diff shimming
 

can anyone tell me the proper way to shim diffs, and how they should feel when they are right?

Well; it's quite simple.. With as little play as possible, without binding.

Patience is the key.. It takes me about 1-2 hours per diff to set them up perfect.

I agree with Serum. It can take a while.

To test, I hold the outdrives in each hand an turn in opposite directions to "work" the inner gears. There should be no binding at all. Also, I push in and pull out on the outdrive cups (they'll still shift an itty bit) and make sure they shift less than 1/2 a mm, yet they still don't bind - but I can still "feel" the gears moving inside in both cases.

Visit www.unlimitedengineering.com

go to the manuals section and read about setting up the UE Ultralite diffs. That should give you enough info & pictures to get the job done.

Good luck!

should the pinion have a lot of play as far as sliding in and out of the diff housing? I have hybrid diffs.

No. There can be some play but it should not be excessive.

Make sure to check play with the drive cup on. That can sometimes effect it.

as little play as possible on anything, without binding.

My UE's took me about a half hour. Not sure what you guys are talking about? My UE diffs came with shims that worked like a charm, the only hard part for me was getting the pinion as close to the cup as possible without it (pinion) binding. Other than that, one shim on each side and I was golden.

I've found it easier with some diffs than others.

If you're using traditional diff cases & bulkheads there can be pressure exerted on the case laterally by the bulks when the bulk/chassis/shock towers assemblies are bolted together.

then you have to reshim to adjust for that.

In other set-ups, particularly the FLM hybrid bulks and the UE VBS this is non existant.

15 minutes per diff? that's a quicky..

i did the very same Troy, (putting the pinion close to the diff) but it sure took me more than 15 minutes per diff.

Perhaps i am too precise, who knows.. But i enjoy putting love in them..

Yeah, that's a fact. some take longer than others.

Or just S..............L..........O..................W!

JK!

:027:


and that "love thing".......don't share that "little detail" with your wife.

Actually, from what I have heard, the older UE's never came with shims? If this is true, than I can see. And that is 1/2 hour PER diff my friend! LOL. The innerds were really easy as they each only took one shim per side and they were tight, real close to perfect. It was the pinion that was a PITA for me. But, I read tons before I did it, so that may have made the difference as well. I can see how love is needed and how it can be that way, but when I heard what a pain they were and did it....I just had to scratch my head and say to myself why? No offense to anyone I hope.

No, you cal it 'close to perfect' and mine are perfect. Not trying to offend you, but that's the thing that's lurking time with shimming the diffs.

I build about 6-7 pairs of the UE 8 spiders now, and about 10 pairs for the savage, i know what to do with shimming, i don't feel offended. Like i said, it takes a while before it's perfect in my eyes.. Good is okay, but perfect is better.. and i enjoy putting love in these little buggers..

Some people are just perfectionists! ;)