How do you install a ring and pinion gear? We are pleased to make available the set up instructions to
assist you with the repair or ratio change in your vehicle. In addition to the detailed
list of instructions, we offer free technical assistance with the set up by phone
with our experience technical staff when you purchase your ring gear and pinion sets
from www.drivetrain.com. We also offer information to assist you in ring gear and
pinion tooth pattern interpretation also available is Dana's pinion shim comparative table. You can also find links to our differential
ring and pinion by application data that provide a detailed list of differential components
for the most popular differentials, the links are listed below the instruction set.
Be sure to ask about our speciality fluids for your differential, we also offer pois
fluid.
Purchase your Ring and Pinion Kit @ drivetrain.com and recevie
free telephone technical suppor if required during setup!
1. Remove the old gear set and thoroughly clean both the ring
gear carrier and rear end housing with solvent. After cleaning, air dry all parts.
2. Always verify that you have the correct gear ratio that you have purchased. This
can be checked by dividing ring gear tooth count by the pinion tooth count. e.g.
(Ring gear tooth count 35 T, pinion gear Tooth count 10 T, 35 divided by 10 = 3.50:1.
3. Many differential cases have many thousands of miles of service. Check all threads
in the case for ware. It may be necessary to chase the treads to clean and align
threads.
4. Check side bearing adjusters as they are often warped and out of shape making
ring and pinion settings difficult. Replace as necessary.
5. Check ring gear back face for flatness. Generally after heat treating there may
be a degree of taper. This may be rectified by lapping gear on sand paper on a glass
flat plate. This will give you more even and uniform pattern when setting up you
new gear set.
6. Careful attention should be give to blueprinting your rear end. Accurate clearancing
will lead to a longer life for your unit.
7. All new parts should be thoroughly cleaned before assembly and checked for damage.
8. Examine the ring gear mounting surface for nicks or burrs which might prevent
a flush mounting of the newly installed ring gear. Ring/Pinion tooth depth variations
can result from a ring gear that is "cocked" on its mounting surface. If
a ring gear spacer is to be used, also check it for surface imperfections. Nicks
or burrs can be removed by using block-backed grit paper ora small file. Following
material removal rewash in solvent and air dry. Mounting ring gear. Loctite ring
gear bolts and torque to factory specifications.
9. All Motive Gear and Motive Gear Performance ring gear and pinions have been "Lapped"
in sets and should never be mixed with another ring gear or pinion. Check to see
serial numbers are the same on the ring gear and pinion.
10. Each motive gear and Motive Gear Performance ring gear and pinion is prerun and
marked on the pinion face with its proper depth setting called the "Checking
Distance". This dimension is from the face of the pinion to the axle center-line.
A setting tool must be used to measure the checking distance. Pinion depth is adjustable
by adding or subtracting shim thickness. Stay +/-.002 of the pinion dimension, (see
Figure 'A' and 'B').
11. Once pinion depth is achieved using a new crush collar or preload shim pack set
pinion bearing preload to 15 inch-pounds rotating torque with used bearings, and
25 inch pounds with new bearings. Once preload is set install the seal and loctite
pinion nut.
12. Once the pinion gear is installed, position ring gear and carrier into housing
to check backlash. Motive Gear and Motive Gear Performance ring gear and pinions
are developed to be run at .008" to .012" back-lash for street gear sets.
13. Adjustments for backlash is done by spanner rings in the housing or shim packs
behind the carrier bearing cups (GM) or cones (Dana). Always be sure carrier bearings
are preloaded. The carrier should not fall out of the housing, but should have to
be "tapped" in during final installation. Replace bearing caps and torque
to factory specifications.
14. You are now ready to verify the tooth contact pattern. A gear marking compound
should be used. Paint gear teeth with compound in several spots and rotate ring gear
several revolutions. A tooth contact pattern will appear and should be similar to
the pattern shown in illustration 'C'. If the pattern is not in the approximate position
shown, reset pinion depth and backlash to correct pattern. Pinion shims usually must
be moved in .003 of an inch increments to notice a pattern change. If a pattern is
heavy toe subtract shims, (see Figure 'D') If a pattern is heavy heel add shims,
(see Figure 'E').
NOTE: Reverse the procedure for 8" and 9" Ford
15. Fill the case with required amount of GL6 Torco 85W-140W with additive gear lube,
and maintain the proper level at all times. Proper maintenance is a must to protect
your safety and the working life of you gear set.
Torque Specifications
Ring Gear Bolts
3/8" x 7/8" RH 55-60 FT#
3/8" x 3/4" RH 45-50 FT#
3/8" ALL LH 45-50 FT#
7/16" ALL 60-65 FT#
1/2" ALL 100-110 FT#
Carrier Cap Bolts
7/16" (5/8" head) 60-65 FT #
1/2" (3/4" head) 80-85 FT # |
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Ring gear
and pinion tooth pattern interpretation
When setting the pinion position, many of the service manuals
required a final pinion position check by using gauges that verified the dimension
from the center line of the differential carrier (center line of ring gear) to the
face of the pinion (button). This surface (button) is not used on all new gears for
verifying the pinion position. The service tools will be used to establish the proper
amount of shims required prior to installing the pinion gear. The final pinion position
will be verified by using the GEAR CONTACT PATTERN METHOD, as described in this bulletin.
RING GEAR AND PINION TOOTH CONTACT PATTERN
The TOE of the gear tooth is the portion of the tooth surface
at the end towards the center. The HEEL of the gear tooth is the portion of the tooth
surface at the outer end. The TOP LAND of a gear tooth is the surface of the top
of the tooth. Every gear has a characteristic pattern. The illustrations show typical
patterns only, and explains how patterns shift as gear location is changed. When
making pinion position changes, shims should be changed in the range of .002 inch
(.05 mm) to .004 inch (.10 mm) until correct pattern has been obtained.
When a change is backlash is required, backlash shims should
be changed in the range of 1 1/2 times the amount of backlash required to bring the
gears into specification. For example, if the backlash needed to be changed by .004
inch (.10 mm), the shim pack should be changed by .006 inch (.15mm) as a starting
point. The actual amount of backlash change obtained will vary depending upon the
ratio and gear size.
High backlash is corrected by moving the ring gear closer
to the pinion. Low backlash is corrected by moving the ring gear away from the pinion.
These corrections are made by switching shims from one side of the differential case
to the other.
NOTE
When making changes, note that two variables are involved.
Example: If you have the backlash set correctly to specifications and you change
the pinion position shim, you may have to readjust the backlash to the correct specification
before checking the pattern. Refer to pattern interpretation.
WARNING: Gear teeth may have sharp edges. When handling
gears, use care to avoid personal injury.
STEPS:
(1) Paint ring gear teeth with a marking compound to both
the drive and coast side.
(2) Rotate ring gear one complete revolution in both directions
while load is being applied with a large screwdriver or simular tool between the
carrier casting and differential case flange.
PATTERN INTERPRETATION (RING GEAR)
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Driver Side................Coast Side
Heel Toe.....................Toe Heel
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Normal or desirable pattern. The drive pattern should be centered on the tooth. The
coast pattern should be centered on the tooth, but may be slightly toward the toe.
There should be some clearance between the pattern and the top of the tooth. |
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Backlash correct. Thinner pinion position shim required. |
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Backlash correct. Thicker pinion position shim required. |
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Pinion position shim correct. Decrease backlash. |
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Pinion position shim correct. Increase backlash. |
PATTERN MOVEMENTS SUMMARIZED
(1) Decreasing backlash moves the ring gear closer to the
pinion.
Drive pattern (convex side of gear) moves slightly
lower and toward the toe.
Coast pattern (concave side of gear) moves lower
and toward the toe.
(2) Increasing backlash moves the ring gear away from the
pinion.
Drive pattern moves slightly higher and toward the
heel.
Coast pattern moves higher and towards the heel.
(3) Thicker pinion position shim with the backlash constant
moves the pinion closer to the ring gear.
Drive pattern moves deeper on the tooth (flank contact)
and slightly toward the toe.
Coast pattern moves deeper on the tooth and toward
the heel.
(4) Thinner pinion position shim with the backlash constant
moves the pinion further from the ring gear.
Drive pattern moves toward the top of the tooth (face
contact) and toward the heel.
Coast pattern moves toward the top of the tooth and
slightly toward the toe.
| Old Pinion Marking |
New Pinion Marking (Metric)
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|
-10
|
-8
|
-5
|
-3
|
0
|
+3
|
+5
|
+8
|
+10
|
|
+10
|
+.20
|
+.18
|
+.15
|
+.13
|
+.10
|
+.08
|
+.05
|
+.03
|
0
|
|
+8
|
+.18
|
+.15
|
+.13
|
+.10
|
+.08
|
+.05
|
+.03
|
0
|
-0.3
|
|
+5
|
+.15
|
+.13
|
+.10
|
+.08
|
+.05
|
+.03
|
0
|
-.03
|
-.05
|
|
+3
|
+.13
|
+.10
|
+.08
|
+.05
|
+.03
|
0
|
-.03
|
-.05
|
-.08
|
|
0
|
+.10
|
+.08
|
+.05
|
+.03
|
0
|
-.03
|
-.05
|
-.08
|
-.10
|
|
-3
|
+.08
|
+.05
|
+.03
|
0
|
-.03
|
-.05
|
-.08
|
-.10
|
-.13
|
|
-5
|
+.05
|
+.03
|
0
|
-.03
|
-.05
|
-.08
|
-.10
|
-.13
|
-.15
|
|
-8
|
+.03
|
0
|
-.03
|
-.05
|
-.08
|
-.10
|
-.13
|
-.15
|
-.18
|
|
-10
|
0
|
-.03
|
-.05
|
-.08
|
-.10
|
-.13
|
-.15
|
-.18
|
-0.20
|
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Ring and Pinion Sets 
