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New Ring and Pinion Break In Procedure

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#1 ·
New Ring and Pinion Break In Procedure

Because of the slight roughness of the new gear contact faces and the heavy preloads that must be applied to the new tapered roller bearings, your new rear axle will generate its maximum amount of waste heat in its first few miles. With use, bearing preloads diminish and gear surfaces become smoother. Therefore, the first few hundred miles on a new gear set are the most critical. To prevent premature (and almost immediate) failure of your new gear set, this break-in procedure must be followed:

All new gear sets require a break in period to prevent damage from overheating the gear oil. The lubrication properties of overloaded or overheated gear oil will be diminished. If the gear oil to breaks down, the end result will be catastrophic damage to the ring and pinion.

Avoid burn outs, sudden starts and heavy acceleration for the first 500 miles.

Drive the vehicle gently for 15 – 20 miles, but no longer than 25 - 30 minutes to build up the heat. Do not exceed 50 mph. Let the differential cool down for one hour. Before driving again, feel the differential with the back of your hand. The rear differential should be cool to the touch. Repeat this cycle five times.

When driving on the highway, vary your speed while avoiding heavy acceleration.

I cannot overemphasize the importance of changing the gear oil after the first 500 miles. This will remove all metal particles, black phosphoric coating and other contaminants shed by the gears during the break in period. The integrity of the gear oil is compromised as a result. The gear oil must be changed.

When a posi unit is rebuilt along with a gear change, the clutch discs will break in and settle as well. There will be additional metal particulate in the gear oil from the clutch discs. Again, it is extremely important to change the gear oil after the first 500 miles. I always recommend a good quality petroleum based 80W90 gear oil with GM Limited Slip Additive.
DO NOT use synthetic lubricants in clutch type limited slip differentials. Synthetic oil makes the clutch discs too slippery. This will not allow the clutch discs to lock up. When the clutch discs slip, one wheel spins. This defeats the purpose of using a Limited Slip differential. Using synthetic gear oil will eventually render the limited slip operation useless.

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#2 ·
I just wanted to update this thread with the Eaton Part Numbers to rebuild various Eaton Posi Units. This includes the Eaton 8.2, Eaton 8.5 (Not the Factory Posi Units with the square tabbed clutch discs) and the Eaton 8.875.

Eaton 29403-00S ~ 18 steel discs, guides, and shims. This is what the factory used.

Eaton 29590-00S ~ 400 pound preload Spring Pack. This is an upgrade from the Factory 200 pound preload Spring Pack. All new Eaton Posi Units are manufactured with the 400 pound Preload Spring Pack.


Eaton 12 Bolt (8.875) Casting Numbers:

EDB-32088 ~ 2 Series Posi ~ 2.73:1 and down
ED-30140 ~ 3 Series Posi ~ 3.07:1 - 3.73:1
EDB-30174 ~ 4 Series Posi ~ 3.90 :1 and up

The 12 Bolt (8.875) Posi Units use the following:

YSPXP038 ~ Cross Pin
YSPBLT-065 ~ Cross Pin Bolt

Please note that some aftermarket 3.90 gear sets are made for the 3 Series Posi Unit.

Eaton 10 Bolt (8.2) Casting Numbers:

ED32118 ~ 2 Series Posi ~ 2.73:1 and down
EDB30116 ~ 3 Series Posi ~ 3.08:1 and up

The 10 Bolt (8.2) Posi Units use the following:

YSPXPG8.2-P ~ Cross Pin
YSPBLT-066 ~ Cross Pin Bolt

Disassembling the unit and inspecting the individual components is critical to reading the actual condition of the Posi Unit. You have to have the clutches out where you can view that actual wear surface. Dark gray to black is good as long as there are still visible grooves in the surface. If there is a shiny tint towards the center of the clutches with a dark outer ring, then there is about 50% life left. If the clutches are shiny across the entire surface, then they need to be replaced.

Regarding the GM Corporate 8.5 Posi Units that use the square tabbed clutch discs, GM discontinued the rebuild kit in 2009. I am now reproducing the kits.

http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=260780

For information on the 8.5 Posi Clutch Disc and Shim Kit, please send me a PM.
 
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