Ring and pinion backlash question

[OldCamaroNut]

Installing Richmond gears myself. Fun times!!! It calls for .008" backlash. BUT, I have read many times in many forums where the lash is set a little tighter for race only cars, as heat buildup isn't a problem on short quarter mile runs. Question is - how much tighter should I set it? Set it at .006, .005, .004?

I am taking my time and want this setup to be as close to perfect as possible when finished. Thanks in advance!

[OldCamaroNut]

I'm reading where it says there is a .004 maximum variation and that would mean if the ideal backlash is .008 then it should read between .008-.012 max. Do I take this to mean that if I want a "tight" setup then I should simply try for .008, and not settle for .012? BUT not go any tighter than .008?

[johnjzjz]

OK the first thing you MUST do is check the ring and pinion gear lash, in 6 spots on the circle -- reason the faces of both the carrier and the ring gear are not machined matched and if you did not heat the gear and freeze the carrier the guess that they are both dead flat to one another is a guess at best Soooo you need to find the tight spot than mark it on the ring gear check it every 1/2 inch to do that, Than you have a starting point - the tight spot is the spot you will be adjusting to no place else, the rest of the gear is what ever it ends up being, so you can make the tight spot as close as .004 BUT if you dont have the tightest spot when you start it will show up when you check the gear in its circle, in different spots its just easer to get a good spot to start with - owning a diff spreader really helps as well - we do the diff in stages so when it gets to that its real close , its a little tricky getting all the inch pound loads correct and the correct end plays and inclaination correct kind of all at the same time so it can be closed up - i only do race car diffs so i insist on taking the entire assembly out and having it at 4 feet in the air and supported correctly its a snap GOOD luck - jz

[camaroAL]

Originally Posted by OldCamaroNut

I'm reading where it says there is a .004 maximum variation and that would mean if the ideal backlash is .008 then it should read between .008-.012 max. Do I take this to mean that if I want a "tight" setup then I should simply try for .008, and not settle for .012? BUT not go any tighter than .008?

i run from .007-.010 backlash. race or street...

when they say .008-.012 that doesnt mean to chose one, it means anywhere in that range will be fine.