When did diff side bearing begin to use thick shims ?

[Wayne M.]

Playing around with an Oct '68 differential carrier (cast # ...143, with the approx. 0.33" wider overall dimension between LH and RH side bearing shim faces; ie. compared to earlier casting #s). I notice that there's a thick (0.246" in photo) shim on one side of the diff case side bearing cup, and, on the opposite side, the (expected) stack of thinner shims (originally available 0.064" thru 0.100", in increments of 0.002"), as described in the service C2 manuals.

When did this thicker shim become available (or used in production) ? What thicknesses were offered ? Nothing shows in my parts books, up to 1970.

[Gene M.]

Re: When did diff side bearing begin to use thick shims ?

Wayne, I just did an early '67 with 3.55 gears and it had no shims that were in the 1/4" thick range.

[Michael H.]

Re: When did diff side bearing begin to use thick shims ?

When did this thicker shim become available (or used in production) ? What thicknesses were offered ? Nothing shows in my parts books, up to 1970.

Wayne,

I remember the thick machined cast shims as being production only and the multiple selective shims being used for service. The selective shims were to be used with a special spacer ring.

The thick machined shims were never available in service as far as I know.

[Joe L.]

Re: When did diff side bearing begin to use thick shims ?

Wayne,

I remember the thick machined cast shims as being production only and the multiple selective shims being used for service. The selective shims were to be used with a special spaces.

The thick machined shims were never available in service as far as I know.

Michael------


That's correct; the thick, cast shims were used in PRODUCTION only and were not available in SERVICE.

[Gary R.]

Re: When did diff side bearing begin to use thick shims ?

Hey Wayne, The 63-66 used the thin shims. Then the case widened and went to the ground cast iron shims. You can always tell by looking at the housing sides, if you see the jog in the casting by the bearings it will use the thick shims. No jog,( 63-66) uses the thin shims.

[Scott M.]

Re: When did diff side bearing begin to use thick shims ?

When I rebuilt my C3 posi, the cast iron shims were cracked, replaced with the thinner steel shims.

[Gary R.]

Re: When did diff side bearing begin to use thick shims ?

Hi Scott Typically they will break when hammered in, a case spreader was used to install them. The steel shims are what come with the rebuild kits - EXCEPT for the 63-66's, the kits do not come with nor do they reference the thin shims. I have seen many come in to me with make up shims used and most were not correct.