just put 3.42 gears into my rear end. the backlash is at .006", i dont have a pinion depth tool, but i used a .035" shim. i've set up a lot of 10 bolts and i've never had a problem with doing it this way. the gear pattern looked perfect to me, i didnt take a pic of it, but it turned out just like all the other rear ends i put together. i also put all new bearings in.


the only difference in this rear end is that i normally try for .008 backlash. could my backlash be to tight? these are stock gm gears. they whine while accelerating, and deccelerating. the only time i cant hear it is when the car doesnt seem to be pushing or pulling itself, basically no load on the gears then.

could i of got a bad bearing?

any help

 

i usually try for .008 BL, but you're within spec. not setting pinion depth could be a problem, but if contact looked good you ought ot be ok there. bad bearing may be it but still unlikly with new parts. new gears or used? might of already had a problem with the gears if used. think maybe i'd be taking it apart and looking things over. did you have oil on the axle bearings? seen a few set up dry and cook the bearing before enough oil got to them.

 

the gears are used, but lived their whole life behind the v6 with absolutly no noise. i dipped the bearings in gear lube, but did not soak them over night or anything. im kicking my self in the *** right now for not measuring the pinion depth. im going to tear it apart before i drive it anymore. is there a chance if i changed the shim placements to .008 bl it would stop making noise?

is there anyway to tell gear whine from a bearing noise?

 

On used gears you must set them back to the same pattern they was in before. Can you see what size shim was behind the pinion gear on the V6? Use one of the same thickness should put you back in the same pattern.

 

i got the new carrier shims in yesterday, and got the BL set to .008 now. however the pattern is toward the heel on the ring gear on both the drive and coast sides. this means i have to add pinion shims right?