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Dana 18 Rebuild: How Many Shims?

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Ns0mniac, Mar 23, 2020.

  1. Mar 23, 2020
    Ns0mniac

    Ns0mniac Member

    San Clemente, CA
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    I know how to find the proper number of shims with a dial indicator but how many should it take? I'm using a new shim pack from Kaiser Willy's and even with all 8 I have absolutely zero endplay, gears don't even want to turn. I believe everything is seated all the way on the shaft, I tried installing the yokes and speedo gear and torquing them, tapping the shaft on either end, tapping the front and rear bearing housings, all that stuff, nothing, gears still won't spin. Should I order more shims or is something amiss?
     
  2. Mar 24, 2020
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

    At the foot of...
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    I'd say something not right....maybe one of the bearings not fully seated?
     
  3. Mar 24, 2020
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

    Florida Keys
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    I'd be making sure all the bearing races are fully seated, as well as bearings bottomed out on the shafts. I can't see how a full stack of shims still isn't enough. Are all your shims "foil" thick, or are there some thicker ones in the pack too?
    -Donny
     
  4. Mar 24, 2020
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
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    How many were removed during disassembly ?
    Proves nothing, just for giggles.
     
  5. Mar 24, 2020
    Ns0mniac

    Ns0mniac Member

    San Clemente, CA
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    I know the bearing cones are good, I seated the front bearing cup by slowly tightening the front output housing and it's nice and flush so it should be good too, I've tried tapping the shaft so I have to imagine that seated everything as well. I even put both the yokes on and everything. I'm putting the guts from my small bore 1 1/4 intermediate Dana 18 into a big bore Dana 20 case if that matters.
     
  6. Mar 24, 2020
    Ns0mniac

    Ns0mniac Member

    San Clemente, CA
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    The shims all appear to be the same thickness. Did I just get a crappy shim pack?
     
  7. Mar 24, 2020
    jzeber

    jzeber Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

    Morgan Hill, Ca
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    My shim pack had a lot more than 8 shims in varying thicknesses. I may still have a few floating around.
     
    Rick Whitson likes this.
  8. Mar 24, 2020
    Ns0mniac

    Ns0mniac Member

    San Clemente, CA
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    I loosened the rear output housing until I had the proper endplay (about .003). It appears as though I'd only need one or two more shims of whatever thickness these are (my calipers are broken). Everything else looks good so I'm going to get some more shims and try it out. Jzeber if you have some shims laying around I'd pay postage for you to mail them to me. EDIT: actually with the current craziness I won't make you do that haha. Bought a NOS set from the internet.
     
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2020
  9. Mar 24, 2020
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    You should have a good variety of thicknesses

    [​IMG]
     
  10. Mar 24, 2020
    Ns0mniac

    Ns0mniac Member

    San Clemente, CA
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    Mine all appeared to be the same, hopefully the new shim pack remedies the problem.
     
  11. Mar 24, 2020
    jzeber

    jzeber Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

    Morgan Hill, Ca
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    I'll take a look. I have shipping packages here if you still want them.
     
  12. Mar 24, 2020
    Ns0mniac

    Ns0mniac Member

    San Clemente, CA
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    I mean I won't say no as long as it isn't a big inconvenience for you. If you find them send me a message and we'll work out how I can send you some money. Thanks!
     
  13. Mar 24, 2020
    scott milliner

    scott milliner Master Fabricator

    Seattle Wa.
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    If you loosened the output to get what you need. Then it needs less shims. I always use the old shims. The new shim packs don't have very many thinner shims. .003, .005, and .008's are good to have.
     
  14. Mar 24, 2020
    Ns0mniac

    Ns0mniac Member

    San Clemente, CA
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    It has too little endplay when fully tightened (gears binding), my apologies if I worded that improperly. I ordered a NOS shim pack so hopefully that will have some more versatility and allow me to achieve proper endplay.
     
  15. Mar 25, 2020
    justin_bongo

    justin_bongo Member

    Pampa, TX
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    I ran into the same thing when I rebuilt mine. Shim pack was all one thickness. I thought I was doing something wrong, but I checked it a million times, and it still took like a pack and a half of the new shim packs they sell these days. Took for ever to spray, flip, spray, and stack em all! Good luck!
     
  16. Mar 25, 2020
    Ns0mniac

    Ns0mniac Member

    San Clemente, CA
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    Thanks! I wish I knew this going into it, I was freaking out.
     
  17. Mar 25, 2020
    Rick Whitson

    Rick Whitson Detroit Area 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    I live South of...
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    Shimming my Transfer case was an all day job for me, I could never get the numbers I wanted to work out, after I got what I thought was good, It was tight after putting sealer on it, so I took it apart and removed one shim, put it back together, torqued it all up again, it came out in the numbers suggested, still good after it was all back together. No problems yet, still good, as far as I know. I too was "Freaking Out" Could never sure it was right. Good Luck
     
  18. Mar 25, 2020
    jzeber

    jzeber Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

    Morgan Hill, Ca
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    I looked around a little for the shims yesterday with no luck. Since moving over 18 months back I still can't find things. I'll take another look today.
     
  19. Mar 25, 2020
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    There's nothing sacred about these things, they can easily be made out of shim stock, or old coke cans for that matter. Maybe not pretty but no one will see them anyhow.
     
    Ns0mniac likes this.
  20. Mar 26, 2020
    Ns0mniac

    Ns0mniac Member

    San Clemente, CA
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    No worries! I'll just get some new ones.
     
    jzeber likes this.
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