Setting up my diff... How does this pattern look to you guys?

Drive



Coast



Pinion



I think they look good, but I am a total newb at this.

These are Precision 488's in a Taco e-locker. My buddy Craig helped me set the initial pattern, and I followed Zuk's advice on his website to set the pinion preload (Marlin's solid spacer is NICE, but I could have used a wider range of shims), backlash (.007ö), and carrier preload.

Zuk,I think I got carried away on the carrier preload. I used a 20" spanner with both hands and a lot of force until it wouldn't turn anymore. I used antisieze. Did the tap tap method a few times and got it tighter. I suspect I exceeded 100 ft-lbsà I really was pulling hard. Can they be too tight?

Total rotation resistance on pinion with carrier installed is a little over 10 in-lb. When I set the pinion preload, I got 6 in-lb rotating resistance (re-used bearings). I thought having the carrier installed would add more, but I guess there is gear reduction involved.

Thanks for your input. I want these gears to last.

nice carter <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> very good pattern. Precision is a nice gear!
You did not go too tight. Interesting that you only noticed a 4 inch/pound increase....I sometimes see 10~15 in/lb increase. But leave it as it is. ZUK

edit----nobody has any records of carrier bearings that were adjusted TOO TIGHT. Example---Randys recommends that the Sami guys tighten their 538 gears to 175 ft/lb on their little tiny carrier bearings <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

----my carrier bearing test......if you can move the ring gear back and forth with just 2 fingers and hear the teeth clicking against each other then you don't have enough CBPL.

If you have to use the palm of your hand to get movement then you are good to go.

If you used a 20" bar then you probably got plenty of pre-load I bet. The bearings are used so no reason to overdo it I guess. Use synthetic. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Thanks Zuk! Yes, it reqires using my palm to move the carrier.
Your website was a huge help in this!

Mike