Pinion depth and shims...12 bolt question
 

Taking out a Richmond 5.00 gear and putting in a used US Gear 4.88......the US gear pinion depth has been done away with by a previous owner so I am playing with trial and error even more than usual.....if I hold the same pinion depth as the Richmond gear that came out I will have to add .090 worth of shims.....is that considered an unusual large amount of shims to any of you 12 bolt experts ??? (The pinion head of the Richmond gear is that much thicker......concerns me where to start...... I always read about starting at .035)

Re: Pinion depth and shims...12 bolt question
 

Yeah, 0.090" of shim is a ton. I'd start with 0.035", and about 0.010" of backlash, and go from there.

Re: Pinion depth and shims...12 bolt question
 

I did 2 sets last week .030 .038. gave up on pinion depth setters years ago. ---Trevor PS it's not a 3 series gear going on a 4 series carrier?

Re: Pinion depth and shims...12 bolt question
 

+1 Pattern, pattern, pattern. That's what it's all about.

Re: Pinion depth and shims...12 bolt question
 

In my experiences of setting up rear ends,a 3 series gear set on either a 12 bolt or an 8 1/2" 10 bolt, an.030" pinion shim is usually about perfect. For a 4.11 to a 4.88,use either a.031-.032' shim, and with gears in the 5's or a 6.14, use a .033 shim The small pinions need to be set a little deeper in order to achieve a pattern centered on the ring gear. I probably have set up an honest 100 rear ends in my life.12 bolts are pretty consistant in what shim to use.

Re: Pinion depth and shims...12 bolt question
 

thanks for all the replies, I'm trying to read the paint on the ring gear but that is a little more challenging than I anticipated. All the preloads are perfect, just the mesh torments me......may just put it together and run it !!!!!!!!!!!!! ahahahaahahahah

Re: Pinion depth and shims...12 bolt question
 

Do you guys get the click-click-click-click-click-click from your 12-bolt rear end gears after a few transbrake launches? I have a 8.8 that still has the right gear pattern (and no cracks or visual anomolies), but makes a clicking noise when I spin the tire. The noise started after about ten, 7000 rpm launches......

Re: Pinion depth and shims...12 bolt question
 

I agree with Glen, Pattern in the key. I assume these are pro gears? .028 to .031 to start, look at the pattern on drive side. I like to be a slight heavy on the toe side to accomidate tooth deflection. Like about .008 on back lash on new set with good runout on spool. If runout is more than .003 you will need to open the backlash up so that you get no tooth binding. This works for me and I will get 200 to 250 passes out of a gear set then cycle them out. Hope this helps.

Dirk Olson
5036 B/S

Re: Pinion depth and shims...12 bolt question
 

Getting the pattern you want on a used set, especially without dimensions, can be difficult. Remember that the settings are the opinion of the guy who ran the Gleason machine on that set of gears. Also, you likely will not easily get the pattern you'd get on a set of Richmond race gears on that U.S. Gear set. It may be near impossible.

Re: Pinion depth and shims...12 bolt question
 

That is really interesting....would anyone let me text the pictures of the pattern to them for an opinion ??? Phone number ???

Re: Pinion depth and shims...12 bolt question
 

Alan, is right you will never get a good pattern on a used set. You can shoot for the moon but be prepared to have a less than ideal pattern.

Dirk

Re: Pinion depth and shims...12 bolt question
 

Rusty, just set up a free account at photobucket, and post your pics here. I really can't see pics on my phone well enough to see a pattern.

Re: Pinion depth and shims...12 bolt question
 

x2

Re: Pinion depth and shims...12 bolt question
 

what do you guys mean by "run out" on the spool ????

Re: Pinion depth and shims...12 bolt question
 

Run out on the spool , gear not seated flat against the spool . Backlash will vary as the teeth move closer . ---Trevor

Re: Pinion depth and shims...12 bolt question
 

Rusty, what you'd need to do, is take the gear off of the spool, put the spool back in the housing under a little pre-load, and use your dial indicator to check for any "wobble" on the face of the spool where the ring gear mounts. You don't want to see more than about 0.002", and of course less is better. Sometimes at 0.004", it gets really difficult to set a gear up.

This is usually not a problem. If your backlash does not vary more than 0.002" when checked at 4 to 8 places, 90 or 45 degrees apart, then runout is not likely to be a problem. I find this to be a problem in maybe 1-2 out of 30-50 spools or carriers. If it is a problem, you can often rotate the gear on the spool either 90 or 45 degrees, and solve enough of it to be able to proceed.

Re: Pinion depth and shims...12 bolt question
 

What need to do is check the spool in the case, caps torqued, no ring gear. Take a dial indicator and set it so that you are measuring the surface the ring gear mates to the surface the ring gear is bolted to, rotate the spool, any movement off .ooo is your runout.

Dirk

Re: Pinion depth and shims...12 bolt question
 

Geeeeeeeessssssss.....you guys are the greatest....thanks for helping an old man. IF I WAS DOING THIS BY THE HOUR THE CUSTOMER WOULD HAVE TO GET A HOME EQUITY LOAN !!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAH Actually it has been really interesting and I am so thankful for you guys helping me along with some others, plus I am not in a hurry. When my patience starts giving out I just cut the lights out for a few days and come back later. Thanks again all of you. Keep the info coming. This website is really a good thing.

Re: Pinion depth and shims...12 bolt question
 

Rusty,
Glad to help. If you need to send pictures you can send them to my email address and I'll be glad to take a look. By the way, I might be interested if the 5.00 gear is for sale.

Re: Pinion depth and shims...12 bolt question
 

+1 Very important to check , if this is off forget about getting consistent backlash and pattern. Also check runout on ring gear after checking spool runout. That is with ring gear mounted on spool torque to the correct specs.

Re: Pinion depth and shims...12 bolt question
 

[QUOTE=Alan Roehrich;306740]Rusty,
Glad to help. If you need to send pictures you can send them to my email address and I'll be glad to take a look. By the way, I might be interested if the 5.00 gear is for sale.

GREAT IDEA----WOULD LOVE TO SELL THAT GEAR--- It has one race on it, just turns my car too much in a quarter. I would sell it or trade it for a 4.88 Richmond pro gear. Make an offer or come up with a trade??? Got this thing new from Bruce Nolan on the west coast last year. You guys have got me a little leary of the US Gear. Call me anytime, we will work out something if anyone wants it. Text or leave a message 252-883-7395.

Re: Pinion depth and shims...12 bolt question
 

I've done rears since '77. That is a ton of shim.I've never used more than .039" ever on a 12 bolt . In ' 85 alone I did 54 12 bolts just for the local speed shop near Englishtown Raceway Park ,Both street and race .You can send me pics at johnmazio.@gmail.com .I can see them on my phone too . I'll send one of my perfect patterns

Re: Pinion depth and shims...12 bolt question
 

[QUOTE=Rusty Davenport;306746]My email address......rusty.davenport@nashcountync.gov....a nytime