Ignoring cost, should I replace my stock ring and pinion with modern (e.g., Sierra) stuff?
Backstory:
- The diff is out and completely stripped down on my bench.
- The backlash was high (avg ~0.014"), but consistent.
- The runout was about 0.004".
- Paint pattern looked even but shallow. Given that the pattern didn't look all that bad to me, I'm thinking I should be able to get a good pattern with the right BL.
- Pinion bearing preload was very near zero, but no play. Bearings look good (will be replacing with new).
- Gears looked to be in good shape with no chips or discoloration on ring or pinion.
- The diff in question is from my 1980 40 which I believe to have 50K miles on it. There is still a bit of vibration in the rear drive chain (axles are shimmed and U joints freshly rebuilt, which eliminated 80% of the bad vibes) and some clunking in the rear which hasn't been positively diagnosed as coming from the diff (yet).
- This is my second diff rebuild and upgrade to ARB lockers.
- For the first one, I started with a diff I bought off CL, replacing the R&P with new Sierras (here). (I'm almost done installing this completely rebuilt axle and diff, so that may tell me more about where vibration and clunking is/was coming from.
- This second diff is the original off the rear of my truck which I am now rebuilding and will use to replace the front diff currently still on the truck.
- I have a couple of the old school type spacers and shims for the outer pinion bearing from both the CL diff as well as the original rear diff, and the two shims I have differ by about 0.010", so with some careful sanding, I can probably get to a correct PBP using the old school shims and spacers without having to source more shims which I understand to be hard to find.
- I have everything I need to put it all together, including the aftermarket solid spacer should I decide to go with new R&P.
- I have some fairly rough trail I plan to ascend when it's done, but I'm not a rock crawler... more of a "get me to the fishing hole" kinda guy.
So, it comes down to which is stronger, stock or aftermarket (e.g., Sierra) ring and pinions and should I care given my planned usage?
TIA for any and all o-pinions!
Backstory:
- The diff is out and completely stripped down on my bench.
- The backlash was high (avg ~0.014"), but consistent.
- The runout was about 0.004".
- Paint pattern looked even but shallow. Given that the pattern didn't look all that bad to me, I'm thinking I should be able to get a good pattern with the right BL.
- Pinion bearing preload was very near zero, but no play. Bearings look good (will be replacing with new).
- Gears looked to be in good shape with no chips or discoloration on ring or pinion.
- The diff in question is from my 1980 40 which I believe to have 50K miles on it. There is still a bit of vibration in the rear drive chain (axles are shimmed and U joints freshly rebuilt, which eliminated 80% of the bad vibes) and some clunking in the rear which hasn't been positively diagnosed as coming from the diff (yet).
- This is my second diff rebuild and upgrade to ARB lockers.
- For the first one, I started with a diff I bought off CL, replacing the R&P with new Sierras (here). (I'm almost done installing this completely rebuilt axle and diff, so that may tell me more about where vibration and clunking is/was coming from.
- This second diff is the original off the rear of my truck which I am now rebuilding and will use to replace the front diff currently still on the truck.
- I have a couple of the old school type spacers and shims for the outer pinion bearing from both the CL diff as well as the original rear diff, and the two shims I have differ by about 0.010", so with some careful sanding, I can probably get to a correct PBP using the old school shims and spacers without having to source more shims which I understand to be hard to find.
- I have everything I need to put it all together, including the aftermarket solid spacer should I decide to go with new R&P.
- I have some fairly rough trail I plan to ascend when it's done, but I'm not a rock crawler... more of a "get me to the fishing hole" kinda guy.
So, it comes down to which is stronger, stock or aftermarket (e.g., Sierra) ring and pinions and should I care given my planned usage?
TIA for any and all o-pinions!