Re-gearing 80-series rear e-locker

[KLF]

Not sure which is the best section to post this, so I'll try here first. Maybe I'll give Christo a call later, I bet they've done a few of these things...

Starting on a project to swap a set of 4.88's into a 80-series rear e-locker for a friend. When I pulled it out of the box, I discovered there are no traditional side adjusters on the carrier for setting backlash and bearing preload. Reading the FSM, I find they use shim washers instead. WTF is up with that?

Anybody here ever re-geared one of these things? Just wondering how much fun it's gonna be dealing with these shims. Should I go buy a bunch of shims from the dealer?

The old bearings are in really good shape, and this is only going in the front of an FJ62, so we decided to re-use the bearings, I don't have an install kit to work from. Do they provide shims in the kits? If so, does anybody have any spares?

Just looking for any pointers before I get started this weekend. Thanks.

 

[sleeoffroad]

Yup, you need shims from the dealer. We bought a set and then replace the ones when we use as we regear them. I think there were about 20 in the set.

 

[cruiserdan]

23 actually.. At about 4 bucks a rattle. Ranging in thckness from 2.67mm to 3.33mm, in .03mm steps.


d-

 

[KLF]

Wow. OK, at least I know I was reading the FSM correctly. It says something to the effect (paraphrasing, I don't have it with me now) that you can measure the backlash and figure out which shim to get, but it's really vague. I'll take a look at it again, start tearing into it.

Thanks.

 

[montocr]

backlash

For every 0.010" you move the carrier from left to right you decreasse backlash by about 0.007" and vice/versa.

 

[KLF]

For every 0.010" you move the carrier from left to right you decreasse backlash by about 0.007" and vice/versa.

Duly noted. Thanks.

 

[KLF]

OK, reviving this thread. Half-way thru the job, got the 4.88 gears installed. Backlash is way off (~0.020"), so I need to get new shims. They've been on order at the dealer for a week now, no luck. Now they have no ETA when I can expect them. One other dealer told me they are "no longer available". WTF??

Christo, did you have any trouble getting your set? C-Dan, what's the deal?

I had to guess on the size to buy, hope I guessed right!

 

[cruiserdan]

The "no longer available" part is bull****.

The "no ETA" part could be accurate. What thicknesses did you order? I can check availability on Monday when we re-open.



Perhaps you need a new dealer.............

 

[bjowett]

Do you know what shims you need? I have 5 or 6 various somewhere in the garage. I live in far western Massachusetts, so if you are in a bind, and I happen to have what you need, LMK.

 

[KLF]

Well, I knew the "not available" part was crap. Apparently he's a new guy and doesn't know his way around the system yet. The "no ETA" story is from my local dealer, I just had the parts guy there trained and he left, so now I gotta start over. I just wish they'd let me behind the counter to do my own stuff.

So... based on my mic readings, looks like I have a #7 on the ring side, and a #11 on the pinion side. With them in place with the new gears, the B/L is around 0.018-0.020". I swapped them and the B/L tightened up to ~0.013". So, when I do the math it looks like I need a #3 on the pinion side, and a #15 on the ring side. I'm wondering if I should get a set on either side of that, just to be safe.

This SUCKS, what a stupid design.

I'm gonna be just down the road from you in Phoenix AZ all next week. So no hurry now.

 

[KLF]

Do you know what shims you need? I have 5 or 6 various somewhere in the garage. I live in far western Massachusetts, so if you are in a bind, and I happen to have what you need, LMK.

Hi Brian:

That would be very cool, check my post above to see what I need. Dunno if you remember me, but I bought the hi-pinion e-locker that's currently in the front of my pickup from you way back when...

 

[sleeoffroad]

Christo, did you have any trouble getting your set? C-Dan, what's the deal?

No, no just took some time. Our local dealer is actually pretty good with sourcing stuff fast. It might help that they get a lot of $'s from us.

 

[robbie]

Well that is jsut the first pass, then you can see if you have the pinion spacer OK(pinion depth is ok on the ring gear), unless you have toyota gears I have not seen the pinion spacer to be the same one from the old pinion. gook luck robbie

 

[bjowett]

Hi Brian:

That would be very cool, check my post above to see what I need. Dunno if you remember me, but I bought the hi-pinion e-locker that's currently in the front of my pickup from you way back when...

Karl? What's happening.... I will look in the next day or so to see if I have a #3 and #15... I think I just might!