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Welded Spiders. Rats!

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Karl Childers, Dec 6, 2017.

  1. Dec 6, 2017
    Karl Childers

    Karl Childers Member

    Taos New Mexico
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    I posted awhile back that my Jeep steered really hard when the hubs are locked in. Today was my day to work on that using the information I got that thread to figure out what I have. When I jacked it up and spun the wheels it acted like a locker so the next thing was to pull the cover and see what was inside. Turns out the spiders are welded. I definitely don' t want that! I'll list my questions plus ask one about gear ratio. I should mention too that for my use I would be happy with just an open differential and EASIER steering in 4WD.

    1. How hard and how expensive is it for me to replace the spiders and carrier for the ring gear.? Would the ring and pinion need to be shimmed again?

    2. I see some really good deals on Ebay right now on limited slip units. Would I be happy with one of those in terms of ease of steering? Does it require a complete tear down and re-shim to install one of those?

    3. Ratio: I put a chalk mark on my U joint yoke and one on my tire and the spun the tire. For every single revolution of the tire the U joint yoke spun about four and one eighths time. Would I be correct in interpreting this to be a 411 ggear ratio? I mention this in case some one might be interested in trading an open diff axle of the same ratio for my locker
     
  2. Dec 6, 2017
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
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    Read the tooth count stamped into the ring gear while the cover is off.
    43/8, 47/11 etc etc
     
    Daryl likes this.
  3. Dec 6, 2017
    mike starck

    mike starck Member

    salem,oregon
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    A "Lincoln locker" in the front .that is hard core. In either case the carrier bearings and backlash will need to be set. Just remember to take backlash measurements at 3-4 locations on ring gear before disassembly. mike
     
    Karl Childers likes this.
  4. Dec 6, 2017
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Unlikely. It's not a common factory ratio for a 60s CJ. Good idea to look at the tooth count, but it's likely 4.27 or 4.88. You could look for a tag too, front and rear.

    If you have a 27, they are not in high demand. Buy a replacement outright cheaply, or upgrade to a 30. If it's not a factory ratio, you could perhaps justify fixing it.
     
    Last edited: Dec 6, 2017
  5. Dec 6, 2017
    NCRenII

    NCRenII yellow fever

    Far Nor Cal
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    tsm and gear marking compound will help you set the ring and pinion correctly. Many kits (get a reputable name) include instructions and compound.
    There are only two adjustments side to side of the gear cluster and the depth of the pinion. I believ I read a thread on this site that was a good source of info.
     
  6. Dec 6, 2017
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

    Florida Keys
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    While the cover is off, read the markings on the side of the ring gear. There are part numbers, tooth count, and usually a date, provided the rig and pinion are original Dana parts. The date may be a clue as to originality.
    I have had a few times where I have changed carriers (case) putting the original ring gear back on a different carrier. I used the original shims (under the bearings), in their original order, on the new carrier, and had the side load and backlash come out perfect. I never touched the pinion.
    If you pick up another carrier and the bearings still look good, you have little to loose be bolting your old ring gear on, and installing it to see how everything specs out.
    Remember, ring and pinions are a matched set, and the carrier bearings should stay with their matching races.
    -Donny
     
  7. Dec 7, 2017
    jeepstar

    jeepstar Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sheboygan
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    MY .02 CENTS....there is a link to a POWER LOK limited slips for a dana 27 in the ECJ EBAY/classified section. this would be an ideal time for you to buy that, and give you justification for buying them with the wife if that's an issue.
    a set of spider gears are about 100 bucks, give or take. for the little extra money, you can keep the Dana 27 and you would have the limited slip up front which is great for street, and great for mild wheeling.
    A lot of people would say to upgrade because of more aftermarket support for the Dana 30 vs the 27.

    I personally chose to keep my 27 when I found out my spider gears had exploded. only because I didn't feel like swapping axles out. I enjoy driving my jeep more than working on it, and swapping spider gears seemed the faster and easier route than buying a Dana 30 with matching gear ratios, or buying the matching gears and installing, ETC.

    again, that's my opinion. I'm not great mechanic. I can get things done, and I like to do things right when I do do stuff. if I was doing it all over again, I would be buying the limited slip to replace the broken spider gears in my front axle.

    for the price, you really cant go wrong.
     
  8. Dec 7, 2017
    Rick Whitson

    Rick Whitson Detroit Area 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    I live South of...
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    I took the Tuxedo park axels out of my 1964 Tux and replaced them with 66 V 6 3:73 axels. I gave them to my friend, G I Joe, he will sell them if you want a set of 4:27 axels. They are off a 64 134f chassis, with 9" x 1 3/4' brakes. They are in Michigan 50 miles North of the Ohio border.
     
  9. Dec 7, 2017
    Karl Childers

    Karl Childers Member

    Taos New Mexico
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    In my case I'll need more than just spider gears as mine have been been welded to the differential case ruining that as well. The LS is very tempting and your post has given me a lot to think about. The bottom line for my decision is based more on ease of steering than added traction. If someone can confirm that the Power Lock can give me both I'll scoop one right up. I appreciate your input on this.
     
  10. Dec 7, 2017
    Karl Childers

    Karl Childers Member

    Taos New Mexico
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    That's tempting but the freight to NM would probably eat my lunch. I'll give it some thought.
     
  11. Dec 7, 2017
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    buy the cheap powr lok on eBay. If I had a d27 i already would have bought it.
     
  12. Dec 7, 2017
    jeepstar

    jeepstar Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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  13. Dec 7, 2017
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    Isn't there a break for a PowerLock? Nothing mentioned here or in the eBay ad.
     
  14. Dec 7, 2017
    Karl Childers

    Karl Childers Member

    Taos New Mexico
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    I can post one of me crying in my beer.:cry:
     
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  15. Dec 7, 2017
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    Dana Spicer

    • D27 3.73 & down / 3.92 & up
     
  16. Dec 7, 2017
    jeepstar

    jeepstar Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    What do you mean by break?
     
  17. Dec 7, 2017
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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  18. Dec 7, 2017
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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  19. Dec 7, 2017
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    that's why this won't work for me :(
     
  20. Dec 7, 2017
    1967 CJ5A

    1967 CJ5A Mike 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Check that you have an 8 bolt ring gear before you buy the limited slip, if you go that route.
     
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