D18 question

When rebuilding the t-case do you pack the bearings with grease like a wheel bearing? also, what is a good assembly lube/grease to use?

Thanks,
Chip.

 

Use a petroleum Jelly like Vaseline. It will mix directly with the gear oil as it warms up and works good to lube the bearings and hold the needle rollers in place for assembly. I don't like using grease because I've had too many transmissions come in with chewed up shafts and bearings with the grease still in evidence that someone else used to assemble them with. The grease has a high melting point in most cases so won't "melt" away which can clog up important oiling passages. That means the oil can't get in and the shaft or gear can actually starve for oil even though it's full! The vaseline has a low enough melting point where this isn't an issue. Nickmil.

 

good tip Nick I am rebuilding my T-case as well.

Thanks!

 

thank you very much.

1 more question Nickmil; Is there a RTV that is better than others? I bought the black but they also make gray and blue.

Dumb question but I thought I would ask anyway,

Chip.

 

Vaseline is our friend when it comes to rebuilding motors and gear trains of any kind!!

 

I like the Ultra gray or Ultra black. It seems to set up better and seal better. The blue works good but can be a nightmare to get back off if you have to take something apart later. The Ultra black and Ultra gray seem to peel off and scrape off pretty easy. Especially with Billy's evil brake cleaner sprayed on first . The real key to making sure it seals properly is to make sure the surfaces are clean, dry, and OIL FREE. Again, Billy's evil spray brake cleaner is great for this as it leaves no residue. Lacquer thinner works ok too but can't spray all the bolt holes out as easy. This of course is just my preference. :stout: Nickmil.

 

X2

 

I used a light grease lubriplate type when I rebuilt mine, after a wheelin trip several months later I checked the oil level and was startled to see what looked like a water/oil mix. I was skeer'd. After further checking it was only the colored grease had blended into my 90wt. So from on now I will use only vaseline to prevent the off color 90wt from causing a heart attack again.