Differential Bearing Cap Install Advice

BlueC

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I'm looking for experienced advice. I'm installing my locker today and noticed the previous gear installer marked my bearing caps and housing with a "G", with the correct orientation indicating the passenger side, and "G" being rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise on the driver side housing. The driver side bearing cap is marked with a rotated "G", but it is rotated 180 from the housing. When reinstalling, should I put it back as-is, or rotate the cap to match the marking on the housing? I haven't noticed any issues as is, so it may not matter, but I just want to be sure when installing new bearings.

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I would put it back as is. The large boss on the cap is facing inward. I think he just mismarked. One is vertical the other horizontal so that tell you which side.
 
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What about the bearing races?
How critical is it if the races get mixed up when pulling diff and not replacing bearings?
Hypothetically, of course. ;)
 
I'm looking for experienced advice. I'm installing my locker today and noticed the previous gear installer marked my bearing caps and housing with a "G", with the correct orientation indicating the passenger side, and "G" being rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise on the driver side housing. The driver side bearing cap is marked with a rotated "G", but it is rotated 180 from the housing. When reinstalling, should I put it back as-is, or rotate the cap to match the marking on the housing? I haven't noticed any issues as is, so it may not matter, but I just want to be sure when installing new bearings.

View attachment 393839

If you are pulling the carrier, install the caps as they currently are and then feel how the line bored edges line up. That will tell you how they go.
 
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I HIGHLY doubt that the previous gear installer marked the caps using letters. They come from the factory that way a lot of the time. My advice is that the left cap needs to be flipped so the letters match orientation.

You can also look at the caps and bearing seat and you'll notice machining marks that will line up with each other if it's oriented correctly.