Dana Pinion Markings

i'm going to be attempting to set up gears for the first time. I've been doing a lot of reading and it sure seemed intimidating at first, but the more I read, the less frightened I become...

Anyway, I am wondering what all the markings that are scribed onto the head of the pinion gear mean? for example, a dana 30 pinion I removed has 4 markings on it - each on the perimeter of the gear head set apart at an eqaul distance from each other (in quadrents). they are:

+3
0
396
f

so what do these markings mean? i have my suspicions on a couple, but i am wondering what people know about them?

thanks

 

+3 is how many hours extra its gonna take
0 is gonna be your patience
396 is how much extra you'll spend
f will begin a 4 letter word often used when working on it R)

wish i could help ya, but i don't mess with them to much

 

not the answer i was looking for, but gotta give you credit on your creativity.

 

Howdy, I don't know what the other markings are for, but the +3 is telling you how far from zero this pinion was machined, and to help you set up your shim pack... There is a chart in the FSM that tells you how much to adjust the shim pack based upon what that number is on the pinion gear that is in axle and what that number is on a new pinion gear. You look at the chart and find where the two numbers intersect and the chart tells you how thick of a shim you should add or subtract from the existing shim pack to get you back to where is should be. But, you still need to check the pattern with some set up grease to check the wear pattern, but this chart will keep you in the ball park or if not right on. This number is for setting pinion depth. Example, I had a new gear set that was marked zero, and I had an empty housing. Well, I could not get the pattern right because I have never seen a pinion take zero shims, well one day I was thinking if zero it is that zero it will be. I placed the pinion back in with zero shims and it pattered perfect. I have had no problems with read end set up this way. I hope this explains it well?

 

thanks vhunter. that is my understanding of the +3 also.

but what about the other 3 markings?

 

One number is the depth number that Vhunter explained so well. Another number is a match # that there should also be a matching number on the back or the outside of the ring gear showing these are a matched set (lapped together at the factory). Don't remember the other two.... Nickmil.

 

This is still the best answer.!!!!!!!!

 

my main concern is to understand the numbers which would affect gear setup. the +3 i knew of, and vhunter confirmed that. is it safe to say this is the only scribe mark that i need to be concerned with when setting up the gears? i would be interested to know what they all mean, but gear setup is the most important to know.

 

The match marks and the +3 are the only important ones. The +3 for set up purposes, the match marks to make sure you have a matching set of gears. If ring and pinion are not matched they won't last long....... Nickmil

 

+3 has been determined, prolly all you need to know
396 is most likely the matched set number, as Nick described
0 or o is the deviation from centerline in relation to the axles, from what info I could find
f is prob the tech who checked the specs on the ring and pinion
but +3 is all you need to worry about IMO

 

cool, you guys are the best!! maybe this info should be in the axle tech section?