I am going to be installing a new carrier (open to LSD) into my 10 bolt. I am using the same gears that I currently have, but don't have a way to measure the backlash. I don't have the tool, and no place around here has one I can rent. What would be an alternative, perhaps using that gear marking compund to measure the way the teeth leave a pattern by doing it before and after and comparing? I will be trying to use the same shims but don't know how to get the right measurement other than that. Any suggestions?

 

The alternative is, wipe out a set of gears, and then take it to somebody that has the tool.

In other words, there's no substitute. Either get the tool, or don't try it, because your risk of doing it wrong is much too great.

The tool is cheap, and you'll most likely find plenty of other uses for it.

For better-quality ones:
www.mcmaster.com
www.use-enco.com

For a cheap consumer-grade one, but better than nothing, and probably enough to get the job done:
www.harborfreight.com

 

buy an indicator and base. cheap ones don't cost much and good ones aren't that much either and will last you a life time. there's no way to get around it and reusing the same shims will do little to insure the BL is correct. it wouldn't hurt to check the contact pattern but there should be no change to it from what is in it originally. the contact pattern is very subjective and the least important of all the checks you may do to the rear.

 

I got one off of Ebay a few years ago & it has come in very handy since. Paid about $25 for the base & dial.

 

Would this be a good choice?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=93051

 

That one will work nicely.