big gear head

I hate to sound like I'm being picky, but what are you using for marking compound? That looks sticky or stringy. If you mix a little gear oil with it will it smooth out a little? It looks like it's pulling all of the compound off of the tooth instead of wiping off a spot where it touches. You want it to look more like this.

92RS_Ttop

iTrader: (3)

Be picky all you like I'm doing this for the learning experience as much as to save a few bucks. I prefer to learn to do it right.

As for what I'm using, this is gonna sound weird but its Comp Cams Cam Assembly Lube with some yellow food coloring. NO ONE around me carries marking compound, and I didn't feel like waiting for shipping. Not to mention paying almost twice as much for it when you count the shipping costs.

I have plenty of gear oil so I can try thinning it out a bit. I had tried some white lithium grease(also too thick), as well as moly grease(its gray, so its impossible to see anything), but they didn't work any better.

supr_fly03

iTrader: (2)

Well that stuff is not working for gear marking compound. I really tried to make a pattern out, but I cant make a clear pattern out to tell you what direction you need to go with the pinion. It looks as though the pinion may still be a little close but I dont think you should make any changes till you figure out the gear marking compound issue.

92RS_Ttop

iTrader: (3)

Yeah, I'm gonna try some of the little out-of-the-way parts stores around here and see if they happen to have some sitting on a back shelf gathering dust. The main stores around here(Advance/Autozone/Napa) don't carry marking compound.

I'll also try BGH's suggestion of thinning out the grease I've been using.

92RS_Ttop

iTrader: (3)

Well, I tried thinning out the grease and it didn't really work. So I ran out today to one of the small locally owned parts stores where I've been able to find oddball stuff before that the big chain stores didn't carry. They didn't have any marking compound but they did have Prussian Blue so I grabbed a tube of that. It seemed to work pretty well. I have attached pics of my latest attempt. I think I have it close, just need to add a bit to the pinion shim. Let me know what you guys think.

supr_fly03

iTrader: (2)

As you can see, you have a more consistent pattern on the coast side, the drive side kinda wanders around on the tooth a little from tooth to tooth and sometimes will also have a line through the middle of the pattern.

The coast side looks like you are close to being good. Still a little low on the tooth which means the pinion is a smidge too close. I think I would take .001 - .002 out of the pinion shim and that should give you a nice centered pattern on the tooth.

I also recommned you clean as much of that yellow stuff off as possible. It might be messing your pattern up. Make sure you clean it off the pinion as well.

92RS_Ttop

iTrader: (3)

Wow, I can't believe this has been on hold for 2 weeks. I ran into a problem when I went to change the pinion shims. The threads in the pinion nut completely stripped out as I was trying to remove it. I ended up having to cut it off with my Dremel. I made sure I didn't damage the threads on the pinion itself.

So anyhow, I got my new pinion nut and a thread file today from Summit and went back to work. Turns out it was my pinion nut that was messed up all along. The new nut went on without a problem.

Right now I've got the backlash at .008". That's as close as I can get it to my old setting of .007" with the shims in the kit I am using. Pattern pics are below, I'd appreciate knowing what you guys think.

92RS_Ttop

iTrader: (3)

And 1 more pic

92RS_Ttop

iTrader: (3)

After comparing my latest round of pics above to the previous ones and the ones in your thread Supr, I think I'm gonna try taking another .002" out of the pinion shim if my shim kit will let me and see where that gets me. To my untrained eye, it looks pretty darn close as it is though. I want to do this more for confirmation than anything else.

supr_fly03

iTrader: (2)

Are the 1st and 2nd pics of a different setup than the 3rd and 4th pics?

If so, the 3rd and 4th pictures show a good pattern and I wouldnt mess with it. Taking another .002 out of the pinion shim will move the pinion too far away. Make sure your back lash is good and run it.

92RS_Ttop

iTrader: (3)

I'm pretty sure they were of the same setup, but not 100%. I'll run the pattern again tomorrow and post up pics.

92RS_Ttop

iTrader: (3)

Re-ran the pattern and here are the latest pics.

92RS_Ttop

iTrader: (3)

And the other side

92RS_Ttop

iTrader: (3)

Just wanted to post a final update to this thread. I went with the changes that gave me the pattern in the last pics. I finally got everything installed(except the ebrake cables) and have put about 25 miles on the car. The posi works as evidenced by the pair of tire marks in my garage(accidentally spun the tires trying to get it up over the 1.5" lip at the entrance to the garage). No chattering around turns or when the posi engaged this morning pulling out at the top of my hill on the wet road, and no whining or other noises during normal driving.

Many thanks to BigGearHead and Supr_Fly03 for all their help and patience this past winter!!!!!

Now comes the hard part - waiting till the gears are broken in so I can REALLY test them!!

supr_fly03

iTrader: (2)

Glad I could help. If you are concrened about it, be sure to look everything over real good at your 500 mile fluid swap. Enjoy the posi!