Could use a little gear pattern help

[MindtheDark]

Ok everyone, let's see who can help me solve this one. 2000 Wrangler TJ, Dana 44 rear differential. Brand new everything (Truetrac, Ring/Pinion, Yoke, etc). Currently on prelim setup (using dummy bearings and dummy inner pinion race). Tried using previous carrier shim thicknesses on both sides and was impossibly tight. Currently have .0175 shim on each side of carrier. Carrier is pretty snug can probably fit up to another .0075 during final fitting.

Preload on pinion is 15 inch pounds (prior to carrier install), specs range is 14-19.

Backlash is .007, specs range .006-.010.

Pinion inner shim is .042 (suggested starting from Revolution Gears)

It seems like my drive pattern is telling me my pinion depth is good and I should increase my backlash a bit.

But then when I start looking at the coast side, looks pretty much on target.

To my limited knowledge the drive and coast should be matching. I shouldn't have one side noticeably deeper into the gear than the other side.

Questions:

Does the mismatched contact points mean something is dangerously off? (Ring and Pinion numbers matched up.)

If I'm not totally screwed on a bad part somewhere, should I concentrate mostly on getting the drive side pattern best I can?

 

[Rob5589]

Set up primarily on the drive side.

I would add .005 to depth, open bl to .010 and check again.

 

[MindtheDark]

Set up primarily on the drive side.

I would add .005 to depth, open bl to .010 and check again.

Appreciate that one sir. With my drive side showing that the pinion is landing more towards the toe edge, wouldn't that mean I should move the pinion farther from the ring gear so that it lands more towards the heel? Or with taking backlash to .010 in combination to adding .005 worth of shims to the inner pinion bearing race play off each to create the balance?

 

[Rob5589]

Don't worry about the toe and heel relation. Try the recommendation and see how it looks.

 

[MindtheDark]

Don't worry about the toe and heel relation. Try the recommendation and see how it looks.

Reducing the pinion depth (moving towards the ring) from .042 to .047 did the trick. Thanks again man. Saved me from having to remove and re-press the pinion bearing at least. Can't say the same for the #@$%& differential though. Almost as if using dummy bearings on the 44 carrier didn't mean Shite. 3 removals and presses later, top end of backlash but perfect pattern. Calling it good for what this jeep is. On to the boats now.....

 

[Rob5589]

Happy to help

 

[Alex0413]

Set up primarily on the drive side.

I would add .005 to depth, open bl to .010 and check again.

This advice was money. When your pattern looks good like this but your drive and coast side aren't lined up, you still have a small pinion adjustment to make. Where you see the pattern at the top of the tooth goes flat, indicated that the pinion was too far away (slightly) from the RG. Glad to see you took Rob's advice and he got you to perfection!