Here's the deal...I have a 3.42 10 bolt rear with an open diff. If I just change out the carrier to the SLP posi, do I have to have the gears set up again or will I be OK?

I know I SHOULD, but I'm just curious.

Thanks...Ed

 

No, it is not necessary.

The thing you're actually "setting up" when you do gears, is the housing. Gears, carriers, and axles are quite precision-made, usually within .002". Housings on the other hand are all over the place. So even though you put the shims on or near the moving parts, they're not the thing that requires custom fitting.

The pinion gear does not move in the housing, or otherwise get disturbed, so its depth does not need to be reset.

Carriers can be swapped about 90% of the time with re-using the existing shims. You can buy a shim kit from Ratech or wherever if you want to be certain of not running into trouble.

http://www.drivetrainspecialists.com...=28&cat=GM+7.5

 

I was told by SLP that is was necessary to have the gear reset up when you installed one of there posi units. I ask why and they said because it came out of a newer camaro and no rearend housing spec the same. I would have someone install the posi unit and check everything just be on the safe side.

 

if all you do is swap the carriers you don't have to reset anything, just get the correct back lashand contact pattern on the ring gear

 

They're going to tell you that, for CYA purposes. You know, what if they told you that you could just plop it in and drive off, and something went wrong.... we all know the liability drill these days. It's the old "if you have to ask, we're going to tell you what we want you to hear".

Carrier shims are what is used to set the backlash that ede spoke of, they move the ring toward or away from the pinion, which is the only measurement you would be taking a risk of changing by replacing the carrier. Since you won't be disturbing the pinion, its setup won't change no matter what.

 

Thanks fellas...that's just what I wanted to hear.

Ed