I've just set up a rear end with 3.73 gearing. I used Prussian Blue marking compound to check the pattern which was recommended, but has a different consistency than the material supplied with the install kit. It's much easier to read, but the pattern shows much more gear to gear contact than the pictures I downloaded from Richmond. The pattern is very nicely centered in X and Y but the area is larger. Does this indicate a problem? Any thoughts?

 

something everyone should know about ring and pinion patterns.always rotate the pinion gear clockwise from the flange trying to establish a readable pattern.remember that if the ring gear shows that the pinion marks are closer to the back of the heel of the ring gear the pinion must be shimmed toward the back of the car becauseYOU ARE SEEING THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE PATTERN BECAUSE YOU ARE 180 DEGREES AWAY .i have seen many people go crazy with this and reduce shim pack and go further away from the center.think about it.