The Ford Barn

Lawrie · 03-10-2019, 01:27 AM

In the last few weeks I have done a few V8 rear ends up,
I use only timken bearings or NOS ford ones
the last one I fitted a new gearset, using timken bearings.
Easy job to set carrier bearings preload, easy job to set pinion bearing preload,BUT when coming to setting the backlash and getting the contact pattern correct, there is a bit of to ing and fro ing .and a pain if the contact pattern is not right.as you need the bearings on the shaft and in the housing ,and they are tight fits.
I came up with a great easy way to do it,
I got a good used pinion bearing set,polished .0015 from the id of the cones that will then just slip onto the new pinion with my fingers,I then polished .002 from the outer double cup so it will slip into the housing with just a light tap.
I used these to get my tooth pattern correct,( needed a shim to shift the pinion further into the ring gear teeth.)and they slip on and off with no drama.
when I had the new gears set up with the right pattern and backlash using this set up, I then measured the distance from the face of the inner pinion bearing to the edge of the outer double cup that sits down in the housing, I then measured the new timken bearings that are going to be fitted,and adjusted these via a shim under the inner pinion bearing to get the same dimension as I got using the used set that was used to set the pattern and backlash.
Then I only have to install the new bearings and shim onto the pinion once and fit the double cup into the housing once.
Just do a finale check of the contact pattern and backlash,( this never changed from the setting up using the old set of bearings)
One pain of a job made a pleasure with this use bearings setup. the used bearings are now in the axle tools box.
Hope this will make the job easier for others.
Lawrie

RobR'35 · 03-10-2019, 06:40 AM

Great idea! Thanks for sharing.

A bones · 03-10-2019, 06:56 AM

You are facilitator. Have you any compound preference? Thank you.

john in illinois · 03-10-2019, 08:08 AM

That is a great way to. do it. When I did my roadster I had the pinion assembly in and out twice to get the correct shims and pattern. Thanks for the tip.

John

Lawrie · 03-10-2019, 04:57 PM

I have always used bearing blue, I paint it on with a small brush,
but have ordered some marking compound from summit and will see if its better to use
Lawrie

Mike in AZ · 03-10-2019, 07:41 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Was watching a guy in the UK set up his axle for a Willys MB. He figured out same solution as you. And he used lipstick as marking compound. Mike

Flathead Fever · 03-10-2019, 08:13 PM

What are you using for pinion shims since Early Fords never had them? How much shim did it take to center the pattern?

I did the same thing at work on Dana 60 rearends. I honed a set of test bearings so they would slip on and off. A lot easier than pressing pinion and carrier bearings on and off and maybe damaging them in the process. The bearings are supposed to be accurate to .0001 so replacing the test bearings with the final assembly bearings does change the setup.

I use to use a yellow gear marking compound we bought from the Chevy dealer. A tube of it will last forever.

john in illinois · 03-11-2019, 11:39 AM

I use the yellow chevy marking paste also. McMaster Carr has shims.

John

deuce_roadster · 03-11-2019, 12:42 PM

NOS Ford pinions are slightly smaller where the forward bearing goes to make adjustments easy. The only aftermarket ones I have done my machine shop took enough off with a grindstone in the area needed to match a genuine Ford pinion. I don't like fighting that area when setting the preload.
A honed bearing set is a good idea if you are dealing with shim adjustments.

03-10-2019, 01:27 AM	#1
Lawrie Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Qld, Australia Posts: 4,216	Setting ring and pinions up In the last few weeks I have done a few V8 rear ends up, I use only timken bearings or NOS ford ones the last one I fitted a new gearset, using timken bearings. Easy job to set carrier bearings preload, easy job to set pinion bearing preload,BUT when coming to setting the backlash and getting the contact pattern correct, there is a bit of to ing and fro ing .and a pain if the contact pattern is not right.as you need the bearings on the shaft and in the housing ,and they are tight fits. I came up with a great easy way to do it, I got a good used pinion bearing set,polished .0015 from the id of the cones that will then just slip onto the new pinion with my fingers,I then polished .002 from the outer double cup so it will slip into the housing with just a light tap. I used these to get my tooth pattern correct,( needed a shim to shift the pinion further into the ring gear teeth.)and they slip on and off with no drama. when I had the new gears set up with the right pattern and backlash using this set up, I then measured the distance from the face of the inner pinion bearing to the edge of the outer double cup that sits down in the housing, I then measured the new timken bearings that are going to be fitted,and adjusted these via a shim under the inner pinion bearing to get the same dimension as I got using the used set that was used to set the pattern and backlash. Then I only have to install the new bearings and shim onto the pinion once and fit the double cup into the housing once. Just do a finale check of the contact pattern and backlash,( this never changed from the setting up using the old set of bearings) One pain of a job made a pleasure with this use bearings setup. the used bearings are now in the axle tools box. Hope this will make the job easier for others. Lawrie

03-10-2019, 06:40 AM	#2
RobR'35 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Upper Peninsula, Michigan Posts: 604	Re: Setting ring and pinions up Great idea! Thanks for sharing.

03-10-2019, 06:56 AM	#3
A bones Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: CLAYTON DE Posts: 1,283	Re: Setting ring and pinions up You are facilitator. Have you any compound preference? Thank you. __________________ Enjoy yer day. Tom Hate can't fix what it started.

03-10-2019, 08:08 AM	#4
john in illinois Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Illinois Posts: 2,184	Re: Setting ring and pinions up That is a great way to. do it. When I did my roadster I had the pinion assembly in and out twice to get the correct shims and pattern. Thanks for the tip. John Last edited by john in illinois; 03-10-2019 at 08:22 AM.

03-10-2019, 04:57 PM	#5
Lawrie Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Qld, Australia Posts: 4,216	Re: Setting ring and pinions up I have always used bearing blue, I paint it on with a small brush, but have ordered some marking compound from summit and will see if its better to use Lawrie

03-10-2019, 07:41 PM	#6
Mike in AZ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Waddell, AZ Posts: 2,540	Re: Setting ring and pinions up Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Was watching a guy in the UK set up his axle for a Willys MB. He figured out same solution as you. And he used lipstick as marking compound. Mike

03-10-2019, 08:13 PM	#7
Flathead Fever Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 1,095	Re: Setting ring and pinions up What are you using for pinion shims since Early Fords never had them? How much shim did it take to center the pattern? I did the same thing at work on Dana 60 rearends. I honed a set of test bearings so they would slip on and off. A lot easier than pressing pinion and carrier bearings on and off and maybe damaging them in the process. The bearings are supposed to be accurate to .0001 so replacing the test bearings with the final assembly bearings does change the setup. I use to use a yellow gear marking compound we bought from the Chevy dealer. A tube of it will last forever. Last edited by Flathead Fever; 03-10-2019 at 10:00 PM.

03-11-2019, 11:39 AM	#8
john in illinois Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Illinois Posts: 2,184	Re: Setting ring and pinions up I use the yellow chevy marking paste also. McMaster Carr has shims. John

03-11-2019, 12:42 PM	#9
deuce_roadster Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Shelton, WA Posts: 3,800	Re: Setting ring and pinions up NOS Ford pinions are slightly smaller where the forward bearing goes to make adjustments easy. The only aftermarket ones I have done my machine shop took enough off with a grindstone in the area needed to match a genuine Ford pinion. I don't like fighting that area when setting the preload. A honed bearing set is a good idea if you are dealing with shim adjustments.