Well, finally have my rear axle back together and now I am worried about having enough preload on my carrier bearings.

I started by setting the shims to the point where the carrier would not fall out easily with gravity. I set my gear lash and then I added upwards of 0.006 on each side to get the preload.

However, if preload is measured through the pinion, I only have about 6-8 in-lb of preload on the carrier. I assume 4.10 (my ratio)X 6 = 24.6 in-lb of preload on the carrier. GM says 32-55 pinion and carrrier and I have 28 in-lb or so (20 pinion and 8 carrier).

Am I going to have problems?

Ben

 

Carrier preload is totally done with the shim pack and is not measured by rotational torque.
You should be good to go the way that you did it.

 

Actually, that IS the proper way to measure side carrier bearing pre-load. You measure the pinion bearing pre-load before the carrier is installed. Then you measture the TOTAL turning pre-load once the carrier is in. Subtract the Pinion from the Total and multiply by the gear ratio.

GM used to say add .004" to each side, but now they say add .008". Its hard to say if you will have problems or not, I never let one "out the door" with less then spec. I wish I could answer that.

 

What you indicated is what I did (see first post). So is this preload "spec"? I have an original GM manual and yes it says .004. That was way to easy to put in. I read that as long as you don't bend the shims going in, its ok.

Well we will just have to see. I am concerned because when I took my carrier bearings out, there was signs the races had turned in the housing. Probably from a few lauches. Never going to the 1/4 mi. again. Only Solo II and fun driving for me.

 

What you indicated is what I did (see first post). So is this preload "spec"? I have an original GM manual and yes it says .004. That was way to easy too put in hence why I went to .006. I read that as long as you don't bend the shims going in, its ok...that is how tight you can allow it.

Well we will just have to see. I am concerned because when I took my carrier bearings out, there was signs the races had turned in the housing. Probably from a few lauches. Never going to the 1/4 mi. again. Only Solo II and fun driving for me.

 

I got my preload exactly right by measuring the thickness of the factory shims.. then just keeping the total thickness of both stock shims equal to the total of all the new shims.. logical way to do it. Came out perfectly once I had the backlash set.

To get my carrier out I have to use a small crow-bar to actually pry it out.