Changing my gears in the 8.8, small problem. what to do?

[Buds03Cobra]

Hello all,

Im geting down to the end of my build and its time to change the gears.

This is my 97 cobra with a built long block and turbo.

The car came with 31 spline axels and 4:30 gears. They made a lot of noise.
I removed the rear end from the car and pulled it all apart. In the past, I have gotten away with removing the stock ford gears and using the shim behind the pinion gear, then puting the new gears in. Always used ford gears.

When I took the 4:30's out, it looks like who ever put them in, didnt put a shim in. looks like they just presed the bearing on with no shim, put them in and sent them on there way.
I have never set up the pinion depth. Is there a easy way out of this? i dont plan on putting 100,000 miles on this thing but I dont want it to lock up or scream.

These gears have been in the car for 10,000 miles. I have only put 35 miles on this car, then took it all apart. Im going with ford 3:55's
Whats an easy way to find out what shim would be best to use?

Thank you.

 

[4vRedone]

So they were already whining?

 

[Buds03Cobra]

Yes

 

[CJK440]

You have to set the depth, no real way around it.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

 

[kxt]

start w/ a .030 shim and a check the pattern, adjust from there. That'll get you a good starting point... the actual pinion depth is not as important as having a good pattern.

 

[Buds03Cobra]

start w/ a .030 shim and a check the pattern, adjust from there. That'll get you a good starting point... the actual pinion depth is not as important as having a good pattern.

That's what I was thinking.
Could I use the old crush sleeve as I go, then when I find the best spot put the new one in and set it.

 

[Buds03Cobra]

got the gears set but now after looking the spider gears over. The 31 spline track loc gears that the clutches sit on are stress cracked.
Now to see if I can find just the gears witht the splines.