we set the backlash and all that crap. not with a dial gauge or anything, but just by feel. i did it with a technician from the shop i work at. we left just a little bit of play between the pinion and ring.

now when i drive it i have a whining. it's bad when off the throttle, not so bad when on the throttle, and i can make it completly quiet when i coast just perfectly.

could it be because of the backlash or what?

 

oh, i used Royal Purple diff fluid.

 

what did the pattern look like? there is a lot more to setting up a diff than just setting the backlash, a properly set up gear set will not make any noise, i would highly recommend that you dont drive anymore on those gears until you get them set up properly, hopefully you haven't damaged them, good luck

 

i only drove 3 miles. the pattern on the gears looked like it was sweeping across the whole face of the gear on both sides. the diff got pretty hot in those 3 miles. what should i do?

 

you could try resetting the backlash with a dial indicator, you cannot feel .006" by "hand" setting up gears is not easy, and it only takes a few thousandths between them making noise and them being quiet, i would recommend taking them to a place that does this, if you cant afford this, here are some web sites that helped me when i set up mine:

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/tech/gear_setup/
http://www.drivetrain.com/ringpinioninstal.html

 

would whining mean too much backlash or too little?

 

I quit reading right here. Go back and do the job right, you cannot "feel" .007 of an inch. Especially when checking it at different spots on the ring gear, you would never distinguish any difference, even if they were WAY off. What did you set the pinion preload too, did you put the spacer back in behind the pinion bearing, how was the pattern, new bearings or used?

Pull the 3rd out, check the pattern, pinion preload, and set backlash with the proper dial indicator.

 

you might think about sending it my way

 

Just send it to ZUK. He'll get it setup right so it doesn't make any noise.

 

i took it to some shop. well, a recommended shop. they said the pinion was too shallow.

 

Update:: I've been talking with Jay for a couple rounds of phone calls and I can't seem to help him over the phone with the pattern so he's sending it to me in the morn. I'm gonna go over it 100% and fix it so he will never break it and it will be quiet. ZUK

ps---will probably add it to my webpage.

 

Zuk, er, Ken, haha, you are the man. thanks for helping me on the phone so much. the gears will be in the mail tomorrow morning.

 

You're welcome, Jay The operation was a success! Pattern looks nice per pics I sent you. The gears will run quiet and you won't break them....you will bust your axels before these gears. Sending them Friday morning to you....should get them Wed or Thurs.
You will notice the pinion seems to turn pretty snug....and the ring gear is snug also. This is a pro set-up. This gives you excellent strength. Use the Royal Purple and take it easy for a couple hundred miles and there ya go. I would have preferred to do the solid collar in the rear but I understand when on a budget, we do what we must so crush sleeve it was.

By the way, nice job you did of double boxing it and bubble wrapping and popcorn Sent it back to you in the same basic box.

Below are the specs I set your 488 3rd to....ZUK

pinion pre-load 10 in/lb
carrier bearing pre-load 100 ft/lb
backlash .008"
pinion shim=.238"

 

tick tock.....should get the package Thursday.....

 

package arrived on TUESDAY my mom said. i was suprised. tomorrow when i go home it gets installed.

 

Jay-- you're taking too long....it's already 610 in the morning. Royal Purple......

 

taking too long??? i only go home every 2 weekends.

 

also the lower the gear (high number numerically) the more inherent gear noise there will be

it is inherent in the design

even when set up correct....4:88s will have a noticeble tone difference say over 3:08s

good way to see what I mean, throw your truck in 4 high and drive it, then in 4 low

you can notice, more gear whine, and it is not only the rpm.

 

.....my Runner with 571 is quiet at all speeds. The driveshaft thinks I'm going 100mph sometimes and if the DS is out of balance it will be more noticable with high numeric numbers....I can see where you might come to that conclusion due to all the poor installs out there.

 

Well set gears are quiet.

Numerically lower gears run hotter because the pinion spins more.

Who would have thought you needed experience and tools to set gears.