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This is my first time setting up gears, doing an 8" V6 rear end. I bought a donor off Craigslist that was in pieces to minimize the down time on my truck. Since it was in pieces when I got it I don't have a tear down for assembly reference so I'm just following write ups on 4x4wire and gearinstalls.com. I purchased a complete builder package from Marlin Crawler with 4.88 gears and a grizzly locker. I'm having a problem with the ring gear assembly sitting WAY off to one side. I'm using an .08" shim stack on the pinion, and set the preload to 16 in/lb using a torque wrench and no spacer/crush sleeve. Everything turns free and smooth but the ring gear just sits way off. I tore it down and made sure the races/bearings were fully seated and everything looks good. Would a thinner shim stack make that much of a difference, or do I have some other problem here? Any help is appreciated, thanks.
If the third you got from CL was an original factory 4.88, only a genuine Toyota 4.88 ring and pinion will fit it.
That factory 4.88 punkin has a different R&P spacing built into it than any other Toyota 8 inch punkin does, and it requires a factory ring gear that is thinner than other 8 inch ring gears.
Your aftermarket 4.88s' should fit any other Toyota 8 inch punkin ,but a factory 4.88.==== No go.
check out my build thread, I have pictures of the differentials side by side. I ran into the same issue you are having. I had to buy another used housing to put my new lockers in.
The gears that were with it were 4.88's but I'm not sure if they're factory. I'll have to measure the thickness when I get home from work this afternoon. Sounds like that's my problem though. Guess I should have done more thorough research before diving in. If I can't find another housing local does anyone know if the aftermarket ones sold by LC Engineering or Marlin Crawler are of good quality, or am I better off holding out for OEM?
If the original ring and pinon are good, there's no reason you couldn't install the ring on your new locker and use the whole thing.
If the disassembled third came with its factory pinion shim, you should be set.
The R&P that came with it are thrashed, broken teeth etc. Looks like the guy had welded the spider gears and it came apart. Pretty much just bought it for the housing so now it's useless to me.
So, saving time on the gear swap is out, what about your existing third member? What gear ratio is it?
If I knew then what I know now (I had stock 4.88 gears in my 4runner) I would have just bought a complete third with the air locker and gears already installed w/warrantee because I was re-gearing and adding an air locker and I couldn't re-use my housing, but I think you are past that point already.
My truck is a 4 cylinder and I think it has a stock 3rd member but I'm not 100%. Maybe I'll get lucky and somebody swapped a V6 in there at some point. Yeah counting the tools I bought to build it I'm not even saving money doing it myself and way more time than buying a complete unit. I think it comes from being a machinist, I just like tinkering on stuff like this and seeing hands on how it all goes together
So I ended up getting a new housing from Marlin Crawler and after some distractions I'm back on track. I've got some gear patterns and thought I'd try and get some input. The first picture is with a .08" shim stack and I thought it looked like the pinion was too shallow. I went to a .0865" shim stack and I think it still looks a bit shallow but I'm not 100%. The last three pics show this setup, any thoughts?
You said you are adding shims, but when you are too shallow like that, you need to remove shims to push the pinion deeper up into the ring gear. Did you set your backlash as well?
EDIT: I said remove shims, but I'm not thinking too good. I think you are right, add shims to space the pinion head up. I ended up using about .074 shim stack, backlash set to .008.
And as Co_94 said, www.gearinstalls.com has TONS of pictures. And BTW, good job, gear installs are tough, lots and lots of little steps.
Went to a .091" shim stack and I think it looks pretty good. Looks a little closer to the flank side than the face but I read on gearinstalls.com that this is desirable. I know there's plenty of reference pics out there but since this is my first setup somebody confirming my work would make me feel more confident, and potentially save me from a costly mistake.
So I ended up getting a new housing from Marlin Crawler and after some distractions I'm back on track. I've got some gear patterns and thought I'd try and get some input. The first picture is with a .08" shim stack and I thought it looked like the pinion was too shallow. I went to a .0865" shim stack and I think it still looks a bit shallow but I'm not 100%. The last three pics show this setup, any thoughts?
The .0865 patterns are the best you're gonna see with that gear set.The depth is perfect.
Ken (ZUK)
I had got some positive feedback from other sources on the .091" setup so I went ahead with the final assembly. Considering your reputation I'll take your word for it. I haven't installed the 3rd member yet so redoing it isn't out of the question but I'd rather not unless absolutely necessary. Is the .091" setup gonna give me problems down the road or is it close enough, just not "perfect".
03-06-2018, 07:32 PM
