model 20 answers

Showing both would be nice - some of us run stock, some don't.......

We used the spreader. Also had them in college when we spent a good chunk of the quarter on differentials and setup. Doesn't take a lot of force to spread it the small amount needed to get the carrier in. Some folks simply beat the shims into place, too. Besides preload on the carrier bearings, the shims also are what you use to shift the carrier left or right for the backlash, etc. but I see you getting into that later ;-)


Edited by billd - Nov/05/2010 at 6:04am

At this point your diff is about as torn down as it will go.  I never had the chance to drive this diff so I spent extra time checking it out on tear down.  You should have an idea what was wrong with your diff at this point, most will be replacing the bearings and maybe a ratio change, or adding a twin grip. 

Other special tools you will need include:

This shows how to set up dial indicater to check carrier bearing preload. Use a set of shims that allow the carrier to slide in with no effort and install main caps finger tight. Using a pry bar, pry carrier left and right to seat bearing races in the housing. Then tighten caps with wrench. Pry the carrier to one side and zero the indiater, then pry the the carrier to the other side and read the indicator. The amount read is what is needed to be added to shims to achieve zero preload. Dont zero the indicator or read it while prying. Its a good idea to lightly run a file over the drve gear flange, this will remove any nicks or high spots. Once you have adjusted to zero preload set the indicater to zero again and spin the carrier watching the dial. This checks for runout, in a perfect world it should be zero. Up to .002 is ok.  

I used an aluminum driver to install the front and rear bearing race's. Also shown is the shim for pinnion depth, it installs under the rear pinnion race. I have found that inorder to get the old race out you must drive against this shim and they seem to be brittle and easy to damage. I ground the four small notches in the shim shown to help in removal if pinnion depth is wrong.