Hi all,

I went to put the diff pinion back in my gearbox today, but I realised that I don't know which way it goes. There's a small ridge on each side of the splines (kind of like the small ones in the middle of the synchro hubs in this thread http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=43913), and the ridge on one side is slightly wider than the other.. Any ideas?

I've also got a question about preload on the double row bearing.. I have around 7 or 8 thou clearance behind the bearing retainer, and I've got two shims that are about 2.5 thou each and one that's around 5 thou.. From what my workshop manual suggests (which is 7 thou of shims if the clearance is between 6 and 8 thou), I'd say I should use 7.5 thou of shims.. But then in some places there basically wouldn't be any preload on the bearing at all - is this a problem?

Cheers,
Harry

Look at the tooth marks on the pinion, there is an unworn bit on one side. This goes outwards.
I'd use 7.5 thou of shims. This is NOT preload within the bearing (which is set during manufacture), it's just location of the circlip and bearing so the whole bearing doesn't float about in the housing..
IMO it's better to have slightly too few shims- if you have too many the bearing and shaft will float.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.