when setting up a rear end...

Posted By: 70Cuda383

when setting up a rear end... - 03/15/13 08:32 PM

how many of you guys do it by feel, vs breaking out the inch pound torque wrenches?

I just pulled the center section out of my rear, sourced a good case without gouges from the clutches, rebuilt it with a new clutch pack, swapped over my ring gear and speed sensor ring, and put it back in.

pinion never came out, so all I had to do was re-set backlash.

took a pre measurement at .0065 backlash.

when putting it all back together, I pretty much did it by "feel" for the adjusters on the carrier bearings. it got to a point where it felt like there was no more "give" and everything was nice and snug. turning the adjuster tool created enough torque to want to rotate the whole axle housing.

so I tightened everything down and re-measured my backlash. it's pretty much right at .0065 again, maybe .007

rotational resistance on the case feels about the same as it was before I took it out.

Just wondering, how many of you do this all by feel, vs getting a torque wrench?

Posted By: VernMotor

Re: when setting up a rear end... - 03/15/13 10:09 PM

Well I build them by feel. but I do it for a living. .I have build 1000's. I would never tell someone to do it that way..

Posted By: 70Cuda383

Re: when setting up a rear end... - 03/15/13 10:39 PM

Do you wanna come feel my rear? tell me if it's right?

(...there's just so much wrong with that statement!

)

Posted By: 383man

Re: when setting up a rear end... - 03/15/13 11:16 PM

Been a tech all my life and have done more then enough to do pinion bearing preload by feel but I still like to put my inch lb torque wrench on it. Cant really do carrier bearings by feel. They have to have some preload on them and I do them by the instructions as per the type of rear it is. Ron

Posted By: HPMike

Re: when setting up a rear end... - 03/15/13 11:32 PM

Quote:

how many of you guys do it by feel, vs breaking out the inch pound torque wrenches?

I just pulled the center section out of my rear, sourced a good case without gouges from the clutches, rebuilt it with a new clutch pack, swapped over my ring gear and speed sensor ring, and put it back in.

pinion never came out, so all I had to do was re-set backlash.

took a pre measurement at .0065 backlash.

when putting it all back together, I pretty much did it by "feel" for the adjusters on the carrier bearings. it got to a point where it felt like there was no more "give" and everything was nice and snug. turning the adjuster tool created enough torque to want to rotate the whole axle housing.

so I tightened everything down and re-measured my backlash. it's pretty much right at .0065 again, maybe .007

rotational resistance on the case feels about the same as it was before I took it out.

Just wondering, how many of you do this all by feel, vs getting a torque wrench?

You are measuring backlash. And thats fine, however the adjusters are there to also preload the carrier bearings. I do it by feel and experience as I have done tons of these..

MB

Posted By: 70Cuda383

Re: when setting up a rear end... - 03/16/13 02:22 AM

Right, I know that the side adjusters are setting the preload on the bearings.

I went "tight enough to feel firm not have bearing slop, but not angry gorilla tight" on the side adjusters.

I guess I just never quite understood the service manual's instructions

(then again, it's been awhile since I read through it, maybe I'll give it another go, now that I know what's going on in there)

Can someone put the service manual's instructions into plain english? like...use a torque wrench and tighten the side adjusters to "X" ft/lbs.

Posted By: 383man

Re: when setting up a rear end... - 03/16/13 02:57 AM

From what I remember its 70 ft lbs using the tool that goes down thru the axle tubes to turn the carrier bearing adjusters. Ron

Posted By: DoctorDiff

Re: when setting up a rear end... - 03/16/13 05:06 AM

Leave the cap bolts finger tight, then get the carrier nuts as tight as possible with a 12" wrench.

Posted By: 70Cuda383

Re: when setting up a rear end... - 03/16/13 05:19 AM

Quote:

Leave the cap bolts finger tight, then get the carrier nuts as tight as possible with a 12" wrench.

That's about what I did Cass. I made a tool with a big nut welded to the end of a steel square tube. put a 12" adjustable wrench on the end of the square tube and cranked it until the axle was spinning on the jack stands. then I gave it a few quick wacks with my palm to give it an "impact" to get a little more turn on the side adjusters.

but if it's as simple as putting 70 ft lbs on the side adjusters, I can put a 3rd jack stand under the pinion to stop the housing from rotating, and use my torque wrench, just for peace of mind.

Posted By: Quicksilver440

Re: when setting up a rear end... - 03/17/13 05:32 AM

I've only built one rear...my Dana 60 (used a truck housing), I sure would have liked having carrier bearing adjusters.

Posted By: MattW

Re: when setting up a rear end... - 03/17/13 02:56 PM

Quote:

how many of you guys do it by feel, vs breaking out the inch pound torque wrenches?

I just pulled the center section out of my rear, sourced a good case without gouges from the clutches, rebuilt it with a new clutch pack, swapped over my ring gear and speed sensor ring, and put it back in.

pinion never came out, so all I had to do was re-set backlash.

took a pre measurement at .0065 backlash.

when putting it all back together, I pretty much did it by "feel" for the adjusters on the carrier bearings. it got to a point where it felt like there was no more "give" and everything was nice and snug. turning the adjuster tool created enough torque to want to rotate the whole axle housing.

so I tightened everything down and re-measured my backlash. it's pretty much right at .0065 again, maybe .007

rotational resistance on the case feels about the same as it was before I took it out.

Just wondering, how many of you do this all by feel, vs getting a torque wrench?

Maybe this would help.
How to rebuild a Trac-Lok LSD - DodgeTalk : Dodge Car Forums ...
www.dodgetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=276136

Matt