12 Bolt Truck Differential
 

I took my rear diff. apart several years ago on my 70 C10. I now have a new rebuild kit for it. I want to replace all bearings and races. Can I use the same pinion shim and carrier shims all in the original places, with and new crush sleeve set to proper preload and call it good ? I dont have to tool to measure the pinion depth.

Craig

Re: 12 Bolt Truck Differential
 

I have done it that way several times with no problems...Of course there can be problems.
You don't need a depth gauge although it makes things easier and faster than pulling the pinion bearing on and off several times to change shims...
Very important is pinion and carrier bearing preload. How to do it is available from the gear manufacturers and gear vendors websites

Re: 12 Bolt Truck Differential
 

Short answer is "yes." With new bearings and races, things might get a little tight. Check your wear pattern and as long as it appears to wear in the center of the coast side (if your reusing the existing gears) you should be alright. Like Tony indicated, I would check pinon preload with an inch pound torque wrench and backlash with a dial indicator...OEM pinion shim depth is .030" or close to that. Pinion preload is 13-15 (inch lbs) new, and 6-7 (inch lbs) used, and .006"-.010" (thousandths) backlash...Whats critical is maintaining some, but not to much backlash, and not going to far with that pinion bearing preload (crushing the sleeve to far) ;) ~Ghostrider~

Re: 12 Bolt Truck Differential
 

In theory, yes it may work.

Since the shims will get it close, there would be minimal chance of the pinion walking into the carrier, but that is still a possibility.

You can try it and see where it gets you, as the crush sleeve isn't expensive, and most all issues will cause minimal to no damage if driven at slow to moderate speeds while you try and figure out if it's done correctly.

Re: 12 Bolt Truck Differential
 

If all you are doing is bearings and races, yes this should work just perfectly. I've done many this way with no issues. Like anything else, never say never, but bearings are such high tolerance items it should be back to whatever it was set at originally if you keep all the shims in the same position.

Make sure and mark the caps and the cast iron side shims and put them back on their appropriate positions and orientations.

Re: 12 Bolt Truck Differential
 

<--<< What he said! ;)

Re: 12 Bolt Truck Differential
 

Thanks everyone !

Craig

Re: 12 Bolt Truck Differential
 

I did it, no specs done, over 90 k now no real issues.

It can be tricky, though, but not that bad.