Thread: 12bolt posi thrust washer

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I pulled apart a 12bolt and found the spidergear thrust washer laying in the bottom of the case. I presumed it became dislodged after i had pulled the cross-shaft and was struggling to get the carrier removed.
I am now putting the carrier back in the case but how do i get the thrust washer behind the spider gear? I've poked and prodded and can get it partway in there without damaging or forcing anything but can't get it the rest of the way in. If it fell out it should fall back in, right?
Is there a way to spread the splined axle drive gears and get me some space to work in? Its' a posi unit.
Thanks, oj

Not sure it applies to a 12 Bolt, but on Dana's it is often necessary to use a case spreader, either home made or purchased, something like this:

Diff Spreader.jpg

Close, i thought i was going to have to use a spreader to get the carrier out but i managed. The place i am struggling with is inside the carrier. There is a thrust washer on the back side of one of the spider gears that i need to get back in there.

Originally Posted by ojh

Close, i thought i was going to have to use a spreader to get the carrier out but i managed. The place i am struggling with is inside the carrier. There is a thrust washer on the back side of one of the spider gears that i need to get back in there.

Sorry, didn't read enough... I'll defer to the pro's.

assume your talking about the dish shaped washer ? If so you need to roll both spider gears (the ones the pin dgoes thru) out,install the washers on top of each gear with some axle gease,then roll the gears back in. Sort of a trick to get em timed right so the pin holes line up. It will make ya say dirty words.

Yep the washer has to go in as an assembly with the spiders, and yes you'll probably use words not used in mixed company

Originally Posted by rspears

Sorry, didn't read enough... I did see a trick you might try - try tapping the axles back in, drop the C clips in place, then ease them back out to pull those spiders back, move the spring/plate ass'y out and down and reinsert the thrust washers. Some say to rotate the assembly to spin the spiders, but the clutches may make that difficult to impossible... Hopefully the C-clip trick works for you.

Now, that is a good idea! I poked and prodded and worked it back in there. I wasn't all that bad i just hate to get forceful with things that i don't fully understand.
It is back together now and smooth as silk. I am waiting for the new axles to come from moser to finish it up. This was a 12bolt from an impala that somebody had stuck under a '56, the current owner brought it to me and i narrowed it a little.
Thanks for the help guys.

Originally Posted by ojh

Now, that is a good idea! I poked and prodded and worked it back in there. I wasn't all that bad i just hate to get forceful with things that i don't fully understand.
It is back together now and smooth as silk. I am waiting for the new axles to come from moser to finish it up. This was a 12bolt from an impala that somebody had stuck under a '56, the current owner brought it to me and i narrowed it a little.
Thanks for the help guys.

I actually edited out that "tip" after seeing the "right" way to do it from HWorrell, as I respect his knowledge and abilities greatly and I was afraid I was giving you bad advice. Glad it worked for you!!

Originally Posted by HWORRELL

assume your talking about the dish shaped washer ? If so you need to roll both spider gears (the ones the pin dgoes thru) out,install the washers on top of each gear with some axle gease,then roll the gears back in. Sort of a trick to get em timed right so the pin holes line up. It will make ya say dirty words.

Yes, the dish shaped washer. This rear and the dwgs i looked at show just the one and they refer to it as a 'thrust washer'.
Are you infering that the thrust washer should not have been able to come out after pin removal? Like there is too much 'freeplay' in the spidergear assembly?
I informed the owner of what happened and asked if there were drivability problems and i have yet to hear back from him.
I'm asking because i don't know street rears and if there is a problem with this one we need to be aware of it so's the owner can make a judgement decision.
Thanks, oj

All rear ends with spider gears should have a thrust washer behind EVERY gear---the splined side gears AND the spider gears , wether it uses 2 or four

Like Jerry said, you should be looking at four thrust washers, two bigger flat for the sides, and two dished for the cross-shaft gears. Here's a picture of a Dana 35 showing bearings, seals, washers & bolts, but they're all pretty much the same - lower center has the spiders. This one is not showing the posi clutch pack.

Dana-Model-35-Rear-Axle-for-Jeep-Wrangler-JK-Exploded-Diagram.jpg

Good info guys. I am going to have to dig into this further, i can see that.
Thank you very much, oj

Originally Posted by ojh

Yes, the dish shaped washer. This rear and the dwgs i looked at show just the one and they refer to it as a 'thrust washer'.
Are you infering that the thrust washer should not have been able to come out after pin removal? Like there is too much 'freeplay' in the spidergear assembly?
I informed the owner of what happened and asked if there were drivability problems and i have yet to hear back from him.
I'm asking because i don't know street rears and if there is a problem with this one we need to be aware of it so's the owner can make a judgement decision.
Thanks, oj

Nah,not infering it should not have come out. It's real easy for them to come out if you turn the axles or such with the pin out of it.