Should I rebuilld my new diff?

[Seedster]

Hi Guys,

Both my diffs shot at the same time and I purchased some Savage X SS diffs & bulkheads for my Savage X.

I have:

OS .03VG (52T/16T)
3-Speed Tranny
Larger wheels
HD Dogbones
Upgraded upper & lower control arms

I'm wondering if I should tear everything apart and set the meshes or should I feel it and as long as there's not tooooooo much play assume that the factory built everything correctly? I want to run thicker oil in the diffs eventually...should I just do it now or during my first rebuild?

I just don't wanna break these things right off the bat by being lazy. But if it's unnecessary...I'll try to get a gallon or so through them before I dissect it all.

Oh, and I've attached a picture of the exact item I picked up on ebay. I liked the fact that it came with hardened cups all around.

 

[Crash]

The new diffs are not all the same from factory.

You need to check the mesh bewtween the drive gear and pinion gear now.

If its ok, I'd run them for a gallon then go back in and inspect them again.

Dan

 

[frddyj]

The new diffs are not all the same from factory.

You need to check the mesh bewtween the drive gear and pinion gear now.

If its ok, I'd run them for a gallon then go back in and inspect them again.

Dan

Good Advice ^^^ i check & shim about every gallon

 

[pmp]

I would check it right off the bat. they are out of the truck right now so might as well. That way you can make sure you have the diff fluid you want to run in them also.

 

[Seedster]

I would check it right off the bat. they are out of the truck right now so might as well. That way you can make sure you have the diff fluid you want to run in them also.

Even though they are technically "out of the truck"...the diffs themselves are still inside the bulkheads and pre-shimmed (or so I'm hoping).

I'm wondering if I should go through the hassle of opening up the diff (those 4 philips screws are a SOB to take off and put back on!), cleaning all the parts, replacing the paper gaskets, re-shimming, etc....all before even putting them on the truck and running through a gallon or so...again, assuming they feel like they're shimmed properly.

Then again, I know that preventative care/maintenance is just as important as having the right parts. Ahhh...what to do....

 

[Jon]

they don't come shimmed from factory, you have to do it.
I'm uploading a vid now on how to assemble and shim your diffs. its just taking forever.

 

[Seedster]

they don't come shimmed from factory, you have to do it.
I'm uploading a vid now on how to assemble and shim your diffs. its just taking forever.

Let me know if you need server space to upload the vid. Definitely looking forward to it! 🙂