Here are a couple of pics of my gear pattern on my Richmond 3.55 gears in my 12 bolt. I set it up with .008 backlash. I think I have too much shim in the pinion. I started with .035 shim under the pinion. I also used the old crush sleeve and a pair of bearings that have been honed to a slip fit. I guess I am looking for how much shim to take out (if I am thinking correctly). I would guess .003?

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b371/Bowtie70SS/IMG_0241.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b371/Bowtie70SS/IMG_0240.jpg

Forgot this pic but I didn't figure it was too relevant.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b371/Bowtie70SS/IMG_0242.jpg

Dave,
Looks like you used all the marking grease with this setup allready.
Tone down how much you use.
Question,
how are you rotating the assy? It must be by the carrier/ ring gear.

The pattern on the drive actually looks nice and the coast looks ok for Richmonds.

I still will not use honed out bearings and do not recomend them. Also understand how they may help newby or people without the correct tools. There is also no reason to set it up with the old crush sleeve. Just set the preload to 18-20 in/ pnds and get the pattern.

Get another set of pics from a different area and lets see what that looks like. Be sure to turn it 2 full revolutions. Tom

I put resistance against the carrier and turned the pinion. I was going by the book "High-Performance Differentials Axles and Drivelines" where it said to offer 40ftlbs of resistance to the carrier while turning the pinion. It also said to turn the ring gear several times forward and back. I will have to revisit some of your other threads.
I have put together several rear ends and have always had a great level of success (luck maybe). I am really trying to do this one by the book (literally). Out of curiosity why not use honed bearings and a used crush sleeve? I have a cheap Proform pinion depth gauge but it is harder than Chinese Arithmetic to use.

yeah only do i light coat of marker on 3 or 4 teeth,,, i agree with tom that pattern looks good,, i like to press on the back side of ring gear and turn with the yoke and not turn the ring gear by it self ,,,, but i also like to use honed out bearing's LOL so what do i know,,,,, JEFF

I have ground the tabs off the pinion shims (or used Dana round shims) and installed the shims behind the bearing race. That way I didn't have to pull the pinion bearing to make adjustments but I might have had to knock out the bearing race from the housing to change shims.

Bearings are not all the same. They are close, but there is still a little difference in all of them. If you get the pinion depth exactly right witht he honed out bearing and tehn install the new bearing the pinion depth might change. I also do not use honed out bearings.

Throw away the used pinion spacer. You don't need a spacer at all when doing the set up. Use the old nut and set the bearing preload to 20 inch pounds every time. Forget about what the book says, don't turn the pinion when checking the contact pattern. This will not give you a clear pattern like you will get when you turn the ring gear. I use an axle to turn everything when there is a limited slip (posi) installed. I use a wrench on a ring gear bolt in other cases. If you have the preload set right on the pinion then there is no need to apply more resistance. Make several revolutions in both directions to get a clear pattern.

Tonight the gear marking compound truck did not crash into my garage. I upped the preload on the pinion. I applied a light coat of gear marking compound and the pattern is easier to read.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b371/Bowtie70SS/IMG_0247.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b371/Bowtie70SS/IMG_0246.jpg

Thanks for your replies...pinion too deep?

I don't think the pinion is too deep at this point. What is the backlash? You might try tightening the backlash just a little bit and see how it looks. Did you turn it with the pinion or the ring gear? Stick an axle in it and give it several turns. You can still wipe the compound off better than that and get a more clear pattern.

Pattern looks good. Good enough to run. Did you turn it with the pinion or ring gear? It does make a difference. Ring gear is the proper way. Tom

I turned the ring gear to get this pattern, I can install the axle bearings and use a axle. My backlash is .007-.008 and I don't have the proper shims to adjust it any more at this point. The total amount of carrier shims I have installed is .484. I can wipe off some more marking compound and take and post a couple of more pics. Thanks for the advice guys.

With that, I say assemble it and recheck the pattern. Goodluck with the honed bearings, you may be doing this pattern chasing again. Tom

Yea, just go ahead and put it together and see how it turns out. Hopefully the pinion depth won't change.

I can understand about the honed bearings but that Proform pinoin depth gauge left a lot to be desired. I will clean everything up and put it together. I will throw up a few pics once I get it done. I can't thank you guys enough and I hope others who check out this thread can get something out of it.

Dave

:thumbsup: when in doubt beat the hell out of it,,, now that i know you can set up gears i will bring the 373 after swap meet :hurray: Jeff

No problem Jeff. I would not mind at all. I am by no means an expert but the more I do the better I feel. Tlowe and Big Gear Head are the pros here and I welcome their advice and criticism. I also have a press and a bearing splitter so we should be able to do everything here. Let me know

Dave

I have found that most pinion depth gauges are useless. Some people like using them but I can do the job quicker without one. I don't have one any more.

I am about to take the dive into setting up my gears this weekend. Do you suppose I can get lucky with the pinion depth in 1 or 2 tries.

Sometimes I get lucky with the pinion depth in 1 or 2 tries. It can happen.

Jim,
Remind me. Are you using used or new gears. Tom

They are new but had light surface rust so I wire wheeled them and that is why they looked weird. I guessed my pinion shim at .035 the first time.