Im getting prepared to finally do my gear swap, so I am trying to make my setup bearings. Now i know i need to make set ups for the carrier bearings. I had assumed the Dana 44 used shims between the race and housing for pinion depth and preload. However, i received my motive gear install kit and it came with a crush sleeve so i know thats how i will be getting my preload. My concern is they sent me shim pack 1113 which is the pinion shims. They are definitely way to big to go between the pinion and inner bearing. So, i figure they are supposed to go between the race and the housing. My concern is that the shim diameter is larger than the race so to me it would seem if they are bigger than the race they would not fit in the slot for the race. Is the 99 Dodge 1500 Dana 44 pinion depth set between the pinion or and the bearing or the race and the housing like i assumed? I haven't torn it down yet to see because i wanted to have the setup bearings/races ready to go. And if the my shim kit is incorrect since it is larger than the inner bearing race, is there a shim kit you recommend ordering?

This is the install kit i have Motive Gear RA28FLRMK

 

I can't answer your particular question, but maybe this guide will provide some.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/Gear_Setup/

Let us know as others may be considering your path on doing this.

 

This could come in handy for people looking for info on their dana axles go to www2.dana.com If you click on Light Axle under Spicer at left and then on Literature and Catalogs on the right it will bring you to a list of PFD's that can be opened. They have exploded views and Dana's part numbers for every part and instructions.

It would appear in our model 44 the shims go between pinion and bearing for depth but the shims are way to big in my kit, but all the bearings and diff shims match everything i looked into for competitor brands. This just isn't making any sense to me even if i the shims are supposed to go between the inner bearing race and the housing, the shims are about 1/16th of an inch wider around the circumference of the race. I haven't messed with gears where the pinion depth is set behind the race but to me i would think in order for the shim to fit there it would have to be the same diameter as the race?

 

I wish motive gear gave a break down on their kits but looking at there catalog i believe i should have received shim kit 1129R for my dana 44. Looks like i'll be making a phone call tomorrow

 

If i lay the race down over the shim there is roughly a 1/16th of an inch or a tiny bit more around the whole circumference of the race, that the shim is larger. I just called motive about it and the guy didn't think that seemed right at first but while on hold he was looking into it and was told that it is ok that the shim is larger and they've sold alot of the kits and have not had any problems. He also, said the 1113 shim pack is the correct pack that is supposed to come in the kit. Somebody on here had to of changed there own gears. Are the pinion depth shims that go between the inner race and housing ok to be larger than the race?

 

So long as the hole that centers the shim on the pinion is approximately the same size as the shaft it fits over, so it actually IS centered, should all be good.

 

are you referring to a pinion shim that goes between the pinion and inner bearing? The way motive said this particular install kit is, that the pinion depth is set by shimming behind the race (between race and housing).

 

Really? I haven't done a D44 personally..... Looking at the FSM though... seems to indicate shims go between the bearing, and pinion gear......

 

The way i always thought it worked on the dana was shims behind races or crush sleeve and shims between the pinion and bearing (as the exploded view looks for our particular dana 44's). I know you can do it either way but i didnt think there would be a mix of shims between housing and race on one side and crush sleeve on the other. I guess i'll find out when i open it up, the way it comes from the factory. The only thing that is gonna upset me is i just ordered all my bearings/races of the same brand so i can make the set-ups from complete offroad and had to pay parts cost plus $16 shipping and by motive recommendation i would need to make up a setup race so thats what i ordered. If i ordered all this crap and need a setup bearing and not a race i won't be looking forward to paying for another part plus additional $16 just to ship one bearing. (I have koyo bearings that came with the kit and not many places sell them individually which is why im stuck paying for shipping in such a high price)

 

Be careful when you remove the current bearings, and just use a hone on those to use as set up bearings.