Heads-up for front diff rebuilds don’t skip that shim

[dirtyrhinoworks163]

I rebuilt the front diff on my 2012 Rhino 700 last winter using an aftermarket kit. When I was going thru the parts, I found a small shim that wasn't included in the diagram I had, so I figured it was just an extra piece and didn't use it. A couple of months later, I started hearing a light grinding noise when it was under load. I opened it back up and realized that shim was actually essential for proper gear spacing

I had to hunt down a replacement and redo the whole thing. Just a quick tip for everyone, if you find something unexpected in your kit, take a moment to double-check where it should go. It could save you the trouble of having to take everything apart again later on

 

[gambinoe55]

Yep, that little shim matters a lot. Missing it can mess up the gear spacing and cause grinding like you saw. Check any extra parts in your kit, even if theyre not in the instructions, coz skipping one can mean redoing everything. Good that you caught it it, but it's definitely a pain to deal with.

 

[EasyBreezyFreezy]

I rebuilt the front diff on my 2012 Rhino 700 last winter using an aftermarket kit. When I was going thru the parts, I found a small shim that wasn't included in the diagram I had, so I figured it was just an extra piece and didn't use it. A couple of months later, I started hearing a light grinding noise when it was under load. I opened it back up and realized that shim was actually essential for proper gear spacing

I had to hunt down a replacement and redo the whole thing. Just a quick tip for everyone, if you find something unexpected in your kit, take a moment to double-check where it should go. It could save you the trouble of having to take everything apart again later on

You sound like a friend of mine that kinda did the same thing with his Rhino. The main difference was that he didn't even bother to go through the parts and guides, he just jumped into it. A glimpse of good news was that he didn't drive it too much before the problems started and managed to take care of everything without spending a fortune.

What kind of damage did you ended up with?

 

[Sandman]

Do you think aftermarket rebuild kits should start including clearer diagrams or even digital guides, given how many people run into surprises like that shim?