HP Dana 30 Gear Pattern Check

CupOfJoe190

CupOfJoe190

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Here we go; yet another gear pattern check.

Axle is a HP Dana 30; getting an ARB Locker and Revolution 4.88 gears.

Pattern - .080 Pinion Shims; .0011 Backlash (I feel like this is the best pattern; but included the others to show how I got here.)
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Pattern - .070 Pinion Shims; .0012 Backlash
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Pattern - .075 Pinion Shims; .0012 Backlash
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Pattern - .065 Pinion Shims; .0011 Backlash
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Pattern - .0110 Pinion Shims; .009 Backlash
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Pattern: .095 Pinion Depth; .009 Backlash
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Another pattern;

Pinion .085"; Backlash .0075" - This looks too deep to me; I've lost the defining edge at the face on the drive side.

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Ok; a few more patterns at .080 pinion depth;

first up is backlash at .0010";
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followed by backlash at .008" - I think this is the winner.
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Your "winner" is not even close.

What was the original shim stack that came out of it? Most HP30's I've done usually have a starting stack around .057ish.
 
after a nights sleep; I think I now see what @horsejockey61 is saying about that pattern not even being close; it appears too deep still, with a harsh line towards the flank and too much paint between the pattern and toe. I'm going to start pulling ~.050 pinion depth from .080 and see how it cleans up.
 
First pattern of the day;

Specs: Pinion Depth .0740 (includes .0300 oil slinger pressed on pinion in front of bearing)
Backlash: 0.0050

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I included a pinion paint picture as well, I watched Mike's video on reading patterns and felt that was a good metric I could use to help gauge what I need to look for. In looking at all these; I think this indicates i'm still a bit deep.
 
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Next pattern:
Pinion Depth: .0690 (includes .0300" oil slinger)
Backlash: .0060
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Maybe I'm wrong but this still seems too deep by a bit; the pattern is moving towards the face; but the hard line on the flank side is still pronounced.
 
Pulled .0030 out of the pinion depth to see what that did for me; I think I'm getting to the point that the depth looks right and the pattern is cleaning up. Pattern seems to have a slight curve on both the flank and face contact sides; and the coast pattern is also showing the same with the bottom edge showing some curve now too. The pinion pattern looks much more centered as well; with a slight possible bias towards the shallow end of things. I dont love that it seems my drive side is starting to bias towards the heel; but my understanding is that thats ok; if I wanted to move the pattern more towards the toe I add more backlash? But I'm already inching towards the upper limit of what revolution gear says to set backlash at.

Pinion Depth: .0660
Backlash: .0080 - .0085
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Unless someone says I'm an idiot again here; I think this might be where I want to be.

Joe
 
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A fun heads up for anyone following along...

1 - Revolution gear includes 6 pinion preload shims. 3 that mic'd at .023" and 3 at .012"..... which means I had to get creative to get my pinion preload dialed in. Thankfully the shims that came out of the old pinion were usable, and between those, and some sandpaper and glass, I was able to get my preload dialed in.

2 - Revolution up-charges for Timken bearings.... then sends you a surprise Koyo bearing for the pinion... meaning, my setup race (Timken) was off by a smidge.... Thankfully, when I got my backlash back in spec I was actually pretty identical to the final pic, with a thin line of paint left at the face of the gear... but it could've been a nightmare. Check your bearings first if you use Revolution.... I'm kind of annoyed with them at this point in the game as that could've been a disaster.
 
If it had caused me an issue in final setup I'd have likely pressed the issue; but when the pattern rolled out fine still, I decided to leave it be and pick my fights; especially considering that I still the rear Dana 44 gears to install.
 
And to be clear, Koyo bearings are good bearings. I use them all the time. It's just that they upcharged you for something you didn't get.
 
Ok; I'm once again asking for input; this time on the rear dana 44 in my LJ.

The carrier was pretty loose when I tore it down, came out in my hand and almost loose to the point of falling out when I pulled the caps. It has master shims on the far outboard side; .135" thick on the pass side; .116" thick on the driver side.

I clearance the driver side for the ARB air line.

Pinion depth was set at .0495 on the existing pinion (shimmed between pinion and bearing)

I started with the same, but shimmed between the front pinion race and housing.

I tried just the master shims and the ARB master shims, plus the housing, but my backlash was around .0015" and the fit seemed a hair loose.

I added .0100 to the driver side (well; i tried .0125 and could not, for over half an hour, get it to fit in the housing with that much preload).

The pattern below is the result of just a .0010 on the driver side; the fit is TIGHT. It took a good bit of coaxing to get the housing in place; but my backlash landed right at .0080" which makes me happy.

I think its just my desire to be done; but I think this pattern looks good, if not a touch deep?

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