mustbereel said:
Is it necessary to remove the ring gear to replace the clutch pack on an 8" differential? Or more to the point, can I replace the clutch pack without having to reset gear lash? I have a spare 8" center section with 3.80 gears and a worn out lsd that I would like to freshen up myself but haven't ever worked on gears before.
First, you must remove the center hub in order to replace clutches and this will screw up the gear lash.
The clutches are inside the center hub and you will need to remove all the ring gear retaining bolts in order to split the hub. The ring gear may stay stuck to the hub or it may want to come off due to gravity.
There are various sites on the web that detail the adjustment, although I must confess that they are often vague. The factory shop manual offers probably the best directions, although it is not always as simple as it appears. Gear alignment is critical for the rear to last long and remain quiet. Here are the basics:
It is best to take a backlash measurement before you remove the hub. Requires a dial indicator and stand. You should also "paint" the gears with marking compound to establish the original pattern. You will need to create some type of drag in order to see the true pattern. Remove 2 locking bolts and the 4 cap bolts and you can then remove the hub.
Remove the ring gear bolts to separate the hub. You may also find drift pins. Pay attention to how the parts are installed as as the hub is being disassembled.
When all your clutch work is done, you reattach the ring gear and then reinstall the hub into the carrier. It is time to turn the side adjusters in order to achieve the original backlash, or if it is out of factory specs, you adjust it into spec. Next you need to preload the bearings using both adjusters while not changing the backlash. You then repaint the gears to ensure that the original pattern is retained. Once satisfied, snug up the adjuster locks.
Overall, it really isn't that hard to do, but unless you have a knowledgeable partner with you, it might be best to have someone do it for you.
