Question for Tom Endy

[tbirdtbird]

I am preparing to set up my differential according to your excellent and thorough instructions.
I am unable to obtain a spare spider yoke that you use as a special tool. The suppliers do not list that item.
Is there an acceptable work-around for this ?

Thank you.
dave

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Want one, ...or two, ....or three....?


Seriously, surely someone in the DFW area has a torn-apart, greasy, nasty differential laying around that they would donate to your cause.

[Jason in TX]

Hey Dave... How's the ice cream truck coming along?

[Tom Endy]

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Spider gear yokes are around in abundance. I doubt a supplier would sell very many. Same goes for the spider gears themselves. They are usually survivors. In most cases I can pretty well tell by feel if I have achieved the proper pre-load. The hobby documentation says it should be 20 inch pounds. The only way you can dial it in right on 20 is to have a supply of very thin banjo gaskets. Anything between 14 and 22 works for me.

I suspect you could modify the yoke you are going to install in the car. Drill a hole through the flat side and tap it for the threaded stock, which is the other part of the tool. The hole in the yoke should not create a problem. The flat side of both axles runs against it and probably won't care if there is a hole in the yoke.

Attached photo is of a carrier with the hub on the ring gear side sheared off. This came out of a car that was running just fine. The owner was having an overdrive installed and wanted the rear axle assembly overhauled as a precaution. When I took it apart the bearing with a portion of the hub in it fell out. I suspect who ever had it apart before did not know about pre-load and put a gasket on each side and bolted it up. It was probably locked up when assembled. In most cases it would have spun the bearing on the hub. In this case it just sheared the hub off.

Tom Endy