onebad82z

iTrader: (7)

I purchased this tool around a year back thinking I would use it to freshen/rebuild the Moser 12 bolt rear in my Z this spring.I have set more than a few gear sets up before so I know the processes involved and I usually go by the tooth pattern with marking compound to figure out pinion depth.Well I wanted to set this one up to Richmond specs exactly so I purchased the Proform tool hoping to make this a one shot deal.I always use the honed head bearing on the pinion so swapping shims is easy..but how the he** do I set this tool up?Does anyone have experience with it?I know there are better tools out there for this process..but I have this one and it is paid for..so I need to make it work.The instructions included leave alot to be desired...they suck.I have done searches on the board finding members mentioning the tool..but no one seems to mention set up or use??Proform seems to be of no help either..emailed there Tech and the sent me a PDF of the same instructions.Please help!!I am hoping to finish this before the weekend is over.

SweetS10v8

I have the instructions, except Im visiting family in MI, and the info is in OH. Ill post it for ya, or email it to you wehn i get home on sunday afternoon

onebad82z

iTrader: (7)

No one else huh?I have the instructions that came with it..they just don't describe accurately enough the set up of the tool!

ede

never used one but from looking at pic in jegs catalog i'll guess. you need to bolt one of the straps to the cap surface and extend the indicator over or above the pinion. then use the differant length rods to measure pinion depth, etched on the pinion. you'd have to subtract the thickness of the palte fro mthe reading. the way i do it is i made a "tool", actually piece of .5x1 aluminum bar that bolts in place of the caps and i measure to the pinion with a 2-3 depth mic and subtract .5 for the thickness of the datum surface. all you need to do is measure the the CL of the rear to the pinion one way or another.

onebad82z

iTrader: (7)

http://search.netscape.com/ns/boomfr...tructions.html


These are the directions but from Tavia..even with the pictures I am still confused on the setup (do you really just hold the thing with your finger?)...never had a tool confuse me so damn much.

onebad82z

iTrader: (7)

pic 1

onebad82z

iTrader: (7)

pic 2

ede

looks just like what i said. you need a datum surface from the CL of the rear and measure from it to the pinion.

onebad82z

iTrader: (7)

I am starting to understand how this works now..next question is..to what you stated above..the measurement from the CL of the rear to the pinion face is pinion depth?

SweetS10v8

Sorry my instructions were for the T&D version.

onebad82z

iTrader: (7)

No problem..thanks for the help anyway.The T&D tool sets up totally different from the Proform..althought they should end up at the same end result.

ede

yes the distance from the CL of the rear to the face of the pinion is the pinion depth. the bearing caps are on the CL so if you use something like i said above to span the opening between the bearing cap surface you can measure from there and make any corrections you need to for the thickness of the metal you use to span the opening. personally i'd try to sell the pinion settign tool and buy a depth mic.

CamaroMike

DON'T MEASURE OFF OF THE MAIN CAP SURFACE! These have been known to be off by .050" or more on vehicles! The only way to do this is with a tool that sits in the bearing saddles and measures down to the pininon face. Yes these tools are expesive but so is changing your gears twice due to improper set up.

ede

isn't it the same thing? you measure from the bearing cap parting surface or use a datum on the race surface to the pinion? if the cap surface isn't true i don't see how the bore would be any better. guess if you wanted to know you could check the bearing cap surface by measuering from the gasket surface to the bearing cap surface a nd see if you get the same number in a couple of plaecs and from side to side.

CamaroMike

Ede, the cap is not always split at the centerline of the bearing. Although, if you know the exact diameter of the bearing then you can measure off of the bottom of the saddle and use a little simple addition and subtraction to figure out how far the pinion face is from the Center Line of the differential assembly.

onebad82z

iTrader: (7)

The instructions from Proform describe how to measure to see if the main cap surface is off or not.They term it "Offset"You then either add or subtract the "Offset" to the pinion checking depth you come up with when done measuring.There is more to it than that but for the sake of typing that sums it up.So you can measure off of the main cap surface to get pinion depth.A good link describing how to use the tool properly..but the guy does end the instructional saying he would not recommend this tool to anyone..neither do I.I did finally figure it out and get the measurement I was looking for..but next gear set I will go back to marking compound and backlash readings..never a failed gear set that way.


http://www.angelfire.com/oh5/cpa5oh/cpa5ohtech009.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/oh5/cpa5oh/cpa5ohtech010.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/oh5/cpa5oh/cpa5ohtech011.htm

3 pages total with good pics.

ede

to me the marking compound is a secondary test method. i always set pinion depth and trust the hard measurements and check the contact pattern as a double check. i've done one or two gear sets, maybe even more, and never had a problem but i'll check that out next one i do. wouldn't hurt and could only help.

CamaroMike

That is one cheap tool. Too many ways to introduce error. Get a good tool that fits in the saddle and use it for measurements. Also, that link was a joke. He states that pinion depth adds in the thickness of the pinion head and shim. Pinion depth is from the Centerline of the differential to the face of the pinion. Not to mention I found a math error in his final calculations. Just as I said earlier 8 out of every 10 people setting up a rear has no business being there!

ede

ok mike so you tool is a piece of round stock the size of the carreir race and fits in the bearing saddles right? then has a hole or some provision for an indicator or depth mic. sounds easy enough to make. wouldn't happen to know the OD or the race would you?

onebad82z

iTrader: (7)

OD of a 12 bolt carrier bearing race is 3.064".

onebad82z

iTrader: (7)

Totally agree after using it..very cheap..got the measurement I was looking for but took a few tries.I had to swap out the lousy dial indicator Proform includes with a good Central unit I already had so I could get accurate readings..the one included was all over the board as far as measurements go.I wil be investing in the T&D pinion depth setting tool as soon as my budget allows.Don't need it now that this rear is set up but I know I have a few more waiting to be set up this summer.Plus I always want more tools..don't we all??That link was mentioned to use as reference on set up of the Proform tool from the pictures.I would never trust anyones math I didn't do myself.Didn't even bother to check his since it was for a 8.8 rear.I just needed an idea of how to set this tool up.I didn't read more than two words off the site.And you are correct in the 8 out of 10 people having no business in a rear.There is alot involved in setting one up properly.After 9 rears now I am more than comfortable setting one up..but as a beginner years back I thought it was a simple R&R job.What backlash?Live and learn.

ede

thanks and i know the distance between caps is the same on both 10 bolts and 12 bolt. i could use some 1" or so rod and make interchangeable inserts for the bearings. now if i can find the diameter of the 7.5 ten bolt races.