another rearend question

[hddave1]

i got the rearend home today according to the door sticker it is a axle code 86(3.73).. now i didnt see a tag on the cover plate so im still assuming its a 3.73 gear..i thought i would remove the brake drums and turn the axle and count the number of turns the of the pinoin gear but it never turned..is this a bad sign? so i turned the pinion gear and the axles would turn but i could only turn it about 3.5 or so turns and i couldnt turn it no more at all..is this a bad sign? i think i heard one time i could turn the axle 1 turn and the pinon gear would turn 3.73 turns to give me a 3.73 gear ratio. does this sound right..im trying to confirm the gear ratio and to make sure its a good rearend before i put it under my truck...

 

[Capt Jay]

Doesn't sound good.

 

[Capt Jay]

Try turning the axle and see if the pinion turns. You may have a little more torque doing it backwards.

 

[hddave1]

i turn the axle and the pinion dont turn at all...does it matter that my truck is a 85 2wd 5speed and the donor truck was a 88 4wd 5speed..

 

[Capt Jay]

No, it doesn't matter. An 8.8 is an 8.8. You might want to crack the cover and take a look inside. It needed a fluid change anyway.

 

[hddave1]

im thinking its a 7.5..i just hate putting new fluid in it if its a bad rearend..

 

[kunar]

do you have both back wheels in the air? if the other side is spinning too, in the opposite direction of course, your pinion wont move at all.

 

[hddave1]

i have the rearend out of the truck and i got it on a set of saw horses..i took the wheels and tires off of it cuz they were junk so i left them with the donor truck..and i spin 1 axle 1 way and the other spins the oppisit way and the pinion does not turn...my concern is comfirming the gear ratio and figuring why the pinion only turns so far and stops..should it turn as many times as i turn it

 

[Capt Jay]

i have the rearend out of the truck and i got it on a set of saw horses..i took the wheels and tires off of it cuz they were junk so i left them with the donor truck..and i spin 1 axle 1 way and the other spins the oppisit way and the pinion does not turn...my concern is comfirming the gear ratio and figuring why the pinion only turns so far and stops..should it turn as many times as i turn it

If it's broken you won't brake it more.
Didn't see the year. It probably is a 7.5. Pull the cover. If it's ok inside just a little gasket in a tube and some 80-90 and it's now a known quantity.

Try puttling a couple bolts in the pinion across from one another. Put a bar/pipe/long screw driver between the two and see if you can turn the pinion. If you turn one tire the other is supposed to turn in the other direction. Path of least resistance. It turns freer than the pinion.

 

[hddave1]

i will try that but should the pinion turn as many turns as i turn it by hand..i would think if i had to use a pry bar to turn it that would sound like somthing would be wrong..lol..i dont know but i will try it and see what happens...how would i confirm that it is a 3.73..i feel good about it being a stock rearend out of the 88 ranger but i would still like to know for sure

 

[Capt Jay]

Yes. One turn equates to 3.73 of the rear end. It's just very hard to judge it. There's not a lot of difference between 3.73 and 4.10 etc. You have to make some good marks to check it.

Did you say the axle tag is still on the housing? I don't remember and don't feel like going back a looking. Ok, I looked and you said it didn't. Do you know where the axle came from. If it's someone you know ask them. Since it's going on a 2wd. Who cares. Put it in a let'er buck.

Why are you changing the axle in the first place?

 

[kunar]

it sounds like a properly functioning open diff to me. pull the cover and inspect it. you'll be able to tell the gear ratio and make sure nothing is broken. replace the fluid and you are good to go. should be less than $20 for fluid and a gasket.

 

[hddave1]

Yes. One turn equates to 3.73 of the rear end. It's just very hard to judge it. There's not a lot of difference between 3.73 and 4.10 etc. You have to make some good marks to check it.

Did you say the axle tag is still on the housing? I don't remember and don't feel like going back a looking. Ok, I looked and you said it didn't. Do you know where the axle came from. If it's someone you know ask them. Since it's going on a 2wd. Who cares. Put it in a let'er buck.

Why are you changing the axle in the first place?

i have a 3.08 right now and im wanting a 3.73 for towing a small popup camper and also so when i hit the gas the truck will get out of its own way...lol..

 

[Capt Jay]

i have a 3.08 right now and im wanting a 3.73 for towing a small popup camper and also so when i hit the gas the truck will get out of its own way...lol..

Honestly, It will make a differance but not a lot of differance. Pull the cover. It should be stamped on the gears.

 

[hddave1]

i pulled the cover off and i didnt see any broken parts but i did see some small rust spots on the ring gear.. does that hurt anything? im going to clean it up and see if there are some numbers stamped on the ring gear..the pinion does turn now if i turn it but it doesnt turn if i turn the axels...the pinion will turn if i spin the axels real fast but it doesnt turn that much..