C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Rear End Gear Marking... How??

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 17, 2002 | 07:21 PM
  #1  
lbell101's Avatar
lbell101
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,214
Likes: 0
From: Casa Grande AZ
Default Rear End Gear Marking... How??

I've got my rear end out of the car and the cover off. I'm trying to check how the gears mesh but I can't see it using just gear oil. I know they make a special marking product for this. But does anyone have a 'already have it laying around' solution that I can use? If not, what is the stuff called that I need to get? My parts guy needs more from me than "you know, that stuff you mark the gears with so you can see the mesh"!
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2002 | 07:45 PM
  #2  
45ACP's Avatar
45ACP
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,341
Likes: 6
Default

I've always heard it referred to as "gear pattern grease". As I recall, I have seen red, white and yellow. Looks alot like paint when it is applied with a brush on the gears.

No idea where to get it.
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2002 | 07:55 PM
  #3  
MIKER's Avatar
MIKER
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 2,581
Likes: 14
From: Tolar Texas
Default Re: Rear End Gear Marking... How?? (lbell101)

GM Gear Marking Compound PN#1052351 ($3.38)
I purchased it from my local GM parts dealer.

From the Archives. . .
I have completed setup of the 3.73:1 gears in my DANA 44
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=193247
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2002 | 08:29 PM
  #4  
lbell101's Avatar
lbell101
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,214
Likes: 0
From: Casa Grande AZ
Default Re: Rear End Gear Marking... How?? (lbell101)

Cool - thanks guys!
I would have never thought of the Chevy dealer!
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2002 | 08:43 PM
  #5  
GTR1999's Avatar
GTR1999
Tech Contributor
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,175
Likes: 3,990
From: Connecticut, USA
Default Re: Rear End Gear Marking... How?? (lbell101)

Larry check with NAPA, I think they have a blue compound in a tube. make sure the gears are clean otherwise the gear oil will get on them and mess up your pattern. brush some on ht ering gear and rotate it through the pinion gear forward and back. Check the pattern and should be in the center of the ring gear. Check the GM overhaul manual it will show you th ecorrect pattern.
Be sure to mark the bearing end caps if you pull the ring gear and carrier out.
Gary
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2002 | 12:58 AM
  #6  
lbell101's Avatar
lbell101
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,214
Likes: 0
From: Casa Grande AZ
Default Re: Rear End Gear Marking... How?? (gtr1999)

Thanks Gary!
I'll remember to mark those - I wouldn't have if you didn't post :)
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2002 | 08:17 AM
  #7  
GTR1999's Avatar
GTR1999
Tech Contributor
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,175
Likes: 3,990
From: Connecticut, USA
Default Re: Rear End Gear Marking... How?? (lbell101)

Larry sounds like you're going to pull the carrier, so in addition to marking each cap left and right watch out for the shims/spacers between the carrier bearings and housing. You have to be sure to keep them together too because everything is fitted when the setup is complete. If you jst want to see what the pattern looks like then don't take anything out, just clean it good and mark it. If everything is OK then fill it with the GM posi additive and Posi lube put a new gasket on and you're good to go. Another area to check is the front pinion seal and side seals,they are prone to leaking. If you decide to change the pinion seal -MARK the nut to pinion location first to maintain the bearing preload on the crush sleeve. Use some #2 permatex on the pinion thread when reinstalling the nut this will help prevent leaks weeping under the nut. I didn't do that years ago and the pinion started to weep, over time it became a mess. Did you mount the housing on an engine stand to work on?
Good Luck,
Gary
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2002 | 09:25 AM
  #8  
norvalwilhelm's Avatar
norvalwilhelm
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Default Re: Rear End Gear Marking... How?? (lbell101)

I went to the dealers for the gear marking compound and they have a minimum order of about 10 or 12 to a skin package. A single tube is cheap enough but when you have to buy the 10 or 12 it sure adds up.
Got mine from Richmond gear.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jan 18, 2002 | 05:24 PM
  #9  
lbell101's Avatar
lbell101
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,214
Likes: 0
From: Casa Grande AZ
Default Re: Rear End Gear Marking... How?? (gtr1999)

Thanks for the tips Gary. It looks like I'm going to leave it together. The pattern looks good to me. I have no clue why it whines above 60 mph but I'm gonna live with it for now. I'll put that $$ into something that HAS to be replaced!

Thanks for all the help!!
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2002 | 07:32 PM
  #10  
MIKER's Avatar
MIKER
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 2,581
Likes: 14
From: Tolar Texas
Default Re: Rear End Gear Marking... How?? (lbell101)

Thanks for the tips Gary. It looks like I'm going to leave it together. The pattern looks good to me. I have no clue why it whines above 60 mph but I'm gonna live with it for now. I'll put that $$ into something that HAS to be replaced!

Thanks for all the help!!
I certainly don't know enough to diagnose your noise problem but I do wonder if your noise could be caused by loose pinion bearings? Did you check the pinion preload? Did you check the backlash?

Maybe the noise is simply a characteristic of your particular gear set. I hear that some make noise even when set up perfectly.
Reply
Old Jan 19, 2002 | 10:24 PM
  #11  
lbell101's Avatar
lbell101
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,214
Likes: 0
From: Casa Grande AZ
Default Re: Rear End Gear Marking... How?? (MIKER)

Hi Miker!

Nope - I didn't check the preload or the backlash. Just the pattern. I'll do a little research and try to figure out how to check those.
I'm starting to think it may be normal myself as I had a shop set it up this summer when we put in new yokes. Same noise before and after. Plus everybody I talk to says they have some sort of noise as well!
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Rear End Gear Marking... How??





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:59 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE