[Rustbkt]

Hello, new to the site as a whole and also hoping to get some insight from some of those experienced in setting up differentials.

I am currently part way into my first locker install into a ford 8.8.
I have so far fitted everything and adjusted to the point which my backlash is within spec, and I have made several adjustments to pinion depth the attain a pattern as follows.

I however am having difficulty in deciding what changes are required or if this would be considered an acceptable pattern. Any info or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Rustbkt]

Apparently I cannot post pictures yet? however if anyone is willing to offer some advice I will happily pm the pics.

 

[GoldenSahara00]

Host your picture on another site like photobucket or something then link here. Can't say I'll be much help with the pattern, but I'm sure someone else can give it a look with more experience.

This should give you a little guidance on the pattern and what to adjust: Pirate4x4.Com - The largest off roading and 4x4 website in the world.

 

[Rustbkt]

They were hosted on photobucket, so I am assuming there may be a post count required to post pictures?

 

[CSP]

No post count is required for hosting on another site.

 

[Rustbkt]

 

[blugreenformula]

From what I see, I would just run them. Not perfect but pretty good.

 

[Rustbkt]

the part that confuses me is the wear line closest to the top of the tooth seems fairly prominent, and not feathered, but the pattern does extend towards the root with slightly less contact.

Adjusting pinion depth to bring it in by .003 brought the pattern more prominent towards the root.

 

[Wilson]

Run it, you could play with a thou or two here and there but that pattern is acceptable. What is the backlash at in those pics?

 

[Rustbkt]

I would have to check my paper at the shop, but I believe it was left off at 0.012

Now, this was done without any carrier preload.
However as long as I properly preload by increasing both sides equally, I should maintain a very similar pattern correct?

 

[Wilson]

What locker? I'd run the backlash into .008 and I bet it will look as you want it to.

 

[Rustbkt]

Ox locker.
.008 is apparently the tightest recommended backlash for this axle but had so far stayed away from the lower end as I have been reading that tight tolerances had the tendency to whine in the 8.8. Is that actually a problem or just a matter of coincidence?

 

[Wilson]

Never run an 8.8 personally, but have setup many diff's. .012 is on the loose end, IMO. With all new bearings and gears, that initial .008 will open up into the .010 range after break-in.

 

[Rustbkt]

Makes sense, will it make any difference that the gearset I am using is in fact used? It is the existing gears from the axle I purchased to do my swap.

I will try bringing the backlash down tomorrow and check the pattern again if not simply to see what it can do to the pattern

 

[CSP]

Shoulda mentioned that they were used from the get go.

They won't open up as much, but it still will open up some (0.001 or so). Getting a good pattern on a used gearset is difficult, so once you get the backlash tighter check the pattern again. If it's anything like the above pictures just run it.

 

[Wilson]

Shoulda mentioned that they were used from the get go.

They won't open up as much, but it still will open up some (0.001 or so). Getting a good pattern on a used gearset is difficult, so once you get the backlash tighter check the pattern again. If it's anything like the above pictures just run it.

Pretty much. On used gears I run a pattern before, check the backlash and do my best to match after. You can also usually see where the gears have been running, just by looking at the face.

 

[Rustbkt]

so I played around with it a bit again today, got some better carrier preload.
and managed to bring the preload down to .008
this is what I have now.
not sure if it is worth centering by increasing pinion depth and correcting for the same backlash, due to the coast side taking up most of the face.

 

[Rustbkt]

one more time, wasnt quite satisfied with the last patten, so i dropped the pinion depth from .030 to .026 and brought the backlash in to maintain .008

I think this is about as good as I can get it.
unless anyone thinks I should be concerned with the contact pattern reaching the toe, however the contact seems to cover most of the surface.

 

[Wilson]

Run it

 

[bigt1115]

You're over thinking used gears