Dana 44 with ARB gear pattern question

Steelyace

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I know there is a thread about pattern started for a Dana 35 but I didn't want to hijack that thread.

I am installing 5.13s into my Dana 44 and changing to an ARB at the same time. I originally had my pinion depth set out .052 and I was too shallow so I moved it out and it is currently spaced out .059 and my backlash is at 6. I have the ARB master shims installed and the factory Dana master shims install, with these it is nice and tight but I don't have any room for adjustment. With all that said this is what my pattern currently looks like. I feel like the pinion depth is correct but wondering about how deep it is meshing. I thinking a deeper mesh would be good but if I did that, first off do I do away with the master shims? And second, than my backlash would be too tight?

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Your pinion depth is just a tiny bit deep. I would also try to get the backlash above .006 if you can find a shim combination that will get it.
 
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Your pinion depth is just a tiny bit deep. I would also try to get the backlash above .006 if you can find a shim combination that will get it.

I was afraid that might be the case. I might have to order some shims to get it dialed in a little better, and maybe that will help my backlash as well.
 
I was afraid that might be the case. I might have to order some shims to get it dialed in a little better, and maybe that will help my backlash as well.

Yeah, you're maybe 3 thou deep at the most. When you go deeper, the BL will tighten up, and shallower and it will loosen up (with no change to carrier bearing shims).
 
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Definitely better. You might try .002 less shim on the pinion and see how that looks.
 
I think you're there. Looking at the drive side, the harsh line at the root might be indicative of being too deep (red circle). But you also lost the sliver of paint at the top. Looking at the ghost pattern on the non painted teeth (green circle) shows that it's there.

Looking at the coast side, it looks good at both points.

To be 100% sure, do like blackjack said and take a couple of thou out and see what it looks like. You made it this far, might as well settle for perfect!

Any shop would run what you currently have.

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Thank you gentleman for all your help. Honestly you guys have been great help, along with some stellar YouTube videos! I'll pull 2 more out and try it but for reference this is what it looked like with 4 out ( I'm at 55 total now and these photos are of 51) and this was my first pattern I ran and knew it was shit. And due to shim combination I would have to pull 3 more out. But I could get 1 out.

And perfections what I'm shooting for or as close as I can get to it!

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Okay I ran what I believe is going to be my last pattern. I took 1 thou out, and this is my result. All 4 of these images are the same pattern it's the painted set of teeth and the next set of teeth. I believe this one is a little better but what's the consensus?

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