Lubrication of the bearings with 90-weight gear oil during assembly provides initial lubrication. But more importantly, for bearings that are preloaded, it gives you the correct readings. The in-lb preload specs are given for use with 90-weight, and if you use the wrong lubricant during a preload check, it will skew the readings higher or lower. Setting pinion preload is one of the key steps in the axle assembly. By preloading the bearings, you are putting them under a slight artificial load. This removes all end and side play, even under a high torque load. Too much preload or too little preload will both kill a bearing, which could then kill an entire axle assembly. There are two common pinion-bearing setups: the crush-sleeve types and the shimmed types. The end result is the same, but the adjustment techniques differ. A crush sleeve (the type our GM 10-bolt was originally equipped with) is installed and collapsed by torqueing the pinion nut until the preload reads correctly. This can take massive amounts of torque, and you have to be careful not to overcrush the sleeve. If you overshoot, it's got to come apart and a new sleeve installed. With shimmed bearings, you adjust via a sleeve and small shims sandwiched between the two bearings. The ring-gear mating surface on the carrier needs to be squeaky-clean and free of raised edges. The fine file, or a large whetstone, are used to work down any such things, as well as flashing that may be left on a new carrier from when the holes were bored.The ring-gear mating surface on the carrier needs to be squeaky-clean and free of raised e The same thing applies to the ring gear. Working down any rough edges ensures a good clamping action. The bolts aren't what transmits the torque between the carrier and the ring gear, it's the clamping action the bolts impart. They need a good mating surface in which to work.The same thing applies to the ring gear. Working down any rough edges ensures a good clamp The Yukon bearing puller gets kudos for being one of the most useful axle tools of all time. It will pull the carrier bearing or inner pinion bearings easily, and intact, most of the time. The key to intact bearings is to put the bearing cup onto the cone.The Yukon bearing puller gets kudos for being one of the most useful axle tools of all tim There are axle pros out there who can sort through the parts of five different axles in a pile and assemble them all correctly. Even so, the better ones still organize the cleaned parts something like this. Why? You can see at a glance that once you have all the parts, you can see their condition and you efficiently assemble the axle because everything is at hand.There are axle pros out there who can sort through the parts of five different axles in a A press makes axle work faster and simpler, but it's not absolutely necessary. There are suitable presses available at the discount tool places for around 100 bucks and these will do the job. The whiz-bang $1,000-plus units like this one at the Randy's Ring & Pinion shop are needed for production work.A press makes axle work faster and simpler, but it's not absolutely necessary. There are s You aren't dead without a press. On Ford and GM axles that do not use shims under the carrier bearings, you'll only need to install the bearings once. Buy a cheap hotplate and warm the bearings up. Not smokin' hot, but warm, i.e., a little too hot for a bare hand but not sizzlin' (use gloves or a rag). If you can cool the carrier in the freezer, the bearing will slip on even easier.You aren't dead without a press. On Ford and GM axles that do not use shims under the carr If you have a Dana axle that uses shims behind the carrier bearings (many do) instead of shims outside the bearings (GMs and Ford-built axles), hone out a second set of carrier bearings (new or good used) so that the bearings slip on by hand. Do your setup (detailed later), and then press the unhoned bearings on for the final assembly. All of this also applies to the inner pinion bearing too, if you find yourself having to experiment with pinion-depth adjustments.If you have a Dana axle that uses shims behind the carrier bearings (many do) instead of s It's important to keep the shims sorted according to their original location. You measure the thickness of those shims, and if you reinstall new shims of the same thickness in that same location, the odds are good your setup will be in the OK ballpark, or at least not far off. Otherwise, you're either in for a bunch of trial and error or you'll be forced to get a pinion-depth tool.It's important to keep the shims sorted according to their original location. You measure A vital element in securing the ring gear to the carrier is high-strength (red) liquid threadlocker on the bolts. If the bolts come loose, the axle dies, simple as that. You'll need a vise big enough to hold the carrier so you can torque the bolts properly. If you use a press for the carrier bearings, you can clamp the carrier into the press and then torque the bolts.A vital element in securing the ring gear to the carrier is high-strength (red) liquid thr « | 1 | 2 | 3 | » | View Full Article Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
