Setting up a Salisbury, or integral-carrier-type, rearend has always been a difficult proposition, but Reider Racing has come up with trick adjustable carrier shims to make assembling these third members a little easier.
Hot rodders for years have been reluctant to change gears in the Salisbury, or non-dropout-style, center section such as the GM 10- and 12-bolts and the Ford 7.5- and 8.8-inch rearends. This is partly due to the shims, which must be forced into place once the ring gear carrier is installed in the housing. The dropout (or removable) carrier rearends like the '55-'64 GM and Ford 9-inch housings use large spanner nuts to position the ring gear backlash and the carrier. The Salisbury rearend uses solid shims from the factory to do this job, but when different gears are used, replacement shims are required. These shims come in various thicknesses that must be combined to establish the proper preload on the carrier bearings and to set the backlash.
The problem with the shim packages is that it becomes difficult to force the shims between the carrier bearings and the housing. Most rebuilders reuse solid cast-iron factory shims, but these often break when attempting to drive them in, even with a soft-brass hammer. Reider Racing's solution to this problem is an adjustable two-piece carrier shim.
By stacking several thin shims onto the pilot of the guide, you can accurately set the proper carrier-bearing preload and the backlash. These two-piece Reider shims directly replace the stock cast-iron shims. Reider sells these shim packages for each of the Salisbury rearends, including the GM 10- and 12-bolt and 7.5- and 9.5-inch, as well as the Ford 7.5-, 8.8-, and 10.25-inch axles. Reider also sells a Mini Kit for each of these axles that includes a pinion shim, adjustable carrier shims, a crush sleeve, a pinion nut, a pinion seal, and a cover gasket. Full installation kits include all the above plus the pinion and carrier bearings. A complete line of Precision Gear ring-and-pinions are also available. If you plan on setting up your own rearend gears, these adjustable carrier shims are the way to go.
