2006 jeep commander front differential rebuild

So im stuck on my low pinion dana 30 rebuild. I already tore it down and put it back together but I must have not done my shims correctly because my gears are not meshing together properly. Any ideas on what I can do because when I took it apart i didn't see any shims which confused me. I'm just stuck at this point and I have no idea what to do.

why did you tear it down? takes the tools and knowledge to do this. People tend to watch a video and think looks simple enough. Its like watching an Artist paint and going home thinking i can do that as well.
hard to say what you did or not.

pinion shims would be behind the bearing near the pin. carrier would be out side of the bearings. But you need a case spreader to get this correct as well.

This type work tends to be best done buy a pro. Not that one cant do it just it does take tools that most will not have. Must be real OCD too.

I tore it down because the bearings were shot and needed to be replaced so I took it apart and didnt see any shims come out which concerned me but since i didnt see any i didnt put any back in. But now the gears are not meshing right so i need to mark them and see how to fix it. I was just trying to find the right shim size because i must have misplaced one

The "right size shim" can be different for every axle. The shims are used to make up for manufacturing tolerances. Sometimes a difference of just a couple of thousandths is the difference between a gearset that runs quietly and one that whines.

Explain "the gears are not meshing right" in more detail. That doesn't really give us much of a clue.

Post up some pics of what you are working with. If you just replaced bearings and put everything back as it was, you should be fine, but obviously something is off. You do not "need" a case spreader lol

I cant help but I feel your pain. There is only one mechanic within 75 miles of here that works on differentials. All the others send the work to him. You should be commended for trying.

Sure and no need for dial indicator as well just toss it together. what can go wrong...... i have set up gears. case spreader is the about as easy as it gets to make your self. but why bother just jam them shims in.....should be good enough. BFH does it.

as well a pinion fixture to set the crush, made that too........

used gear really need to be in the same place /pattern as it was before. not like they re break in well once the have lapped in.

Try some more youtube videos, especially the ones that fail to do it properly the first time. Even experienced guys need to take it apart and put it back together multiple times until it's right. I reviewed all the steps to regear my front and decided against it. I just bought a regeared axle and sold my old one.

The shims on a Dana 30 are behind the inner bearing race and behind the carrier side bearings. What caused the teardown? If you are JUST replacing bearings you MIGHT get away with just doing that without to much grief. No matter what you do you will need some special tools. Dial indicator to check backlash. Rotational torque wrench for bearing preload. Gear marking paste to check the mesh pattern. If your gears went or you are re-gearing that is much more involved. Differentials are not really hard to do, but you do need a thorough understanding of the terms, pinion depth, pinion preload, carrier bearing preload, and backlash. All 4 of these specs. Affect one another so you can't adjust one without the other changing. Your first step is to understand these.

i knew a guy who put the pinion nut on with an impact wrench...

Sure and no need for dial indicator as well just toss it together. what can go wrong...... i have set up gears. case spreader is the about as easy as it gets to make your self. but why bother just jam them shims in.....should be good enough. BFH does it.

as well a pinion fixture to set the crush, made that too........

used gear really need to be in the same place /pattern as it was before. not like they re break in well once the have lapped in.

Look bud, I have done a lot of gear installs as well, and have all the proper equipment to do so. There are many pro gear installers out there that do not use a case spreader. I never said anything about not using the other appropriate equipment. Yes a case spreader is easy to use, but someone not knowing what they are doing can go to far with it and cause damage to the case. I just love people like you that know everything:wink2: