We are changing the rear end bearings on my 98 camaro. I bought new bearings and new seals, and i had a shop press the bearings. Now were trying to put it back together, but we cannot get the differential case to fit into the housing. Do i need thinner shims, i was trying to use the same shims that were there before.
Any help please!

 

You have to use all of the shims to keep the proper preload on the bearing races. Put the diff in with the same shims that came out installed on one end. Then **** the diff out a little on the end without the shims. Push the remaining shims in as you push the carrier back into place.

 

Is it supposed to go in with alot of force. Because when it was removed it came out with no force at all.
thanks

 

Part of that could be that the bearings were wore and that you had gravity to give you a helping hand. There's supposed to be a .005 (if I remember correctly) perload on the races. So it will go in hard.

 

We used smaller shims and it went in with no problem. I already assembled evething back together, but when the car is jacked up, it makes a weird noise, but on the road there is no noise at all.