big gear head

Yes, you must remember that the ring gear bolts in the 7.5 are left hand thread.

Irockthedrag

I knew I had to add extra shim, just wasn't sure how much, I hadn't looked into it yet. I've tried hitting it both ways with the impact. I'm gonna put it in the vise and get at it with a breaker bar in a few.

Irockthedrag

Haven't had a chance to get it with the breaker bar yet, but the impact went nowhere. Also I'm changing the carrier bearings without a puller so it's a sonofa. I hate living in the woods with no shops stores or tool rentals within a minimum of 45 min drive...

rusty vango

yeah, I get that. when one lives outside the city ,it takes a certain amount of "creativity" to accomplish things.

Irockthedrag

Yeah it's not exactly the greatest thing in the world,but it has it's perks. Ring gear bolts are now out, bearings are off, everything is ready to go. Tomorrow after work I'm going up to the garage I used to work at to have them press the bearings on, and if it's not too late I'll finish all the assembly.

Irockthedrag

We'll I had thought I had completed this project, but I just pulled the camaro out of the garage and it was lurching and clunking. I moved it less then 500 feet so I don't think there's any damage, but I have no idea what the problem is. I'm pulling the cover again tomorrow, but if anyone could give me some insight I'd greatly appreciate it.

big gear head

How did you set the backlash?

Irockthedrag

I followed your instructions on this thread: http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19773

Irockthedrag

I think there was something wrong with my caliper or dial indicator. I don't have a digital and I'm starting to think one or both was giving me incorrect readings. The only way to tell is a gear pattern I suppose. I'm going to go get more compound now, when I run the pattern I'll post pictures.

big gear head

Did you change the gears or just the differential?

Irockthedrag

Only the differential. I beleive my caliper is faulty. It only getting contact on the outside of the ring gear, shims need moved to the left. I removed the differential and I'm getting a new caliper tomorrow after work. Going to build new shim packs and start from scratch. I'll be posting my patterns after I get the new shims installed. I got lucky and the gears aren't too bad, but you can see where it skipped teeth a couple times. If I would have went any farther with the car I'd be looking for a new gear set.

Formula 305

Post pictures. If there is any visible damage to the gears now it could lead to trouble down the road. You don't want to do all this a third time.

Irockthedrag

Well, I just found out I have a series 2 carrier as it had originally came with 2.73 gears and my gears are series 3. Guess I'm going to have to use a spacer. I know many of you advise against it but I'm already a few hundred into this rear end and I don't plan on it being in the car for more then a year.

Irockthedrag

Double post.

rusty vango

I would hit up "big gear head" for advice on how to proceed. or look at this way the money you drop into this axle could be better spent elsewhere.

Irockthedrag

Yeah I ordered a spacer from moser so I can use my current gear set. I already know his thoughts on spacers from a few posts on nastyz28.. "The only way to properly install a spacer is to not do it." I just figured with as many people I've seen that has had success with them and the minimal amount of time it will spend in my car that it will be fine. This is a summer only car and next year I'm putting either a 12 bolt or 9 inch in it so it'll only see 4 to 6 months drive time with this setup.

big gear head

Some rear ends can handle the spacer better than others. The 7.5 GM rear end is one of the worst. The spacer will make the ring gear float on the differential with no way of centering it.

Irockthedrag

It will be in the car for as little time as possible.. Trust me. Anyhow big gear head, I was looking at 9 inch and 12 bolt rears from moser and the 12 bolt seems to be more expensive then the 9 inch? Also what brake set up do you recommend? I was hoping to get something that comes with a parking brake set up, mine doesn't work in the first place.

big gear head

Moser sells a Wilwood kit that has a parking brake. It's pretty expensive. I think they also sell an economy brake kit that has a parking brake. You can use the 4th gen PBR brakes too if you order the rear end correctly.

Did you price the 12 bolt and the 9 inch with complete chunks in them?

Irockthedrag

Just went through their built to order housing and axle packages and filled out all the proper info. Each rear was around 2500, the 12 bolt being a couple hundred more. Albeit that was with the better wilwood brake system.