Planning to replace the ring and pinion (and bearings) on my Dana 44 up front. Had good success with the rear I redid on my FJ40 and have greater confidence doing another diff. It ended up the cheapest way for me to obtain some Dana 44 setup bearings was to buy some of the more inexpensive bearings and then turn them down to make them into setup bearings. Wanted to use new bearings for setup rather than old bearings.
I didn't even know what a setup bearing was when I started all this. But finally figured out it meant bearings that didn't need to be pressed on. Or in the case of the pinion, the inner race just slips in so you can test fit shims. After you get everything 'setup' you then press on the final new bearings and away you go.
Taking a few thousandths off the inner pinion bearing race.
Taking a few more thousandths off the inner pinion bearing race.
Centering the bearing in the lathe.
Took a few thousandths off the carrier bearings. Had to flip it around to get it completely turned, but that worked out OK. Just took a little longer. Just wasn't enough of the bearings inner race to grab from the outside, so had to chuck it up gripping from the inside.
Test fitting the carrier. Nice tight fit, but slides in easily.
I didn't even know what a setup bearing was when I started all this. But finally figured out it meant bearings that didn't need to be pressed on. Or in the case of the pinion, the inner race just slips in so you can test fit shims. After you get everything 'setup' you then press on the final new bearings and away you go.
Taking a few thousandths off the inner pinion bearing race.
Taking a few more thousandths off the inner pinion bearing race.
Centering the bearing in the lathe.
Took a few thousandths off the carrier bearings. Had to flip it around to get it completely turned, but that worked out OK. Just took a little longer. Just wasn't enough of the bearings inner race to grab from the outside, so had to chuck it up gripping from the inside.
Test fitting the carrier. Nice tight fit, but slides in easily.