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Chevy 10-Bolt Rearend Upgrades - Get Your Rear In Gear

How To Upgrade Your 8.2-Inch 10-Bolt

By Mike Harrington, Photography by Mike Harrington
  • Chevy 10 Bolt Rearend Differential
    The torque specs that the instructions call for are first 55 then 60 ft-lbs for the ring gear. Red Loctite is used on these bolts as well.
    Chevy 10 Bolt Rearend Differential
    The torque specs that the instructions call for are first 55 then 60 ft-lbs for the ring g
  • Chevy 10 Bolt Rearend Differential
    When installing the carrier and gear, we saved the original shims as a starting point for backlash measurement. Sometimes setting backlash is a trial and error process. In our case the original shims were too tight a fit, so we used the shims supplied in the kit to get the backlash properly set.
    Chevy 10 Bolt Rearend Differential
    When installing the carrier and gear, we saved the original shims as a starting point for
  • Chevy 10 Bolt Rearend
    Setting the backlash requires that the pinion gear be immobilized while the ring gear is rotated back and forth.
    Chevy 10 Bolt Rearend
    Setting the backlash requires that the pinion gear be immobilized while the ring gear is r
  • Chevy 10 Bolt Rearend
    Moving the ring gear towards or away from the pinion gear centerline helps determine the amount of rotation backlash and meshing of the gears. We set the backlash in the rear end to .003-inch, which is on the tighter end of the spectrum.
    Chevy 10 Bolt Rearend
    Moving the ring gear towards or away from the pinion gear centerline helps determine the a
  • Chevy 10 Bolt Rearend Ring Gear
    Once the we believed we had the proper backlash set, we used gear marking compound to check the pattern wear on the teeth of the ring gear. There are about 18 different illustrations in the instruction booklet that deal with acceptable wear patterns. Needless to say, we won't include those in this article. As you can see the gear wear pattern on our ring gear is as close to center as we could get it, which, according to the instructions and Randy's book is acceptable.
    Chevy 10 Bolt Rearend Ring Gear
    Once the we believed we had the proper backlash set, we used gear marking compound to chec
  • Chevy 10 Bolt Rearend Axle Bearing
    After that, the axle seals and bearings went in.
  • Chevy 10 Bolt Rearend Axle Install
    The Master Power backing plates and then Yukon C-clip axles are installed next.
  • Chevy 10 Bolt Rearend Differential Cover
    After the axles were clipped into place, we sealed up the differential using Grade 8-bolts. That might be overkill on our part, but Harrison insisted.
    Chevy 10 Bolt Rearend Differential Cover
    After the axles were clipped into place, we sealed up the differential using Grade 8-bolts
  • Chevy 10 Bolt Rearend Gear Oil
    Finally we used Royal Purple 75w-90 gear oil and filled her up. Follow the direction included in the instruction booklet for the proper breaking procedure of the new ring and pinion
    Chevy 10 Bolt Rearend Gear Oil
    Finally we used Royal Purple 75w-90 gear oil and filled her up. Follow the direction inclu
SOURCES
Royal Purple Yukon Gear & Axle
8-88/-905-5044
www.yukongear.com
Harrison's Restorations Randy's Ring and Pinion
8-00/-347-1188
ring-pinion.com
Master Power Brakes
254-1 Rolling Hills Rd.
Mooresville
NC  28117
704-664-8866
www.mpbrakes.com
By Mike Harrington
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