Do I need to re-set my gears if changing diff carrier??

[ohe_boy]

I tried looking online and on here for a confirmation on re-setting my front end gears if I change my diff carrier.

Senerio:
Front end locker (detroit elec-crap) went out.
Talked to Eaton and said nothing I can do since I'm passed my 1 year warranty.
Decided on going the cheap route for now to get my rig up and out on the trails.
Open carrier (3.92 and up for my 4.88 gears) and a lock-rite locker.
Re-using my gears.


Questions:
Could I just remove the detroit elec-crap and re-install with the open/lock-rite combo as long as I keep all shims in their rightful place?
Do i need to re-check the backlash on the R&P? (heard this from a friend)
Anything else I would need to do, to do this?

Wanted to go the cheapest (but safest) route to get my X back up and running for a run in Feb.

WHAT DO I DO?????

 

[ohe_boy]

a friend of mine just told me I need to re-set the gears if I'm going from one brand to another....hmmmm

 

[ohe_boy]

Gotta re-set the gears!!!!

 

[manaen]

yes you need to have them set if you remove the carrier..

 

[fordnut71]

well all you are looking for is that the gears are meshing right. you can do that with lil bit of wheel bearing grease on the gear an check for it in the center. put some on 4 or 5 teeth an do a at lease 1 full turn, then u can see if its moved then u need to reset the gear set.

 

[manaen]

This can only be performed properly with a dial caliper, you could use lashing die, however you will never get them as close as you can with a caliper. The closer you get the gears set the longer they will hold up.

 

[IZwack]

I dunno, cauz if the pattern is good, the backlash should be at acceptable levels and the ring gear and pinion gears should be properly aligned (of course preload is a different issue) -- if not, then there is something wrong with the case. I think some off-roaders just go by pattern -- no dial indicator. I use a dial indicator but I've read some people just going by pattern.

 

[Burns]

A lot of the wheeling guys do it by the pattern. When i was having my 9" prob when i was on the phone they were telling me that it would be ok to do that because it was such a procsee after the 4 r&p set

 

[manaen]

Well since we are talking about an explorer and not a high horsepower vehicle I guess 100% accuracy is probably not required. I guess I've always been told that if you want the gears to be a strong as possible they need to be properly lashed with a dial caliper and then checked with die to see if they are running true.

 

[Burns]

The only thing that they said is that as long as your not running big distance and towing a heavy load yll be good. Its the heat that gets them when the backlash is not right

 

[4x4junkie]

If you're just replacing the carrier, the only thing you need to check is the backlash.

Measure what it is with a dial indicator before you take the old carrier out, then just be sure to re-set it to the same spec with the new carrier.

Pattern is important, but unless you were to do something with the pinion, it won't change as long as you maintain the same backlash.

You'll likely need to have a set of carrier shims on hand to do this though.

 

[ohe_boy]

Thanks guys for all your input and advice. I ended up removing the detroit and replaced it with an open carrier and a lock right locker. A friend of mine had a friend who had a dial and all the install goodies and we ended up doing the install and checking the backlask and pattern. Everything went well and I'll be testing it out this weekend at a place we call Peacock Flats on Oahu.

Thanks again for your help. Hope everything goes well.

 

[IZwack]

Fantastic -- dont forget to post up some pics of Peacock Flats! Most of us will never make it there so we're going to experience it through you

 

[ohe_boy]

will do!! look for my thread in the pics section after sunday!

 

[gijoecam]

If you're just replacing the carrier, the only thing you need to check is the backlash.

Measure what it is with a dial indicator before you take the old carrier out, then just be sure to re-set it to the same spec with the new carrier.

Pattern is important, but unless you were to do something with the pinion, it won't change as long as you maintain the same backlash.

You'll likely need to have a set of carrier shims on hand to do this though.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if the original setup was set up properly, and you only replace the carrier (reusing the old ring gear), the pinion depth won't change, but the carrier spacing *might*. So, with that in mind, there would be no need to change the pinion shims, just shim the carrier as necessary to establish the proper backlash and tooth pattern, and it should be golden...

...right??

-Joe

 

[ohe_boy]

Rah-jah that! Pinion was left alone. Just re-shimed the carrier.