Does this Sure Grip look right to you?

SteveSS · Jun 8, 2018

The used 3.91 we installed a few years back started clicking real bad. We haven't put but a couple of thousand, albeit hard miles on it. We know very little about rear ends and even less about Sure Grips but we noticed all the bolts of the right side of the unit were backed out and sloppy. See photo. The ones that would be parallel to the axle. I don't know if they are sheared off or just backed out. Can we just unbolt the unit from its carrier and tighten or get new bolts? Any info will be helpful. Sorry for the night time picture.

SteveSS · Jun 9, 2018

Here's a better picture off the internet showing them tight. You can click all of them and get a bigger pic.

5.7 hemi · Jun 9, 2018

Those need to be torqued to 50 ftlbs. Use some blue loctite and you’ll be good.

beanhead · Jun 9, 2018

SteveSS said:
The used 3.91 we installed a few years back started clicking real bad. We haven't put but a couple of thousand, albeit hard miles on it. We know very little about rear ends and even less about Sure Grips but we noticed all the bolts of the right side of the unit were backed out and sloppy. See photo. The ones that would be parallel to the axle. I don't know if they are sheared off or just backed out. Can we just unbolt the unit from its carrier and tighten or get new bolts? Any info will be helpful. Sorry for the night time picture.

View attachment 614508 View attachment 614512

Yes mark the bearing adjusters(the round threaded wheel things on each side of the unit)and case with a punch and note exactly how many threads are showing, so it can go back in exactly the same position(that's your bearing side-play adjustment). Then just unbolt the two retaining caps and two locks and the unit will come out of the carrier, and you can replace the bolts as needed, and torque as 5.7 noted in his post above. Torque the bearing cap bolts to 90 and the locks to 20 lbs/ft

OH.. while you're there, look in at the spider gears and pinion bearing and make sure there's no damage...look for metal chunks in the carrier or housing before you put it back together and you'll be off and running

Daves69 · Jun 9, 2018

SteveSS said:
......….I don't know if they are sheared off or just backed out...…...

There's also a remote possibility they have been over torqued and stretched or not even torqued at all. Inspect them carefully.

Example of stretched from the net...………..

Cranky · Jun 9, 2018

Punch mark the bearing caps too....treat them the same as main caps on a block. As for marking the adjusters....I check what the backlash is on the ring gear to pinion gear. If you want to be more scientific, write down the numbers and check in 4 places around the ring gear before taking it apart. It will usually never be the same in all the way around.

66Satellite47 · Jun 9, 2018

I concur use new bolts. Pretty sure they are left hand thread, mine were. My bolts backed out destroying the spider gears, so check the spiders carefully. I suggest using new bolts, red loctite & torque to specs (my FSM says 45 ft-lbs), alternately across. Good luck.

Cranky · Jun 9, 2018

I use red too mainly because I have it.....but use VERY little. If you use more than a dab of the red and ever go back in to replace clutches etc, you will wish you had used very little lol. Might be a good idea to take it apart and check things over too. They ain't that difficult. Just go slow and pay attention to how it's put together. Only problem is if someone else put it together wrong but there are pics etc on the net that shows how they are supposed to be.

SteveSS · Jun 9, 2018

Where in the world would I find bolts for such a specific purpose? Exact length, size, strength, pitch and possibly left hand threads?

beanhead · Jun 9, 2018

SteveSS said:
Where in the world would I find bolts for such a specific purpose? Exact length, size, strength, pitch and possibly left hand threads?

The case bolts are not left hand thread, they are regular... Left hand thread bolts are for bolting the ring gear to the case but I don't believe those are the ones you are having the problem with? As far as sourcing them try any rear end shops in your area or online places like dr. diff, Randy's, etc they should have them

5.7 hemi · Jun 9, 2018

Grade 8 in the correct length and I think they are 3/8’s nc thread.

bm02tj · Jun 10, 2018

Replace with the same grade as original
Grade 8 may not be right as they will grow and shrink at a different rate than the parts it is clamping

5.7 hemi · Jun 10, 2018

They aren’t grade 5, so stick with grade 8.

66Satellite47 · Jun 10, 2018

beanhead said:
The case bolts are not left hand thread, they are regular... Left hand thread bolts are for bolting the ring gear to the case but I don't believe those are the ones you are having the problem with? As far as sourcing them try any rear end shops in your area or online places like dr. diff, Randy's, etc they should have them

Guess I am remembering incorrectly, but that was 44 years ago LOL.

Does this Sure Grip look right to you?

SteveSS

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SteveSS

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5.7 hemi

FBBO Gold Member

beanhead

May I Land My Kinky Machine

Daves69

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Cranky

Banned Henchman #27

66Satellite47

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Cranky

Banned Henchman #27

SteveSS

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beanhead

May I Land My Kinky Machine

5.7 hemi

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bm02tj

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5.7 hemi

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66Satellite47

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