HELP! suggestions.
HELP! suggestions. I had my el camino running. Then i ran it hard one day and the drive-shaft went out, cut up the floor and everything. Here's a run down
80 el camino
10 bolt rear : original?
ring and pinion were replaced some time in the past no idea when, they look good though.
we think they just did a ring and pinion swap and shimmed it up with old bearings.
When we did the engine swap we knew the pinion bearing needed replaced, but just decided to do it later, you know how that goes.
I tore it apart and got all the races and bearings replaced, I'm in the middle of the job now. I have the carrier with new bearings in place in the case (no pinion), and am not sure if its too tight now. With all shims in place (tight as hell) i can turn it with my hand and it stops when i let go.
Would it really be too tight with all the shims if it was shimmed up with worn bearings? or is it gonna be ok?
Everything seems ok, I'm just not sure, its my first time.
in any case thanks guys.
80 el camino
10 bolt rear : original?
ring and pinion were replaced some time in the past no idea when, they look good though.
we think they just did a ring and pinion swap and shimmed it up with old bearings.
When we did the engine swap we knew the pinion bearing needed replaced, but just decided to do it later, you know how that goes.
I tore it apart and got all the races and bearings replaced, I'm in the middle of the job now. I have the carrier with new bearings in place in the case (no pinion), and am not sure if its too tight now. With all shims in place (tight as hell) i can turn it with my hand and it stops when i let go.
Would it really be too tight with all the shims if it was shimmed up with worn bearings? or is it gonna be ok?
Everything seems ok, I'm just not sure, its my first time.
in any case thanks guys.
Last edited by cherryelky305; Oct 8, 2008 at 11:58 AM.
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,599
Likes: 0
From: 32639 Groesbeck HWY. Fraser MI 48026
Your El Camino has the same rear axle as the F-body's, GM 7.5 axle with 26 spline axleshafts. How much backlash is on the ring gear? .007-.008 is fine and if you are having ahard time turning it then you may have put the gear into bind. Also clean everything very good with brake cleaner and blow it off with air. Any dirt or such can cause the same issue.
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,599
Likes: 0
From: 32639 Groesbeck HWY. Fraser MI 48026
On the pinoin bearings, preload then to 20-25 inch lbs and on the carrier I shim until it is hard to pull out by hand and then add .005 per side to preload. This is only true with new bearings.
