Differential backlash
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 229
Likes: 1
From: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Differential backlash
Yesterday I opend up the diff and found the following "interesting" things:
The side yokes went out with easy and the play is 0,041 and 0,054.
The torringtons seemed ok and everything else looked fine.
Now the not so happy news:
One of the ring bolts was loose and starting to rub against the housing
when moving the pinion while holding the ring I could feel what seemed a lot of backlash.
What's a "normal" backlash for a used unit?, and how can I check it?
Thanks
The side yokes went out with easy and the play is 0,041 and 0,054.
The torringtons seemed ok and everything else looked fine.
Now the not so happy news:
One of the ring bolts was loose and starting to rub against the housing
when moving the pinion while holding the ring I could feel what seemed a lot of backlash.
What's a "normal" backlash for a used unit?, and how can I check it?
Thanks
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,135
Likes: 3,939
From: Connecticut, USA
040-050 in an otherwise good diff isn't bad. The yokes should be measured to see where they are, the play is probably in the posi and yokes.
Backlash should be in the 5-8 range for stock gears all depends on the wear.
Sometimes the posi case shaft holes are opened up and can be machined for a larger shaft to solve the problem.
Not uncommon to find RG bolts backed out,sounds like you caught it in time. More common with the 76-79's.
Backlash should be in the 5-8 range for stock gears all depends on the wear.
Sometimes the posi case shaft holes are opened up and can be machined for a larger shaft to solve the problem.
Not uncommon to find RG bolts backed out,sounds like you caught it in time. More common with the 76-79's.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 229
Likes: 1
From: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Yes, I clean the bolts and holes with brake cleaner then use loctite #271 red on the bolts.
I don't like to reuse RG bolts so depending on the job, I'll use grade 8 or ARP's both with loctite. I use gr 8 lockwasher with the std 8's but no wasers with the ARP's.
Bill it was a wet one this year for sure but I did get to speak with a lot of folks so I enjoyed the couple of days there.
I don't like to reuse RG bolts so depending on the job, I'll use grade 8 or ARP's both with loctite. I use gr 8 lockwasher with the std 8's but no wasers with the ARP's.
Bill it was a wet one this year for sure but I did get to speak with a lot of folks so I enjoyed the couple of days there.
I will take the play out of the side yokes by inserting a hard metal plug on the yokes end. is it a good idea??
Thanks
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,135
Likes: 3,939
From: Connecticut, USA
You can do it that way as long as you torque them to 55-60 ft/lbs.
I hear some use shims between the snap ring and side gear to cut down endplay. I don't think much of that approach myself and would never do it. I prefer to correct the problem but that will require machine work and experience to do. Some endplay is not from worn yokes but from the posi setup or worn case.
I hear some use shims between the snap ring and side gear to cut down endplay. I don't think much of that approach myself and would never do it. I prefer to correct the problem but that will require machine work and experience to do. Some endplay is not from worn yokes but from the posi setup or worn case.
