I've got an '88 4runner with a 4-cyl third. I have read a couple posts on here and on Pirate where guys are having to remove the ring gear to get the cross pin out? I am really hoping they are talking about the 6 cyl diffs. I plan to tear into it this weekend, just trying to get a heads up. This will be the first time I have wrenched on a third and I was hoping that I wouldn't have to deal with setting backlash, coast and all that. I don't have the pullers, shims etc.


If I have to remove the ring gear, what does that require? A press with special tooling? Will the backlash need to be re-set? Lots of posts say that installing the Spartan is a piece of cake, driveway install, please tell me that this is true.


Anybody have any experience installing the Spartan in a 4cyl 8"? I'm heading back to Zuk's site to look at install pics.....again!

 

Simply pulling the ring gear off the carrier does not necessitate a new setup of the gears.
Pull it off, install the locker, put ring gear pack on. Make sure to use red locktight on the 12 ring gear bolts.

 

You can see in my build thread..somewhere around page 20 or 25 or something where I did my locker install. The big thing is to make sure you count the turns when removing the carrier bearings so you can get them back on correctly and don't mix them up left to right...
Check out zuk's site gearinstals.com .. I am sure you can find a write up there too...

 

Thanks Scuba, exactly what I was hoping.


Thanks for the advice Dropzone. I'm a little confused about counting the turns though?


I've been on Zuk's Site all morning, then I got lost in your build thread. That '81 is a sweet man! I took in page 15-30 but didn't see much about the third internals though. I gotta be careful going thru those build threads. Next thing I know, the credit card is maxed out and no Christmas presents!


Really nice '81. I would have cried when you smashed your door on can opener.

 

Dropzone is talking about the threaded adjusting wheels. These set your carrier bearing preload as well as adjusting to the correct backlash. Remember to mark your bearing caps so that you put them back on the same side you took it off from. Very important. Keep looking through Zuk's site. All this info for dis-assembly and re-assembly is in there.

Good Luck

 

Roger that on the carrier bearing preload.

Ditch the side gear shims unless they are needed to achieve the proper .145 - .170 gap between the driivers, right?

these instructions are tons better than the generic garbage that comes with the Spartan -

 

on the Aussie locker the shims were still needed...

 

It all depends on how thick the ring gear is.....

 

Just to confirm, I removed the side gear shims and was in tolerance (0.145" - 0.170") for the Spartan.



In addition to Dave's instructions, I also put a very lightly coating of grease on the pins and springs. Like ZUK recommends, I put a bit of bearing retaining compound on the carrier bearings too, they fit pretty good, but one had a couple thou. clearance.

I couldn't find my blue Loctite for the ring gear bolts, so the rest will have to wait til tomorrow.



Thanks for the help guys. That was really a piece of cake. My carrier bearing tensioners were both at 4.5 turns and the bearings, gear teeth, and pinion seal all looked great! I'll try to coax a few more clicks out of the tensioners to make the bearings nice and happy.