Recent content by canyonfireguy

It's really not though. Much easier to turn down the outside of a race than the inside collar of a bearing that turns as you work it. It's also a terrible idea to press your inner pinion bearing on and pull it off repeatedly. Much easier to use test fit races so you can just get the shims right...

Update: per the 4WP guys, the reason that there are no shims for the inner pinion bearing race in the kit is that they expect you to shim between the gear head of the pinion shaft and the inner pinion bearing. This seems like a horrible idea though, as you would have to mod the old bearing to...

Thanks to all. I think this gets me there. Gonna give 'er hell this weekend. Appreciate the help.

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I am going from the factory 3.07s (manual trans) to 4.10s to get some of my low end back after the lift and 33s. I have been watching every youtube and reading every walkthrough I can find, but they all seem to contradict one another. All of the really well done...

Greetings all, My forward pinion bearing and race rusted and started making a growling noise so I'm doing new ring and pinion gears and installing ARB air lockers while I'm in there. I'm struggling a bit understanding the right way to set pinion depth on the 8.25 or if you even need to. On...

Thank you for the great info. Most helpful. I think I'm giving up on the idea of 33s. I think I would need more lift. I went with the 3.5" instead of the 5.5" because I don't want to futz around with brake lines or dropping the t-case, which I ended up having to do anyway. My 31s rub a tiny bit...

Hey gearheads, I need some advice on gearing down and installing a locker, or at least a LSD cassette in my '99 XJ. It has a 3.5" lift and I am running on 31s, but would like to possibly go up to 33s once I cut the fenders and put on Bushwhacker flares. Anyway, it has a manual trans, so the...

** UPDATE ** I think I found the culprit! While the backlash does seem a bit excessive, the grinding / growling is not coming from the meshing of the ring and pinion gears at all. I tore the whole thing down to the point where only the ring and pinion gears were left in it, and it still had...

Oh, it's from the rear diff alright. When I turn the rear driveshaft slowly, I can feel the ring and pinion gears not meshing properly due to them not being in close enough contact, and only contacting on the edges of the teeth. I'm just trying to figure out how it could get like this of...

We'll, I don't have one of them fancy dial backlash measuring instruments, but I'd say it's about a half inch. 😳

Thank you for the response and the suggestions. There are no metal flakes or large pieces in the housing at all. Only very fine dust mixed into the oil. Zero play in the ring gear, carrier, or bearings when prying up on them with a pry bar. I have hit the pinion with my palm, kicked out with a...

1999 XJ. 3.5" lift and 31" tires, but bone stock axles. Dana 30 front, and Chrysler 8.25 rear. AX15 manual trans, so 3.07:1 gears. 133,000 miles (literally rolled 133 today). Have been hearing the "growl" from the rear end for a week or two now. Popped the diff cover off today. Oil was very...