Minispool

[damankerrison09]

Hey guys, Im gonna install a mini spool and 3.9's into my VL and i just need someone to help me with fine details...

A mechanic mate said he'll do it for $150 the lot, BUT i wanna do it myself to learn how to do it for future and im very short of cash!

So all i need to know is how do i put the diff gears in and how do i set the backlash? I know how to actually put the mini spool into the diff carrier but got told that backlash is hard to set and i shouldnt do it myself, but im starting a mechanic's apprenticeship in a month so thats one more thing that i can say i know how to do, if some nice person would like to help me Thanks Daman

(PS Dont care about all the legalitys and danger issues of minispools ive already considered it all after killing my VL Turbo LSD i wanna mini spool)

[jujibelly]

Get your mate to supervise.

[damankerrison09]

He's pretty busy all the time haha, Was kinda just looking for how to set the backlash so me and a mate can do it tomoro as we are quite bored Haha

[azzfox]

Backlash is set by shims on either side of the carrier bearings. Just remember where each shim came from prior to removal, so the backlash will remain the same. Or if it has excessive backlash to begin with then you can play with shims of different thicknesses until youre happy. But this may also throw out pinion alignment which is also set by shims but requires the inner bearing to pressed off and on again, which of course requires a large press!

[damankerrison09]

ok, And now im confused haha.. i have my open wheeler diff carrier in front of me and im guessin the shims are not on it, they are inside my diff housing in my car? what do they look like? Thanks for your help btw

[azzfox]

Taken from: The LOLRSVPBBQ how to fit a minispool into VN-VS live axle super happy thread.

[damankerrison09]

Is that it? Thats what everyone keeps tellin me is so hard? i just gotta put them things back in? i only have two in the bock with my old diff centre and im guessing one is left and one is right? so if i put them in how u have shown me above, ill be fine?

Cheers Daman

[azzfox]

Yes, but one may the thicker than the other. I guess you can try them both ways and see which way has the least backlash

Setting backlash can be tricky if your starting from scratch ie. changing diff gears. Because by shifting the carrier side to side youre changing the way the pinion teeth contact the crown wheel. So both the pinion and carrier shims need to be changed until correct teeth contact and backlash is achieved.

EDIT: Just read the part about 3.9's. Were they fitted beforehand? Or getting fitting?

[damankerrison09]

Getting fitted.. does this mean i need new shims? cos wont that cost lots and be hard to find measurements for? I would have managed if i wasnt changin my diff gears hey? HAHA

[azzfox]

Yep lol. Better off getting someone who knows what theyre doing to set it up, and who has access to a press. If set incorrectly it will make a whining sound or wear the gears prematurely, or both. It might cost you, but if you take it to someone who specialises in this area they should have a range of shims at hand.

Im fitting a minispool in my VN soon and was contemplating diff gears while its all out, but getting them aligned made put off the gears for a later time.

[damankerrison09]

Well mines gonna be done for skids, so i'll not be leaving the diff gears out till later haha, Ill just pay my mate to do it, but i still dunno where he's gonna pull the shims from

Ill go ask him later today, Thanks for all ya help mate

Daman

[azzfox]

haha no worries