I am going ahead and changing gears in my Malibu myself.
I have partially dis-assembled the donor axle and before proceeding any further, would like to ask for advice if it is necessary.
I have NO need to dis-assemble the carrier as it will fit my axle, and has the gear set I need.
After locking the pinion flange (and gear) in place I have a measured ring gear travel of 0.0105 inch, which I measured 4 times at this same result.
While measuring the above, I also side stepped and measured the carrier side-to-side movement and each time came up with 0.0015 inch, same in all 4 measurements also.
I have an inch pounds torque wrench, and tried to measure the force necessary to turn the pinion, BUT I came up with a NON-measureable reading.
This axle was apparently apart in the past to change the gear lube and nothing else, the C-clips show minimal wear in the contact area, and the axle shafts show no scoring where the bearings OR the shaft seals ride.
Let me know if I am wrong here:
I am under the impression I should take a gear mesh wear pattern before dis-assembly.
I should only have to purchase at this time a set of axleshaft bearings and seals, a pinion seal, and a new pinion nut, at least one new crush sleeve, a new cover gasket, and 2 quarts of new gear lube.
The things listed above should be the ONLY cost involved in this gear swap.
If I missed out on something I should do before pulling the carrier and pinion gear, LET ME KNOW.
Setting it all up in the other axle housing, I should just look at matching the settings, and gear mesh pattern, to what I measured in the old housing?
I have partially dis-assembled the donor axle and before proceeding any further, would like to ask for advice if it is necessary.
I have NO need to dis-assemble the carrier as it will fit my axle, and has the gear set I need.
After locking the pinion flange (and gear) in place I have a measured ring gear travel of 0.0105 inch, which I measured 4 times at this same result.
While measuring the above, I also side stepped and measured the carrier side-to-side movement and each time came up with 0.0015 inch, same in all 4 measurements also.
I have an inch pounds torque wrench, and tried to measure the force necessary to turn the pinion, BUT I came up with a NON-measureable reading.
This axle was apparently apart in the past to change the gear lube and nothing else, the C-clips show minimal wear in the contact area, and the axle shafts show no scoring where the bearings OR the shaft seals ride.
Let me know if I am wrong here:
I am under the impression I should take a gear mesh wear pattern before dis-assembly.
I should only have to purchase at this time a set of axleshaft bearings and seals, a pinion seal, and a new pinion nut, at least one new crush sleeve, a new cover gasket, and 2 quarts of new gear lube.
The things listed above should be the ONLY cost involved in this gear swap.
If I missed out on something I should do before pulling the carrier and pinion gear, LET ME KNOW.
Setting it all up in the other axle housing, I should just look at matching the settings, and gear mesh pattern, to what I measured in the old housing?