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| | | | Joined: Aug 2010 Posts: 255 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2010 Posts: 255 | Is it possible to adjust ring gear backlash without removing the whole assembly? Noticed I have about .040 in my 38 stock rear. Wondering if I can loosen carrier caps and adjust the locknuts. Any advice would be great. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 843 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 843 | Tcox, the procedure is described in the shop manual for your vehicle. Backlash, carrier bearing preload and the ring gear-pinion tooth contact pattern in both "drive" and "coast" modes have to be in specification for the gears to not self destruct.
It's far from rocket science but it does require a dial indicator and something to show the tooth contact pattern like artist's titanium white oil paint. Only enough disassembly to expose the carrier bearing adjustment nuts and the ring gear is required UNLESS the pinion gear is too far back or too far forward in the ring gear. The tooth contact patern will show you the answer to that question.
It will be intersting to me to see how many differing "opinions" you get concerning the importance of proper ring gear-pinion set up.
Ray
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2010 Posts: 255 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2010 Posts: 255 | I did check "location" of pinion (per shop manual), and axle spacer clearance. All seem good. Just guessing at backlash from what my machine shop eye can see. I will put an indicator on it to confirm. Just hopin' I don't have to tack the whole carrier assembly out.
Decided to give it a shot - removed bearing nut locks, loosened bearing caps, tightened the left bearing nut (to move ring closer to pinion) 2 notches. This put backlash about .010 - figgerd I better stop there. Torqued everything back and double checked backlash. Will put new oil in tomorrow and road test. I will assume if I screwed anything up that it will be obvious very quick.
Last edited by tcox; 05/31/2011 1:25 AM.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 5,198 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 5,198 | It should work OK, all you did was take the wear out of it. It might make a little noisy, but since its a old gear, you have nothing to loose.
Joe | | | | | Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 1,362 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 1,362 | It would have been a good idea to check the contact pattern, just to make sure.
Kicking self for selling off my Taskforce trucks.
Still looking for an LCF or conventional big bolt in decent shape.
As of 10-26-2022, A 55.2 Taskforce long bed now the work begins
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