After looking at my motive 3.42's today I realized they have no backlash stamped on them. The pinion depth is there, but no backlash. Why is this? Do other gear manufacturers have specific backlashes stamped into each gear set?

 

i sure thought all gear sets had the pinion depth and back lash engraved into them. they are matched sets and each is unique. short of having the backlask engraved on the gear i'd shoot for .005 to .008

 

No
backlash is based on the design of the gear/rear and it's planned use. Not who machined it. Since your dealing with a stock rear, it doesn't matter who made the gear.

Pinion depth is dependent on who cut the gear. Literally. That's why it's stamped.

 

I'll have to look again, but i'm almost positive that they don't. In the instructions it says .008, but it's not stamped on anywhere. The pinion depth is right on the face of the pinion, but I see no backlash anywhere on the ring or the pinion.

 

So no manufacturers stamp a specific backlash into their gear sets? Like say I was to order a set of richmonds or strange they wouldn't have it either?

 

For a new gear and bearings, .008 is a lot.
I'm not familiar with the smaller stuff. But the sheet that came with my 8.5 gears said 6-8 too. The shop I bought them from said sure, that will work. But they'll wear out sooner. Problem is, as the bearings wear, the back lash opens up. So if you start at .008... You might try 4-6. Ask a shop that specializes in rear ends. Not a 4x4 shop unless they are very well known and do lots of gears.

 

what brand gears did you buy for your 8.5?