8.75 bearing install and assembly tips

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my68barracuda

my68barracuda

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I have the 742 center section / cone sure grip apart, bearings ordered, the cones out for machining on the ends..

I used a bearing splitter to get the carrier and pinion bearings off,, was thinking that I would take the pinion and sure grip sections to a local tranny shop to get the new bearings pressed on,,, then I found a Timkin internet article that says you can heat the tapered roller bearing assemblies to 300 F to aid installation.

From those that have re-assembled a 8.75 center section,, have you installed the bearings by heating them,, or by pressing them on? or does it take both?

How about installing the pinion races,,

any other tips?

thanks
 
Best tip I can offer is to tell you to take it to a professional machine shop/hot rod shop or rear end specialist to set it up for you, they are really hard to setup and require special tools and expertise to get the right and will save you money in the long run by having it done.
 
I drive the bearings on the carrier and the pinion with a BFH and some special punches and large sockets. Been doing that way for 45 years.
 
I heat mine and freeze the carrier and then use a press. I do have a friend who has built a bunch of rear ends and he just uses the BFH.
 
grimreaper said:
I heat mine and freeze the carrier and then use a press. I do have a friend who has built a bunch of rear ends and he just uses the BFH.
Click to expand...

Old habits are hard to change. I own a 17.5 ton OTC press but I usually still use a BFH.
 
I press the cones on. As for the races, some are easy to get to (the front one) and I usually use a socket to drive them in. For the back one that's recessed I have some long hardened 1/2" round rod that I use to tap them in with. Races are generally easy to drive in

I ran into one instance while doing a Ford 9" where things were super tight so I heated the bearings to 200* in the oven and froze the pinion to get them to press on. I think as long as you heat bearings evenly such as in an oven and don't go over 300* you won't hurt anything. Heating them with a torch can cause hot spots that easily exceed 300* and make for a weak spot that can fail later
 
for heating, I found the 300 degree limit mentioned on Timken's web site,

here is an example that goes well beyond that,,
not recommended

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXxecNnyiLc"]How to install a pinion bearing! - YouTube[/ame]
 
Wow! I wouldn't let him work on my bicycle. That bearing is not only damaged from heat but I'd bet it has a bunch of splatter inside it from the plate below spitting out tiny pieces of shrapnel
 
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