Well I talked to Randy's R&P and according to them I need a dial indicator and a stand and then a torque wrench...they also said a case spreader would help out with the 60 I'm doing...

The indicator and wrench are 105 bucks which seems like a pretty good deal...ahs anyone actually used these tools or should I look elsewhere. Also...how important are the case spreadors?

Thanks
Chris

www.harbourfreighttools.com
Dial indicator... about $12.00

adjustable magnectic base... on sale for $8.99

don't know about the case spreader.

You can use a come-a-long for a case spreader - hook it up to a piece of pipe or axel shaft stuck into the ends of the housing and then loop the cables behind the pinion yoke. Crank on it with your dial indicator to make sure you don't spread it over .020. You can also get by just tapping the diff in with a short piece of 2 x 4 and a sledgehammer for your final pre-load. A crow bar on the ring gear bolt heads will pull it out.

Or you could take a few minutes to build one..

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=397074&highlight=Home+made+case+spreader

I would be worried that the come-a-long might bend the axle housing...

This is definitely my weakness too; I too need to find a good write up that walks you through gear setup. Anybody got some good links?

http://www.xtreme4x4tv.com/special/Xtreme_special/tech_tip_may05.htm

Also...how important are the case spreadors?

All I've ever seen a case spreader do in the hands of a novice...is ruin a good housing.

I set up a lot of diffs...you don't need a spreader...you do need some patience, and it would be good to find someone who's done this before to help walk you through it.

He should have a dial indicator and torque wrench you could borrow.

Settin' up your first diff is alot like sex....sumthin' you shoudn't do alone.:flipoff2:

http://www.xtreme4x4tv.com/special/Xtreme_special/tech_tip_may05.htm

Cool thanks for the link.

All I've ever seen a case spreader do in the hands of a novice...is ruin a good housing.

I set up a lot of diffs...you don't need a spreader...you do need some patience, and it would be good to find someone who's done this before to help walk you through it.

He should have a dial indicator and torque wrench you could borrow.

Settin' up your first diff is alot like sex....sumthin' you shoudn't do alone.:flipoff2:

I have lots of housing to practice on:flipoff2: Dial indicators are cheap and most people own a torque wrench. Sure it would be nice to have a pro walk you through a setup, and show you all the little tips a tricks, diag tips when looking at the old gears. But if that's their bread and butter you would need to pay double right? $60 an hour to work on your crap. $90 an hour if you watch, and $120 an hour if you help.

i have never used a case spreader and hjave never had problems with a rear end going sour on me. Get two prybars to remove the locker/ring gear utilizing the ring gear bolts and the housing, and then use a big rubber mallet to pount it back in. Defenatly pick up a dial indicator

I always use a spreader for ARBs and on aluminium diffs. Usually not otherwise

i have never used a case spreader and hjave never had problems with a rear end going sour on me. Get two prybars to remove the locker/ring gear utilizing the ring gear bolts and the housing, and then use a big rubber mallet to pount it back in. Defenatly pick up a dial indicator

I second that.No failures.MUST HAVE PATIENCE!

Cool thanks for the link.



I have lots of housing to practice on:flipoff2: Dial indicators are cheap and most people own a torque wrench. Sure it would be nice to have a pro walk you through a setup, and show you all the little tips a tricks, diag tips when looking at the old gears. But if that's their bread and butter you would need to pay double right? $60 an hour to work on your crap. $90 an hour if you watch, and $120 an hour if you help.



Most people don't have an "inch pound" torque wrench. This is what you'll need to set pinion bearing preload.

go cheap. $28 bucks http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=2696
Or Snap-On at about $220.00

Found this too.
http://www.drivetrain.com/ringpinioninstal.html

i wouldnt trust a percision tool like a torque wrench from HF - if the tool is less than $100 and the company wont re-calibrate it for you every so often, move along...

Snap-on, Mac, Matco for precision tools like torque wrenches...

matco has one for 80 bucks, it is a beam style one, although it has 2 in. lb. increments instead of 1 in. lb. increments They have a click one as well for 200. Also a side bearing puller is nice to have :flipoff2: