rear end lash

[ENTDOC]

I had to change the pinion yoke on my 85 corvette Dana 44 rear and now I noticed the rear end seems to have more play or lash than before,is this a function of the tightness of the pinion nut or is it more complicated? chuck

[speed220mph]

ENTDOC
I don't remember exactly how to set up the Dana ring and pinion in question, but there are two adjustments that need to be made on any hypoid ring and pinions: pinion depth and backlash. Pinion depth is adjusted by shiming the pinion forward or backward in relation to the ring gear. Backlash is adjusted by moving the ring gear sideways into or away from the pinion with shims or threaded adjusters. I think the Dana uses shims.

Regardless of how the adjustements are made, you need a manual, Prussian blue and a dial indicator to make these adjustments correctly. The dial indicator is used to check backlash and Prussian blue is used to check tooth contact pattern.

Don't forget torque specs. The pinion bearings use a crush sleeve and/or torque specs to preload.

Hope this helps with your rear-end setup. It's not hard, just exacting to get it right.

[Junket]

Hi Chuck There is a crush sleeve (bearing spacer) between the inner & outer pinion bearing that is curshed with a spec. torque to give you spec. inch lb. torque to turn the pinion.What is normaly done when you change the pinion yoke or oil seal is mark the position of the pinion nut and install (it goes back in the same position )and put a little silicon under the washer nut and locktite.

What might have happen is the nut back off a little or better yet you have a little ware in the side gears and the axel spline and side gears and now that you played with it you are now more aware of it. 1-2 thousands ware on all the mesh gears make a lot of difference.
Ken

[RallySnake]

Chuck,

Did you torque the nut to specs?

The "rule of thumb" for the Dana 44 is: If you twist the pinon shaft by hand, with the axle shaft stationary, you should have less than 1/4 inch of play. If that's good and it's not leaking or making noise, you're golden.

Paul

[RICK LAKE]

Entdoc Befor you screw up this rear, get a book that will show you how to set it up. When butting new pininion bearings in your rear there is a spacer of 20-26 thousands between the pininion face and the bearing. This should give you the correct depth. to set the pinion per load with a new crush collar tighten the large nut until the drag on the pinion nut is 25inch pounds. CHECK THIS WITH A TORQUE WRENCH. 1/4 inch drive. Get a dial indicator to check the backlash, you want with a posi from .005-.008 play. If you are going to beat on the car go with the tighter number. After you have the rear set up losen the pinion nut 1/2 turn, and retighten it to 20 inch pounds of drag with the torque wrench. Add fluid and additive to the posi if needed. Road test car, do figure 8's in a parking lot to get the fluid on the clutches in the rear. Figure 8's help the rear to loosen up when new. Put 500 miles on the rear and change the fluid break in is over, Light'em up. Good luck. If you have a problem call 732-254-3536 Rick Lake