about how long should it take to replace gears and bearings on a 12 blot rear? any quess? person is experienced, but will be working off the ground no lift !

That's one of those "how-high-is-up" questions...

An 'experienced' person with ALL the correct tools, the big wooden "box-o-shims" and spacers (took me many years to collect those), ALL the necessary parts and supplies, access to a press and a good eye for how the assembly is setting up during trial fittings could get it done in a day - I do.

If any of the above is missing - add a couple days in...

Hope others with experience doing this in the 'reclining' possition chime-in!

Usually takes me about 6 hours. I've been doing it for 22 years. A good installation kit will make it easier.

I can do gears/bearings/posi or a bearing overhaul in about an hour and a half on a lift. Tasks to include are:

Completly strip housing.
Sterilize housing. (ABSOLUTELY paramount )
New axle bearings and seals.
New gears, bearings and posi.
Paint cover, glue and fill it with lube.

As for doing it on your back....add two hours.

A good O/H kit and some "Super Shims" will make all of the difference to the cat doing the work.

Meow :cool:

What's a super shim?

A super shim is a pair of adjustable device's that help one adjust not only carrier preload but backlash as well. They basically have an adjustable amount of smaller shims between the majority halfs to move the carrier to one side or the other.

Originally posted by jimfulco:
What's a super shim? Like 'chicane' said - it's basicly just smaller shims that can be added to the masters to change the offset and preload of the carrier.
Most factory set carriers come with a pre-determined sized one piece shim in either side of the carrier.
When you are changing carriers (adding a Posi for example), the ring&pinion or even when changing the bearings due to wear/noise sometimes, you will probably need to move the orginal carrier possition and the use of the original shims will not work.
In these cases stacking the shims to get the correct set-up and preload is easier than trying to find just the right single piece spacer to fit.

Hope this helps;

John

ps: I'm evidently much slower at this work than everyone else... :(

Would the installation kit from the supplier of new gears have all the shims and such you guys are mentioning?

Some installation kits are better than others, much better. It is hard to tell what you are getting sometimes until you have it in your hands. Look for a kit with Timken bearings and the super shim set. The other shim sets are difficult to work with sometimes.

I got my gears and the install kit from Richmond gears. I will check it out when I get home, do they usually have good kits?

I ordered my kit from big gear head. It was very complete and you can't beat the price. The best part was all the free advise that came along with it. graemlins/thumbsup.gif