Do I need a case spreader?

[biggrigg49]

I have a 04 with a leaky ARB locker in a 44. I have already pulled the locker out and changed the bonded seal and O-rings. Everything has gone smooth but I am having trouble getting it back into the rear end. It was tight coming out which worried me. Do I have to break down and buy a case spreader or is there a trick to getting it back in? Thanks for any ideas.

 

[tworley]

You kept the shims in the same exact place/side when putting it back in, correct? Deadblow hammer helps. Just be careful not to bend any shims you have.

 

[biggrigg49]

I have the shims in exact same place. I just can't get it back in. I will mess with it some more and see what happens. Thanks for any help.

 

[tworley]

Take your time. I've had my ARB locker out a handful of times and we've never used a case spreader. A few whacks with the deadblow hammer on the ring gear and then some gentle taps near the carrier bearings has always been enough to seat it (again, just careful of the thinner shims because they can catch and not seat correctly causing them to bend).

 

[Gilaguy23]

Stick it in the freezer for a couple hours. A few Th can make a big diff in a reinstall.

 

[BugoutJeep]

You certainly don't have to use a case spreader, but if you have any really thin shims it's a bit tougher to not mess up a shim. I had tiny shims on mine and every single time without a spreader or freezing (which I didn't try), I messed up the small shims and couldn't tell until I confirmed backlash in multiple locations on the gear.

 

[biggrigg49]

I am going to try again tomorrow. I do have several thin shims that are a PIA. I got it in one time but didn't like the way the shims looked so I pulled it out again. I do have some waves in one of the thin shims from that but no kinks. Can someone direct me to a video so I can see if I am doing something wrong. I thought this would be the easy part. Thanks for all of the help.

 

[Alex01]

I need a case spreader because the guy who installed my gears used shims the thickness of a human hair on both sides so it is impossible to get in without bending. Before the regear though I was able to use a dead blow hammer to get them into place.

 

[biggrigg49]

I need a case spreader because the guy who installed my gears used shims the thickness of a human hair on both sides so it is impossible to get in without bending.

We must have had the same installer.

Stick it in the freezer for a couple hours. A few Th can make a big diff in a reinstall.

Thanks. I just put it in there.

 

[rasband]

I am going to try again tomorrow. I do have several thin shims that are a PIA. I got it in one time but didn't like the way the shims looked so I pulled it out again. I do have some waves in one of the thin shims from that but no kinks. Can someone direct me to a video so I can see if I am doing something wrong. I thought this would be the easy part. Thanks for all of the help.

About 48 minutes in

 

[Jerry Bransford]

As above no spreader is needed, just use a wooden or plastic mallet/dead-blow hammer.

 

[biggrigg49]

Thanks rasband. I like BFH Garage. I used his video to replace the bonded seal. That is what I am doing but mine is much tighter and my shims are really thin with 4 on one side and 5 on the other. I'll try again in the morning. Wish me luck.

 

[rasband]

Thanks rasband. I like BFH Garage. I used his video to replace the bonded seal. That is what I am doing but mine is much tighter and my shims are really thin with 4 on one side and 5 on the other. I'll try again in the morning. Wish me luck.

I think my outer shim (my rig in that video) was 3thou. We bent a few.

 

[Ditchdoc]

If you're doing it right you'll need to spread it. I used 2 flat stock and ratchet binders like you see on trucks.

 

[hosejockey61]

Putting the entire locker, seal housing and shims in the freezer will make it easier for sure since metal shrinks when cold and expands when hot. You don't need a spreader. The shims on the seal housing side should be sandwiched between the seal housing and race of the bearing. The right side is the tougher one. Lining it up is the hardest part. And if you have the notches for oil drainage then that makes it tougher yet. Throw it in the freezer and see if that helps.

 

[hosejockey61]

If you're doing it right you'll need to spread it. I used 2 flat stock and ratchet binders like you see on trucks.

You realize that if you spread your case, it's only a max of 15 thou that you can spread it. Ratchet binders is not a good idea at all as you will overspread the case.

 

[Alex01]

Putting the entire locker, seal housing and shims in the freezer will make it easier for sure since metal shrinks when cold and expands when hot. You don't need a spreader. The shims on the seal housing side should be sandwiched between the seal housing and race of the bearing. The right side is the tougher one. Lining it up is the hardest part. And if you have the notches for oil drainage then that makes it tougher yet. Throw it in the freezer and see if that helps.

I'm going to have to try that next time. Should be a fun conversation when the wife sees the pumpkin in the freezer.

 

[hosejockey61]

I think my outer shim (my rig in that video) was 3thou. We bent a few.

We did?

 

[hosejockey61]

I'm going to have to try that next time. Should be a fun conversation when the wife sees the pumpkin in the freezer.

Wait til she sees you put the ring gear in the oven!

 

[Jezza]

An old man a long time ago taught me to aim for a preload of 5-7 in/lb per bearing. The only way I have ever been able to obtain that spec on the carrier was to use a case spreader.