a question for all diff builders
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 221
Likes: 0
a question for all diff builders
today i saw a post about pinion pre load. i dident answer it because it was allready answered with an accurate responce... but having worked in a gm franchise for many years and learning the ropes from older techs (years back) i have seen two ways to set pinion preload on a crush sleeve type pinion.
a: impact wrench
b: breaker bar and a long pipe with a flange holding tool
the guys i learned from were older than me and most are probably retired now, but only one used a pinion holding fixture and a long breaker bar/pipe to sneak up on pinion preload, the rest, including myself used a impact and i cant remember any comebacks dut to pinion bearing failures.
so what is your method of sneaking up on pinion preload???
....just curious
a: impact wrench
b: breaker bar and a long pipe with a flange holding tool
the guys i learned from were older than me and most are probably retired now, but only one used a pinion holding fixture and a long breaker bar/pipe to sneak up on pinion preload, the rest, including myself used a impact and i cant remember any comebacks dut to pinion bearing failures.
so what is your method of sneaking up on pinion preload???
....just curious
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,424
Likes: 2
From: Albemarle, NC
I use an impact and continually check the pre-load until its right. By the time I go to the tool room and dig out the holding tool, ive lost money. Never had one come back, and here latley I have done a TON on the GMT900 trucks.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
I've built a few light duty rear-ends. I still need a tool to hold the flange from tunrning even with the impact. What do you use? I sometimes but the universal retainers back on and stick a bar through them. It contacts the garage floor and then I can use the impact gun or a big bar to turn the nut...
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,424
Likes: 2
From: Albemarle, NC
I've built a few light duty rear-ends. I still need a tool to hold the flange from tunrning even with the impact. What do you use? I sometimes but the universal retainers back on and stick a bar through them. It contacts the garage floor and then I can use the impact gun or a big bar to turn the nut...
Normally I can just hold them by hand and use my big snap-on 1/2'' impact, but have ran into a few where I had to stick a pipe wrench on the yoke to hold it.
Now when you get into a diff that has a certain tq spec like the getrag units, its best to use the holding tool as you have to tq it too 200+
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,881
Likes: 84
From: Wake Forest, NC
Impact to sneak up on it. It takes so much to crush the sleeve on most rears that you can do it with an impact, if you are good and have a feel for your tools. Some impacts aren't even strong enough to do it though on the bigger rears.
