I know I don't need a depth tool but it would make things much faster. I've done gear swaps before but it was with OE used gears so you could read the number on the pinion head and just swap shims to make the difference and it was a "once and done" deal, got the pinion depth right on the first try. I think I'll give the Ratech tool a shot, it's only $30 and the more I've read up on how to use it the more I like it. I've seen discussions (arguments lol) on here about how measuring pinion depth off the carrier bearing cap mating surface is inaccurate, well this tool actually goes off the bearing saddle itself. You place it on top of the pinion head and measure the distance between the tab and bottom of the bearing saddle and compare that to a set value and the depth number written on the new pinion from the manufacturer.
I definitely won't be getting one of the cheap pinion depth measurement kits (Proform, etc.), reviews about those are horrible. And the only other option is the $400+ kit from T&D Machine, no thanks.
Tomorrow I'll probably hit up Harbor Freight for a bearing separator tool for my Harbor Freight hydraulic press lol
