Pinion Setting Tools

Was wondering you guys opinions on different pinion setting gauges.
This is the one I'm currently considering is this one from proform

ProformParts.com - 66516, PINION SETTING TOOL. FOR REAR ENDS
Does anybody use that one, is it any good?
I'd like to get something better than harbor freight quality but not gold plated either.
Thanks

 

If it were me, I would purchase one similar to this one offered by Summit. With the magnetic base, it offers much more versatility when working on different projects than the one you noted.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-900016-1/overview/

 

I have a few of those mag base setups amd a full set of gauge blocks.
How would you use it for setting the pinion depth though?
Would be nice if I could make it work,

 

How many ring and pinions are you going to be setting up?

 

Have a Dana 27 a 44 and a couple Chevys on the list.
New territory for me, starting with the 27 which is just new bearings the rest will be gear swaps.

 

After a few hours of scouring the internet, I found the actual pinion depth.
Pretty sure I can do it with my depth mic and drop indicator on the mag base amd probably be more accurate than the gauge.

 

In the FSM there is a chart that you use the markings on the end of the pinion to determine the startup shim pack. Of course the pattern is the final determiner. A pinion depth guage would be helpful for a diff that has never been setup but I have done several re-gears and never needed one.

 

It would be another tool to have... I never have needed one in all of these years.

 

I couldn't find anything in the FSM that gave me an actual # to go by. Which according to the chart i found is 2.904". Everything I found was setting to the gauge.
This 27 I'm working on now, I don't believe the shims were in the correct locations to begin with. Plus the caps for the carrier bearing were a little on the loose side.
So anything to make life easier.

 

I bought one like you are looking at and found it barely better then the trial and error method.
If you are not doing many setups save your money, otherwise one like this:
http://completeoffroad.com/i-211212...dicator-with-magnetic-stand-kit-tls-dm02.html

 

This pinion depth is for a 27? Please double check. I've been searching for the same info and found 2.094 in some jegs article. It's all I could find.

 

You are correct Wheelie it's 2.094.
I transposed the numbers when I typed them. My bad

 

I found a pdf. Download called "the black art of differentials part 2"
I downloaded it to my phone but now I can't find a link to it again.

 

That's part one, there is a part two that lists the pinion depths of all the common differentials.

Found it ...
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...ghQMA8&usg=AFQjCNEOBu61Xt80NG2IOkwRKHoo2Tc59w

 

Can I point out if you choose to invest in a setup kit, make sure the manufacture you order your gears from marks the gears for there respected best pattern. (electro penciled, paint markered)
every gear set is different from another and they will differ in pinion height.
some manufactures do not mark them, and if you find that out your tool is useless.

if you decide to do it with the marking compound it is easily do able, you can spare the oil baffle (the ones that get beat to death on dis assembly) with shims, then on the final assembly use the oil baffle (i.e., if the oil baffle is .030, use .030 worth of shims)

 

Thanks. That's helpful.

 

Now that I have my differential set up, I can see how that tool would be pretty useless.
I'm guessing it relies on the bearing center line to be at the flat where the caps bolt up?
I was getting .03 difference depending which flat I measured off and the closest was .015 from the actual centerline.
I ended up figuring out my own way of doing it using depth mics , gauge blocks and an indicator on a magnetic base. Got the pinion depth dead nut on factory specs.
Setting the bearing preload ....well that was just an educational headache.
I got lucky with the carrier and was able to use the original shim packs and it worked out almost perfect.
Now just waiting for more parts for my steering knuckles and hubs which are being shipped by what I'm guessing is a slow moving donkey.

 

Did you run a gear pattern?