• RME Gear & Apparel

My D44 Dilemma

Rot Box

Rot Box

Diesel and Dust
Supporting Member
Location
Smithfield Utah
One of the nice things about being an industrial maintenance mechanic is the access I have to many specialty tools. That being said I have set up many Toyota ring and pinions as the removable third members are small and I can set them on my work bench :D

My new Dana 44 is another story. I need to set up the R&P in it, but I can't really hide it from my boss that well (it's hard to make my boss believe it came off or a piece of equipment :rolleyes:) and I have never set one up before.

I really have two options: Try to do it in my shop with primitive hand tools or pay $250 to have the shop do it. The big issue is that I do not have a press :rolleyes: What do you think I should do? Is $250 a lot to pay? If it was $150 and I could double check the pattern I would be really happy...

Anyhoo my axle swap has turned out really nice so far. I can't wait to get my gears in and try it out! :greg:
 
waynehartwig

waynehartwig

www.jeeperman.com
Location
Mead, WA
$250 is pretty fair... Especially if they will stand behind their work - this is the important part as if they won't, move on. Gear failure is 100% up to the installer doing it right. I know of shops charging a lot more than that.

I charge $100 if it's a clean, empty housing only brought to me that I all I have to do is setup the gears in on my bench and not in the rig.
 
rondo

rondo

rondo
Location
Boise Idaho
I suggest you try rollover motorsports in salt lake city. I don't have their card with me but a google search would work. they charged me 100 each to set up my ARBs and that's with a clean housing delivered and returned. you save $ but doing the prelim work. I haven't driven on these to tell you if they'll explode :)
i don't suggest you do this without a supervisor your 1st time. my pal did it with his friend, and both are VERY knowledgable, and both engineers, but something went wrong and it exploded. hehe
 
waynehartwig

waynehartwig

www.jeeperman.com
Location
Mead, WA
I personally believe anyone can setup gears correctly with the correct tools and instructions. The problem I believe is when the installer doesn't follow directions or cuts corners with the 'thats good enough' attitude. Gear installs aren't rocket science, but they are precise to the .001". As long as you keep it to the .001" and not .01", then I believe everything will be fine.

Cleanliness is also VERY important. A dirty environment, tools, or etc can lead to a bad install. I attempt to do all of mine in a 'clean room' environment. Of course that is difficult in a shop where welding, grinding, etc. is done, but it is still important.

IMO this is the best manual out, and it's online!
http://www.ringpinion.com/Content/H...tions/Yukon_Installation_Kit_Instructions.pdf

I was setting up gears like this before I knew about this set of directions. But after seeing it, I agree with it 100% and have refined procedures around it making things easier and quicker for me. Thousands of installs and I've only had one installation caused failure. I've never had gears crack teeth. I have had gears pop the head of the pinion off. But mostly that has been with 5.71 gears in Toy housings.
 
DOSS

DOSS

Poker of the Hornets Nest
Location
Suncrest
Well if you have a press at work and you take your time you can do it just fine. it really isn't that hard.. Pull your current gears ect out and take the carrier and the pinion into work.. pull the bearings off there so you can open them up a bit with a dremmel or what have you and make a set of setup bearings (so you can take them off by hand if needed when setting your shims and such).. go home and set up your gears.. take pictures of your pattern and post it here for critique :).. when you get a good pattern then take your junk back into work and press on your new bearings:) you can do it just take your time.. I have pressed bearings with a piece of pipe and a hammer before and didn't have problems HEHE
 
waynehartwig

waynehartwig

www.jeeperman.com
Location
Mead, WA
TooeleCherokee said:
Well if you have a press at work and you take your time you can do it just fine. it really isn't that hard.. Pull your current gears ect out and take the carrier and the pinion into work.. pull the bearings off there so you can open them up a bit with a dremmel or what have you and make a set of setup bearings (so you can take them off by hand if needed when setting your shims and such).. go home and set up your gears.. take pictures of your pattern and post it here for critique :).. when you get a good pattern then take your junk back into work and press on your new bearings:) you can do it just take your time.. I have pressed bearings with a piece of pipe and a hammer before and didn't have problems HEHE
Click to expand...

Piece of pipe and a hammer work well. So does heat/cold. Heat the bearings in an oven or hot plate and put the gears in the freezer. Between the two the bearings will slip right on with little or no assist...
 
notajeep

notajeep

Just me
Location
Logan
Man, wonder if you know any one, maybe one of your friends that might have a press and other tools that you could use at their house. Who could that be???
 
Rot Box

Rot Box

Diesel and Dust
Supporting Member
Location
Smithfield Utah
I have a lot of experience in setting up ring and pinions I just haven't installed any in a Dana 44... My main concern was not having a press at home, but if I can turn out the insides of the old bearings on the pinion and carrier I shouldn't need to press bearings untill the end...
 
DOSS

DOSS

Poker of the Hornets Nest
Location
Suncrest
Rot Box said:
I have a lot of experience in setting up ring and pinions I just haven't installed any in a Dana 44... My main concern was not having a press at home, but if I can turn out the insides of the old bearings on the pinion and carrier I shouldn't need to press bearings untill the end...
Click to expand...

Yep just clean them out so they slip on and off and it works great.. I have a set here at the house that has been used on about 5 setups now :)
 
Rot Box

Rot Box

Diesel and Dust
Supporting Member
Location
Smithfield Utah
notajeep said:
Andrew, I have a press that you can use here at my house. I also have a die grinder to clean out the bearings.
Click to expand...

Sweet! :D I think once I get the bearings augered out things will go really smooth. I still need to order my locker, and get some shims so it might be awhile...

Stupid Dana and their built in carrier :mad: :p
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top