Don't Let Her Rear End Scare You

by Dick Zakrzewski

Check tooth contact

• Apply a thin coat of red lead or nondrying Prussian blue to several teeth of the ring gear.
• Rotate the pinion gear through the coated teeth.

• Observe the contact pattern. See Photo #13 and compare with Tooth Contact Chart below.

  
  Photo #13

  

  Note: If you can't achieve the contact pattern on the chart, call the gear manufacture.

Run in

• After installing the differential carrier assembly, elevate the differential until the wheels are at least an inch off the ground, then run in low gear for about ten minutes.

  Note: I suggest you use a good silicone sealer on mating surfaces (no gasket) when installing the differential into the differential housing to assure a tight seal. The differential housings are stampings and the mounting surface for the gearbox may not be flat. I also recommend a good synthetic gear oil like Mobil 1.

Your differential setup is now complete! I hope that actually doing the job wasn't as scary as you thought.

Dick Z

Special thanks to Gary Hussar for his help on this article.

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS

Ring Gear Bolts - grade 8

• 3/8" x all 45-50 ft lbs
• 7/16" x all 60-65 ft lbs
• 1/2" x all 100-110 ft lbs

Side Bearing Cap Bolts

• 7/16" (5/8" head) 60-65 ft lbs
• 1/2" (3/4" head) 80-85 ft lbs

VENDORS

Randy's Ring and Pinion in Everett, WA. (425) 347-1199.