Just for fun I checked the backlash on the 2 4:57's (1952's) I have here out of running trucks...both were over .20 and one was closer to .30! Considering factory is .005 to .008 that is a tad off. It was very hard to get a pattern on either, from what I saw it wasn't near optimal.
Talked to a local older truck shop here and they said they pretty much stick it together and run it LOL..The old boy said good luck getting a decent pattern on used Eaton gears..I don't think they spend much time trying to set up used gears...they put them back together with the original shims and spacers and away they go.
to each their own I guess....
