7.625 Differential Rebuild including a new Auburn

[Barbadian Camaro]

I am a auto tech for over 20years in the process of rebuilding and installing an Auburn Pro Series but at the very begining of assembly I am in a situation with then pinion assembly.
The rebuild kit is Ratech RAT-3001K...I am reusing ring gear and pinion so reusing oem pinion shim/s but as I am tightening the pinion nut I checking until they is no float or shake in the pinion then is when I realise I have the nut fully tighten and still have float.
I'm suspecting the pinion bearings are no not oem spec....looking to order from a different manufacturer.
Have any of you come accross such?

[LETZRIDE]

Couple questions for you:

1) If only installing the Auburn, why did you pull the Pinion? Could you not get the backlash setup just using shims on diff / ring gear? This is how we installed my Eaton to replace my zexel torsen.

2) What do you mean tighten until there is no float or shake? The gears need to be setup with proper backlash which will require the use of a dial indicator. I believe the recommended backlash is .008 to .012 if memory serves me right, but I would need to pull out my haines manual to verify.

3) Do you have the new crush sleeve in place?

I can't remember the brand I used as it was a long time ago...Ratech sounds familiar though...

[Barbadian Camaro]

I pull the pinion as I was in there for over 20 years I decided why not change bearings and seal...what I mean about float or shake is in terms of setting the pinion preload,the pinion bearings won't load....as I say I purchase Ratech RAT-3001K....so a crush sleeve would also been changed.

[LETZRIDE]

I totally understand - I ask because there have been a number of folks in the past (including shops) who don't use the new crush sleeve.

The crush sleeve is what creates the preload on the pinion bearing. So my next question since you have the new crush sleeve installed is have you applied enough force to crush the crush sleeve? They take A LOT of force and you would be suprised how many people torque the pinion nut not crushing the sleeve.

See this thread here as they describe what appears to be a somewhat similar issue to what you are facing: http://nastyz28.com/threads/pinion-b...problem.79040/

You also might find this thread helpful with your install: https://www.camarov6.com/forum/techn...stall-question

[Barbadian Camaro]

I come to say I see my situationI thought I run out of threads before the crush washer made contact with the outer pinion bearing....so what I did....I took the crush washer out and slowly tighten the pinion nut and realise the pinion bearings made contact to the out races....so now I know I now have to really tighten that nut with the crush washer install...
Thanks to Letzride who took time to reply...now I have to get in the gym to be able to really get that nut turn when the load then become on the crush sleeve.

[LETZRIDE]

It’s a common mistake- glad we were able to help out!