Big Ben is on the right track, decreasing the backlash could increase gear whine along with increasing rearend temps.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by moparacker
That backlash is pretty tight as it is. I know on Ford rearends, a .008-.012" backlash is ideal per the manual.

 

*edit for being irrelavant info due to my blindness.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by moparacker
7.5", 8.8", 9.75" and 10.25"

I rechecked the specs to what I put:

0.008-0.015" maximum

 

Ok, I'm sorry. I misread your numbers gernby. I was reading them as being smaller for whatever reason. You might be right on dropping the backlash a bit, but the two previous concerns would still apply. These rearends whine quite a bit stock, so dropping it could really make it loud.

 

I'n my experience, the closer to the minimum backlash # the quieter the gear set will be, as long as the contact pattern is correct. The higher the backlash # the noisier the gear set will be. The backlash only increases as the gear wears. Excessive backlash the noisier the gear and the gears are "shocked" every time power is applied.

Improper pinion depth, incorrect engagement pattern, are the larger issues that cause gear noise and ultimately failure.

 

BTW, I set the backlash on my gears at .002 And haven't had any noise from them

 

I measured the outer diameter of the ring gear, and it looks like it is about 7" at the far extent of the teeth.

 

THe outer measurement is the size of the gear. Mazda makes a 6", 7", and an 8". But the 4.44 is a 7.5". And there are less 4.44's than any other gear.

This is what I gather from what I have read of course.