A very common problem when installing low gear ratios in a Ford 9” is that as the ring gear gets thicker the toe of the gear hits the pilot bearing housing leaving you with only two options, grind the gear, or the housing. We prefer grinding the gear, the problem with grinding on the pilot housing is it tends to make it thin and weak making it prone to cracking. By grinding the gear you have...
Do we really need to break in a new gear set? I have heard many people say “When I bought my new truck, no one ever told me to break in the ring & pinion.” Whenever we are blessed enough to afford a new vehicle, we take it easy on the engine for the first few hundred miles. While we are pampering the engine (probably for the last time ever), the ring & pinion set goes along for the...
Many people would rather have their children genetically altered before they would grind gear teeth. Gears are not handed to us by God. They are designed by people who have figured out how to form steel into shapes that can be used to multiply torque and change power-shaft directions. Although some of us hold gears in very high esteem, they are not sacred. They can be ground on a surprising...
Although proper ring & pinion setup can be accomplished at home, I really recommend having a professional do the job. However, if a person really insists on trying it (and that is really the only way to learn), here is some information that should be helpful. When setting up a ring & pinion, there are four critical settings that need to be correct in order to get proper setup and...
When working on any rearend, always pay very close attention to the axle shafts and axle bearings. Sealed ball bearing type axle bearings are usually very easy to diagnose and any roughness makes replacement the obvious choice. Flat roller bearing style axles are not as obvious to diagnose, and many times people dismiss wear that soon after leads to larger problems. Any pits, rust, grooves, or...
Taking care of the details requires knowing which details are important, and having the discipline to check every detail on every job. Here is a partial list of details that we have found to make a difference when assembling a differential. Pay very close attention to the bearing hubs on the carrier case. If the old carrier bearing spins on the case, the new bearing will not fit tight and...
It’s obvious u-joints are a critical component in any driveline so understanding their key mesurements and general specs is important. We have put this spotter’s guide together to answer some of the basic questions regarding universal joints. Parameters such as cap diameter, ring diameter, and the availability of adapters are outlined. There is also a listing of common...
I have had more than a few customers come back to our service shop after a gear ratio change to complain that we caused a new vibration in their vehicle. In actuality, we inadvertently caused the vibration by increasing the driveline speed. When changing to a lower gear ratio (numerically higher) the driveline speed increases proportionally to the change in the ratio. For example, when...
When looking for great off-road traction an aggressive positraction is one of the most popular ways to go. But, when driving on the street every day that great off-road posi may be annoying. I have found that it is very difficult to make a positraction work really well off-road and still not chatter during every day driving. Many say that they can do it but my question is can they do it...
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