I'm Stuck, Pattern Wont Change PLEASE HELP
 

Hey everyone ive been reading a lot on hete but can't seem to find answers. I have a 2002 Trans Am M6. The precious owner had swapped in a whole axle out of an auto with 2.73s. I lost my pinion nut while driving the other day so I decided to start my first rear end rebuild. I bought used gm 4.10s. Now here comes the weird stuff. The pinion shim taken out of the original set was .070 and the one off of my new used set was some .072. So I tried the .070 and I couldn't even turn the pinion because it would hit the carrier. From what I've read on here that is way more shim than I should ever need so I decided to pop in a .032 with backlash set to .007 and check the pattern. According to some diagrams I saw online, my pinion is a bit too close so I put in a .028 and the pattern didnt change at all. Even with no shim it looks the same. I'm not too sure on where to go from here because my pattern still looks like trash. Anything helps, thanks.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/ls1tech...608cdc703f.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/ls1tech...299dccaf41.jpg

I'm really hoping someone can chime in because I have no one else to ask about this.

The carrier appears to be a gov-lok (but really not sure) which is a terrible carrier.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/ls1tech...b603ba3e34.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/ls1tech...b8b0cd45c2.jpg
Based upon what's shown and what's been suggested,it looks like the previous owner put a 2.73 rear end assembly into a 2002 T/A M6. It would have had originally a 3.42 on a 3 series Torsen .carrier. M6s' are known to cause rear end failure so he made a swap to whatever was available. You reading a lot on here see that the 4.10 is a good/popular gearset for M6s',buy a used 4.10 set and install it. The 4.10 gearset looks to be 'thin',what would be normally used with a 3 series carrier but you put it in/on a 2 series carrier. If this is true,it'll NEVER work. Again if it's true,you need a 'thick' 4.10 gearset or a different carrier,A 3 SERIES carrier. Also that carrier does not look proper as to it's type.

You're correct, I didn't know about their catastrophic failures until after the purchase. I think I'll push my luck since I'm on borrowed time anyways.

the gov-lok,you bought it or the previous owner bought it ?

I bought the govlok carrier with the gears. The seller is saying it's a 3 series carrier. I will set it beside my original 2 series carrier and compare tonight. Also, I tried replying to your other post but it won't pop up. I'm a newbie when it comes to posting here.

Just to update: I ended up buying an Eaton trutrak and new motiv gears. The problem was still there. My rear pinion bearing was the wrong size pushing my pinion too far towards the carrier. All good now, no noise either.