I have the slp torsen posi unit and 3:73's. I bought the richmond gear installation kit and i don't see a crush collar. Can i reuse the old one. Also not positive on how to set pinion bearing preload. Can someone give me good details on exactly what you have to do for this. I have dial indicator for backlash. The torsen posi came w/bearing on it already, should i replace them w/the ones from richmond.

 

First you should install all new bearings, set up the backlash and pinion depth using the old pinion nut and no crush collar, tighten the nut to achieve proper bearing preload. Preload is how many inch pounds it takes to turn the pinion. when you have it a set up apply a sealer to the pinion splines, install a new crush collar, new pinion nut and tighten it slowly, you don't want to over crush it, it may take up to 300 foot pounds to start crushing it so tighten it slowly with a 3 foot long breaker bar. To make set up easier buy another new inner pinion bearing and hone it out with a brake hone for a slip fit, this way you don't have to press the bearing off every time you change the shim, when you find the right shim press the new bearing on. Also when the pinion is first installed and preloaded hit it from each end with a dead blow hammer to set the bearings for a more accurate reading, then reset preload.
Gear tooth contact pattern is the best way to establish proper set up, not measured pinion depth, in fact some ring and pinions don't have a depth figure marked so the only option is to set it up using contact pattern.
Here is a link to your set up specs. there is a ton of useful information here.

http://www.ring-pinion.com/t-setupspecs.html


[This message has been edited by Jay 727 (edited October 12, 2001).]

 

Have a PRO install your gears and save yourself some headaches. Spend the extra
money. Example, "can I use the old crush
sleeve".

 

Jay 727, hey thanks for all the info.

Z28djp1987, Is that what you do, have a pro do all of your work. I only asked if could reuse the old crush collar because a so called "pro" told me i could but i didn't think he was right so that is why i asked here. If you don't attempt to do something you will never learn how to do it. I do everything myself on my saleen mustang, such as building motors, installing nitrous, blowers, rollcages, heads, cam, intakes, you name i have done all of that. The only thing i haven't done is gears.

 

Glad to help you. Having a pro install a ring and pinion set is highly over rated and unecessary in my opinion. A pro may be able to do it faster but thats about it, the only special tools needed are a bearing press or even a hammer and bearing driver and a dial indicator in addition to the basic tools. The final gear tooth contact pattern is the most important factor in the install. GM yellow gear compound works best. If your pattern is correct there is no doubt it is installed as good as one professionally installed.

 

Jay one more thing, i am going to use an impact gun to tighten the pinion nut to crush the collar. I thought my dad had an inch/lb torque wrench but he doesn't. Is there any way to set the preload w/o one, if not i will have to rent one.

 

You can do it with an impact wrench but go slow as not to over tighten, if you over tighten it you need to install a new crush collar. You also need a dial type inch pound wrench not a clicker type, dial type may be hard to find available for rent. you might be able to use a dial type foot pound wrench since your reading is 12 to 15 in.lbs. that would be 1 ft lb. You can do it by hand if you can feel 12-15 in.lbs. It's important to have the same amout of preload during set up as it does after final assembly.

 

i can't get a good feel whne i tighten up the little 10 bolt pinion nut, i always go too far and have to start over. the crush sleeves are fairly cheap, you might want to buy several, plus a new nut. it's go a lot easier for you too if you make a bar to bolt to the pinion yoke to hold it. mine uses the 4 bolt holes and has a hole in the center for a socket. i agree that setting up ring and pinion gears isn't as hard as most people think, but it does require tools most people don't have. 2-3 depth mic or pinion setting tool, dial type in/lbs torque wrench, press, bearing seperator, and 0-1 mic. also i made tool to use as a datum surface to set my depth mic on to set the pinion depth.

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ICON Motorsports
1st & 3rd
MM Black Diamond 538 F&AM

 

Hey 92PH
Any update or progress on your gear installation. Do you have it running yet??

 

I wouldn't hone out the pinion head bearing. It's a press fit for a reason.

 

I've always told people to have a pro install gears. Its a tricky science that takes experience and the right tools to do. If you dont know what you're doing and if you dont do it right, your gears will whine, possibly break, and otherwise be worthless.


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1991 Camaro Z28
5.7L 5-Speed (originally 305)
317 RWHP, 418 RWTQ
13.23 @ 107.62 MPH
Southern California
Member: SoCal 3rd Gen F-Bodies
Member: SoCal F-Bodies
-=ICON Motorsports=-

 

Read the post again, it says buy another bearing and hone it for a slip fit for set up purposes, when the correct shim is found press the other bearing on. Get the idea? I wouldn't press a bearing on and off several times while you find the right shim.

 

It is absolutely imperative to have a dial or beam type in-lb torque wrench. No matter how good your feel is, it's not good enough. I'd say 12-15 in-lb on the pinion and carrier bearings is enough. There is a formula for determining carrier bearing preload but I don't remember it. That could be useful.

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82 z28 350cid, vortec heads, comp 262h cam, Holley 600cfm carb, 2in twice pipes, MSD ignition, turbo 350 trans, 3.73 posi, manly b&m megashifter