Gear pattern check - Dana 35 with 4.10 gears

This is cued up to what you are looking for as far as thinning the paint and holding resistance to the ring gear...


Thanks Mike, I didn't watch that video because I was working with a Dana 35, but I'll check it out for the principles that apply to both.

Appreciate the help
 
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With my new abilities thanks to Mike's video, how does this look now? Backlash is at .008", pinion preload is 14 inch pounds, caps are torqued

PXL_20230207_221720187.PORTRAIT.jpg


PXL_20230207_221655334.PORTRAIT.jpg
 
Here it is with another 0.003 out from behind the pinion race. Backlash at 0.008", pinion preload is 15 inch/lbs

PXL_20230209_000305517.MP.jpg


PXL_20230209_000319437.jpg
 
Great, thanks for the help guys. I'm curious as a newbie at this, to me it seemed like that previous pattern before I took the 0.003" out had a little more paint at the top of the gear, and this pattern doesn't seem to have that. So in my mind, I was thinking I was too shallow now. But are you looking more at where the bottom of the pinion mark is on the gear tooth? Instead of how it finishes at the top?
 
Great, thanks for the help guys. I'm curious as a newbie at this, to me it seemed like that previous pattern before I took the 0.003" out had a little more paint at the top of the gear, and this pattern doesn't seem to have that. So in my mind, I was thinking I was too shallow now. But are you looking more at where the bottom of the pinion mark is on the gear tooth? Instead of how it finishes at the top?

man, I was thinking the same thing. When I see people asking for feedback on a pattern, I try to figure out what needs to happen to correct it. I'm getting better at it. But I really thought the pattern from post #23 looked better than this one. I was looking for that sharp line at the top, but there's no line at the top now.

Like I needed another data point that points to me not knowing what I'm doing, lol.
 
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I like to have paint at the top but your pattern is showing great tooth contact. You can try taking 1 or 2 thou out and at least look.

I'd want to put 0.001 or 0.002 back IN, wouldn't I Mike? That would push the pinion deeper on the gear tooth to see it if left some paint on the top edge?
 
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I'd want to put 0.001 or 0.002 back IN, wouldn't I Mike? That would push the pinion deeper on the gear tooth to see it if left some paint on the top edge?

I hate even replying here, because the risk of my adding misinformation is real...but at the same time maybe I can get educated. So having said that...removing pinion shims should also increase the backlash, which will bring the pattern off the top edge. OR SO I THINK. Reading the pattern is obviously the hardest part, and the pages I've found with example patterns never seem to cover the patterns I see here. Anxious to hear the thoughts of somebody knowledgable.
 
I hate even replying here, because the risk of my adding misinformation is real...but at the same time maybe I can get educated. So having said that...removing pinion shims should also increase the backlash, which will bring the pattern off the top edge. OR SO I THINK. Reading the pattern is obviously the hardest part, and the pages I've found with example patterns never seem to cover the patterns I see here. Anxious to hear the thoughts of somebody knowledgable.

I'm sorry I meant ADD....

Yep, I know nothing.
 
Yep, I know nothing.

I think if you are physically working with a gearset, you'd probably learn more easily. I've added and subtracted enough shims during this process that I've developed a pretty good sense of what changes what by now! 😁
 
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I think if you are physically working with a gearset, you'd probably learn more easily. I've added and subtracted enough shims during this process that I've developed a pretty good sense of what changes what by now! 😁

There's no substitute for hands on experience. Helping a dude tackle his gears this weekend. Neither of us have done it before, but this seems like the biggest challenge here is patience & ability to follow a process. THAT I can do. Although I'm praying we get a great pattern on the first try.
 
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I hate even replying here, because the risk of my adding misinformation is real...but at the same time maybe I can get educated. So having said that...removing pinion shims should also increase the backlash, which will bring the pattern off the top edge. OR SO I THINK. Reading the pattern is obviously the hardest part, and the pages I've found with example patterns never seem to cover the patterns I see here. Anxious to hear the thoughts of somebody knowledgable.

Adding pinion depth will decrease backlash and reducing pinion depth will increase backlash.... That is with no change to carrier bearing shims. I am going to make a video at some point on reading patterns.
 
There's no substitute for hands on experience. Helping a dude tackle his gears this weekend. Neither of us have done it before, but this seems like the biggest challenge here is patience & ability to follow a process. THAT I can do. Although I'm praying we get a great pattern on the first try.

Patience is a huge part of it. That and persistence to get it right.
 
There's no substitute for hands on experience. Helping a dude tackle his gears this weekend. Neither of us have done it before, but this seems like the biggest challenge here is patience & ability to follow a process. THAT I can do. Although I'm praying we get a great pattern on the first try.

I don't know how you are planning to do the work, but I am doing this with the axle off the vehicle. Makes it really easy to work on and flip the housing around to work on either side. Unless you have a lift, it sure beats being on the ground. I'm fortunate that I actually had an extra Dana 35, so I can do this at my leisure in relative comfort and get it right and not be rushed
 
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