dana 35 shims/oil slinger

[El_Capitan]

Hi all, I'm about to change the gears in my '93 dana 35 front end. Just got the rear finished up. I have a couple questions though. The factory uses the oil slinger to set pinion depth, however the install kit I got from Randy's shims from behind the bearing race. Do I remove and reinstall the slinger in addition to the shim pack behind the bearing race? Or do I dare ditch the slinger? And also is a case spreader really necessary? I know this has probably been covered, but searching around on the net hasn't given me too many answers. Thanks for any help/advice

 

[4x4junkie]

This slinger issue has come up before. I suggest trying your first setup pattern using the slinger you have and no shims under the race, and hope that you only have to move the pinion closer to the carrier if you have to move it at all.
If you find you do have to go away from the carrier (thinner shim), I'd hit up your local rearend shop and see if they have any spare D30 or D44 slingers laying around, which should work maybe with only slight modification (widen the hole slightly if needed).
I would not run it without the slinger at all though, IIRC it helps to promote oil flow through your pinion bearings.

A spreader isn't 100% necessary, but man, it makes working with the assembly about 1,000,000 times easier!
You do have to be very careful about not overspreading it though (it's easier to do that you think). I spread it just barely enough I can wiggle the diff out of the housing with a small bit of effort).

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Never once used a spreader....even though we have 3 of em on the wall at work.

As junkie said, run you first pattern with all your original shims, and go from there.

 

[El_Capitan]

Thanks guys for the info. I also called Randy's today and they clarified a little too. Looks like I will -very carefully- remove and reuse the slinger.. I'm gonna tackle it on Wednesday. Ill tell you though going from 3.73 to 4.88 on '33s and very sleepy 2.9, is very nice..

 

[El_Capitan]

Done.. luckily I was able to use the slinger only pattern looks OK and so far no noise.. now for plenty of these

 

[4x4junkie]

Good deal.

I sortof lucked out also when I did mine, I had to move the pinion inward about .003", so was able to just stick a single shim behind the inner race.