Hi guys,
I am in the process of installing a Detroit TrueTrac in my rear axle
D35C. (I'm a bit in over my head, but there is a first time for
everything:) and I have a few questions maybe some of you can help me
with.

1) My new carrier says RATIO 3.54 and has an arrow pointing up. I
interpret this a as 3.54 and higher, i.e 3.54 -> 3.07, which is what
I have.
Am I correct ? Or does it go the other way 3.54 -> 4.08 etc. :<

2) My factory service manual says that the carrier shims during FINAL
assembly go between the bearing and the carrier. During gear set up
they are placed on the outside between the bearing races and the
housing for convenience. When I pulled the old carrier out though, the
shims where on the outside between the bearing races and the housing
and not between the bearings and the carrier. Also the shims are
actually one thick shim on each side instead of multiple thin shims
which is what my overhaul kit contains. I don't think this is a
problem though. But what about the placement of the shims ? I would
really prefer to put them one the outside and save pulling the
bearings off the carrier.

3) The factory service manual references, by number, some specialty
tools. Who makes them ? The guy at Randy's Ring and Pinion could not
match up any of the numbers with their tool part numbers. I didn't
find any mention in the service manual about how or where to get them.
For example what tool do you use to pull the rear bearing off the
pinion ? I have a new R&P so I won't need to do this but would a
bearing splitter and a puller work just like on the carrier bearings ?

4) How do you install the rear bearing on the pinion ? The manual
references some special tool/driver, but no picture to be seen. I
imagine this being a simple pipe or tube, preferably heavy walled and
a few thousandths larger in diameter than the bearing so it can slip
over the shaft and drive the bearing into place. I am planning on
using a similar technique for the carrier bearings using a honed out
old bearing. Is this reasonable or should I do something else. ?


Thanks for reading, if you can help please do.
-Joe

 

I forgot to mention that I asked one of the local (Annapolis MD) Jeep
stealer for a quote on a Ring and Pinion set and they said $569.00 !!
Needles to say I got a better deal elsewhere ~$170.00, unless the
dealer's R&P is made out of kryptonite :)
-Joe

 

>The dealership might be a parts and labor price, but who knows.
>
>Might I suggest that a diff carrier replacement is not really a job for the
>first-time do it yourselfer. Gear alignment is critical and IMHO this kind of
>job is better left to someone who has some experience under his/her belt.
>* * *
>Matt Macchiarolo

The Dealer quoted just parts.
How do you think those guys & gals got that experience under their
belts ? I realize this job is tricky, but if I persist until it is
done right I think (hope) I'll be ok. I could always take my axle to a
shop if I can't set it up right . It is more than I bargained for
going in though because I thought I would only have to do the rear.
Unfortunately the truetrac I bought 2 years ago and had sitting around
is for 3,54 an up so my 3.07 gears won't do. Got to change front and
back to 3.54 to use the diff :(

 

>How do you think those guys & gals got that experience under their
>belts ?

they probably had some sort of formal training, either at a tech school or
through an employer, not through trial and error in their own backyard, to
receive the training necessary to pass their certification. Of course there are
exceptions, but probably very few.

For all I know you might be qualified to do an R&P/carrier change but your
questions in the original post indicate the opposite, hence my cautionary
reply.

That said, good luck on your project.
* * *
Matt Macchiarolo
www.townpeddler.com
www.wolverine4wd.org
http://wolverine4wd.org/rigs/macchiarolo_ml.html

 

Make sure if the jeep is older you replace the axle seals. I had my
True Trac installed and then when it came out of the shop there was a
oil leaking out.

 

On 31 Jul 2003 06:54:25 -0700, snowboardripper@hotmail.com
(Snowboardripper) wrote:

>Make sure if the jeep is older you replace the axle seals. I had my
>True Trac installed and then when it came out of the shop there was a
>oil leaking out.

Yes, since I am going through with this, I am replacing every seal
bearing and race. (91YJ)
How do you like your True Trac ?
feel any different then the open differential ?
-Joe

 

>I had one installed in the front of my TJ and I can't even tell it's there
>through the steering wheel on the street, but there is a great improvement in
>traction on the trails...
>* * *
>Matt Macchiarolo

Sounds good. I am tired of getting stuck in the mud/snow etc, when
one wheel from each axle has no traction. I am also curious about the
effect my new lower gear ratio will have. I had 3.07 gears with 31"
MTRs and now I will have 3.54
So far the installation is going well but it is slow process.
-Joe