amazing how that locking tab destroyed some internals there and fortunately the ring and pinion were untouched.
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Wes
Wow, we have the same seal installing socket. That has to be one of the worst designed ring and pinion setups ever. This style makes it hard to get an accurate back lash or gear pattern reading with this design. I stopped by the local Ford dealer down the mountain in Roseville, Ca the other day for our free service on our Explorer. I asked out of curiosity what their labor rate was. A 185. 00 an hour. Unbelievable.
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Wow, we have the same seal installing socket. That has to be one of the worst designed ring and pinion setups ever. This style makes it hard to get an accurate back lash or gear pattern reading with this design. I stopped by the local Ford dealer down the mountain in Roseville, Ca the other day for our free service on our Explorer. I asked out of curiosity what their labor rate was. A 185. 00 an hour. Unbelievable.
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Mendel
One day you're fixing a broken speed sensor wire on a just out of warranty GM product (that GM screwed the owner on. The next, you're doing deep-dive on a differential, using DIY specialty tools you fab'd, totally diligent attention to detail. I'm very impressed, hopefully your kind of mechanic keeps coming along, or we'll be in trouble.
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One day you're fixing a broken speed sensor wire on a just out of warranty GM product (that GM screwed the owner on. The next, you're doing deep-dive on a differential, using DIY specialty tools you fab'd, totally diligent attention to detail. I'm very impressed, hopefully your kind of mechanic keeps coming along, or we'll be in trouble.
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jim
i just had the bearings and seals replaced on the front differential of 2015 bmw x1. Bmw wanted to replace the complete diff for about 5500 canadian, took it to a transmission shop and they repaired the diff for 1200. Still a lot, but much better than 5500. If I had seen this video first I could have done it myself like Eric says. NOT. Lol
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i just had the bearings and seals replaced on the front differential of 2015 bmw x1. Bmw wanted to replace the complete diff for about 5500 canadian, took it to a transmission shop and they repaired the diff for 1200. Still a lot, but much better than 5500. If I had seen this video first I could have done it myself like Eric says. NOT. Lol
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Brian
I had to laugh. The phone rings and you say, oh that dam phone is driving me up a wall. Eric, remember when you first went into business and you were so worried that phone wasn't going to ring? And you were so worried it might not ring enough? Well, that phone is dollars coming in, and I know the feeling all too well!
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I had to laugh. The phone rings and you say, oh that dam phone is driving me up a wall. Eric, remember when you first went into business and you were so worried that phone wasn't going to ring? And you were so worried it might not ring enough? Well, that phone is dollars coming in, and I know the feeling all too well!
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chris
I did my first gm ifs front differential rebuild when I changed my gears. It was pretty miserable. I feel your pain with this one. I had to make a tool to tighten the nut also. Mine had two teeth. Yours was way better. It would be so much better with at least three. good job.
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I did my first gm ifs front differential rebuild when I changed my gears. It was pretty miserable. I feel your pain with this one. I had to make a tool to tighten the nut also. Mine had two teeth. Yours was way better. It would be so much better with at least three. good job.
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Dan
The fact that the whole reliability of that differential relies on those little clips is very disturbing. Engineers definitely dont always have the best ideas. 1 little part pretty much could ruin the whole diff in the correct scenario.
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The fact that the whole reliability of that differential relies on those little clips is very disturbing. Engineers definitely dont always have the best ideas. 1 little part pretty much could ruin the whole diff in the correct scenario.
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Willy
I ruined a crush sleeve rebuilding my 8. 8 in my bronco even after my dad told me be careful it goes quick. luckily, ford family, my dad an brother have done dozens, so we had it in stock. still, understatement that it goes quick.
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I ruined a crush sleeve rebuilding my 8. 8 in my bronco even after my dad told me be careful it goes quick. luckily, ford family, my dad an brother have done dozens, so we had it in stock. still, understatement that it goes quick.
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Jerome
Love Chevy trucks. As long as you have a parts doner truck of the same model, you can rebuild and rotate to keep your daily running FOREVER! There's soo many parts available for them, they're like Harley. ;)
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Love Chevy trucks. As long as you have a parts doner truck of the same model, you can rebuild and rotate to keep your daily running FOREVER! There's soo many parts available for them, they're like Harley. ;)
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