Play in the front diff after installing new yoke

[THEMADTYPH00N]

After installing the new yoke for the gilbert propshaft I noticed there seems to be alot more play in the diff than there was before I started. I can turn the yoke a full 1/8 of a turn before it catches and starts to turn the wheels. Im pretty sure I got the pinion nut in the same position it was before I took it off. I counted the number of splines showing and marked the position with a paint marker. Any ideas whats going on here?

 

[THEMADTYPH00N]

Re: Play in the front diff after installing new yoke

Anyone?

 

[sy#2921]

Re: Play in the front diff after installing new yoke

Only thought I have is that since you can get a hold on the gilbert a little better than the stocker you notice the play more that before. I have done 3 installs and havent noticed this. You werent looking for the play before but now you are so you could be over thinking it

 

[big gear head]

Re: Play in the front diff after installing new yoke

Torque the nut to about 125 foot pounds and use red Loctite on the threads. The method that you used is unreliable. You could have counted wrong or got something off a little.

 

[Don W.]

Re: Play in the front diff after installing new yoke

Torque the nut to about 125 foot pounds and use red Loctite on the threads. The method that you used is unreliable. You could have counted wrong or got something off a little.

I agree and I wouldn't drive it that way. MAJOR damage. Don't have the book in front of me but it'll be either a torque value on the nut itself or a measurement of the torque required to rotate the pinion. I've used a modified method to replace pinon seals: Use a dremel to cut a small notch in the pinion and the nut together (IE before removal). On reassembly it's obvious when the notch lines up and you know you're back to original.:2cents:

 

[THEMADTYPH00N]

Re: Play in the front diff after installing new yoke

Cool thanks guys, I knew something wasn't right. I'll post back with the results

 

[big gear head]

Re: Play in the front diff after installing new yoke

When setting up a ring & pinion gear you will use the torque that is required to turn the pinion. This is the bearing preload and is usually about 15 to 20 inch pounds on a smaler differential like the 7.2 IFS. When the differential is assembled there is no way to accurately measure the bearing preload, so torquing the nut is about the only way to do it. Don't forget the Loctite.

 

[THEMADTYPH00N]

Re: Play in the front diff after installing new yoke

Well I torqued the nut, didn't help, the play is still in it. Seems like it has some how got a massive amount of backlash and the gears are just not together tight enough. Any ideas on what I should do now?

 

[chelo]

Re: Play in the front diff after installing new yoke

Did you check for play before you removed the original? The reason i asked is that im going to be doing the same on mine. I checked my stock and found out it does have a bit of play. An 1/8" sounds about right.

 

[Don W.]

Re: Play in the front diff after installing new yoke

Is there any side to side or in and out play in the yoke? Pull the nut and look at the pinion compared to the flange. Is the flange out past the pinion? Meaning that when the nut is tightened it's pressing on the flange not the shoulder of the pinion where the threads begin. Remove the new flange and compare it to the old flange. Is the spline length the same?

 

[THEMADTYPH00N]

Re: Play in the front diff after installing new yoke

Did you check for play before you removed the original? The reason i asked is that im going to be doing the same on mine. I checked my stock and found out it does have a bit of play. An 1/8" sounds about right.

Some some but nowhere near this much.

 

[THEMADTYPH00N]

Re: Play in the front diff after installing new yoke

Is there any side to side or in and out play in the yoke? Pull the nut and look at the pinion compared to the flange. Is the flange out past the pinion? Meaning that when the nut is tightened it's pressing on the flange not the shoulder of the pinion where the threads begin. Remove the new flange and compare it to the old flange. Is the spline length the same?

It has absolutly no play side to side or in and out. I'll pull it and compair the 2 flanges.

 

[big gear head]

Re: Play in the front diff after installing new yoke

When you remove the nut and washer look into the yoke and see if the splines are below the surface where the washer sits. if the splines are even with the washer surface then the yoke might not be deep enough to contact the outer pinion bearing.

It might be fine just like it is. The 7.2 IFS is very difficult to check the backlash. There is a cover on the side that you remove to get acccess to the ring gear. You need a finger type dial indicator with a long finger on it to reach the gear and check the backlash. If the backlash is correct at the ring gear then the amount of movement in the pinion is not improtant. Backlash is not measured at the pinion.

 

[Don W.]

Re: Play in the front diff after installing new yoke

When you remove the nut and washer look into the yoke and see if the splines are below the surface where the washer sits. if the splines are even with the washer surface then the yoke might not be deep enough to contact the outer pinion bearing.

This is what I was attempting to say.:tup:

 

[THEMADTYPH00N]

Re: Play in the front diff after installing new yoke

Some pictures

And the yokes

I dunno maybe I'm just paraniod but I can't get over how much play is in it. I mean the rear end is nice and tight and this just feels really sloppy. I cant see how running it like this wouldn't damage anything. I mean I can damn near get a 1/4 of a turn out of it with out it moving the wheels. And before it catches so to speak it just feels like its not even in contact with the ring gear, like its just free wheeling. Something must have backed off in the inside.

 

[the baPhoon]

Re: Play in the front diff after installing new yoke

I get about 1/8th of a turn outa my front prop without the tires doing anything. 1/4 does sond a little bit off... but what do i know.

 

[THEMADTYPH00N]

Re: Play in the front diff after installing new yoke

I get about 1/8th of a turn outa my front prop without the tires doing anything. 1/4 does sond a little bit off... but what do i know.

Hmm ok maybe I just never noticed it before. That does make me feel slighty better.

 

[Don W.]

Re: Play in the front diff after installing new yoke

Since my front dif is out of the truck anyway I just measured. There is less than 1/4" (that's inch) of travel in my pinion of "free-play" measured at the outside dia of the flange. Does that make sense? Nothing close to 1/4 of a turn or even 1/8 of a turn. Even considering the clearance within the spider (differential) gears I think you have a problem or you're not measuring what you think you're measuring. Turn it back and forth just a tiny bit. Do you get a click-click or clunk-clunk as the pinion hits the ring gear? Check your rear drive-line. for an idea of what I mean.

 

[THEMADTYPH00N]

Re: Play in the front diff after installing new yoke

Since my front dif is out of the truck anyway I just measured. There is less than 1/4" (that's inch) of travel in my pinion of "free-play" measured at the outside dia of the flange. Does that make sense? Nothing close to 1/4 of a turn or even 1/8 of a turn. Even considering the clearance within the spider (differential) gears I think you have a problem or you're not measuring what you think you're measuring. Turn it back and forth just a tiny bit. Do you get a click-click or clunk-clunk as the pinion hits the ring gear? Check your rear drive-line. for an idea of what I mean.

Yea I know exactly what your sayin. If I turn it back and forth just a little bit it feels like it not touching anything, just kind free wheeling so to speak. It will take turning it back and forth at least 1/8 of a turn before I feel and hear the click or clunk of it contacting the ring gear. The rear end is exactly as you describe, there is hardly any play in that probably the 1/4" you describe.

 

[Don W.]

Re: Play in the front diff after installing new yoke

Well IMHO I think somthin' is wrong. Don't know what. Never had one of these apart.

Idea: Beg, borrow, buy (last resort, expensive for one shot), a bore-scope and look in the fill hole and see if you can see what's happening. Got an aviation mechanic friend? He'll have one.