DANA 300 SPRING INSTALL QUESTION

Guys,

JB shows a HD spring kit that includes (1) ball. (going off online pics) The directions don't state why or when to install it. I know 1 or the bores is deeper than the other. SO, I thought maybe 1 side gets a ball on top and bottom. I looked online and found the pic below. It looks like they are going to install a ball FIRST but it may be just the way I am interpreting the photo.

My question.....is a ball supposed to go on top and bottom of the deeper bore or not?

Not sure if you'd seen this picture or if it answers your question...

Then on this page it talks about multiple balls...not sure man...

Install the 2 new heavier detent springs (if you choose to do so – read Road Testing comments first!) in the bores on top of the housing. Place a detent ball on top of the spring in the left bore, and insert the slotted end of the new shift rail, with the slot vertical, (the rail with the large area removed for gear clearance) into the bore on the back side of the housing. Push the rail in until it contacts the ball and, while using a small punch to push down on the ball, continue to push the rail forward until exactly 4 11/16" is left sticking out of the housing. Remember not to rotate the rail while doing this. Follow this by inserting the shift interlock pills into the side bores as far as they will go. Check to make sure they will not obstruct installation of the second shift rail.

JB Conversions LoMax

Place the second detent ball on top of the remaining detent spring, and with the second shift rail positioned with the slot vertical and the detent slots towards the inside, push down on the ball as before end push or tap the second rail until exactly 5 5/16" remain out of the housing. Again, do not rotate the rails during installation.

Now, with a punch or similar object, rotate the second rail 90 degrees counter-clockwise. You will feel the detent ball pop into place. Then, rotate the first rail 90 degrees clockwise and tap it slightly towards the rear. You should feel the detent ball pop into place.

http://www.rockcrawler.com/techreports/jb_lomax/page2.asp

clemsonjeep said:

Not sure if you'd seen this picture or if it answers your question...

Click to expand...

Yeah, this picture is misleading too. It's the one that made me start looking. Since they show the ball next to the deep bore I'm thinking that side gets one above and below the spring. I have no clue and they aren't answering. Plus in their kit it looks like they supply 1 ball thus again making me think you use 3 total for the HD install.

Found this online so take it for what it's worth, but I guess it makes sense and makes the pictures make sense to me now too.

There is only one ball and spring for each rail in the stock case. JB has a "twin stick" kit. It has the extra ball to go under one spring in that kit. But you could do the same trick yourself. The second ball is not a stock item. And in the jb kit it was smaller than the normal ball. All it amounts to is that they raised the spring in the deep hole. And using a ball is one way to do it. The ball will actually come out of the hole when you disassemble the case. Most other things you could put in the hole to raise the spring would get stuck in there. A ball bearing that is smaller than the hole diameter won't get stuck.

All I will tell you is you are not the first with this problem. I ****ed mine up the first two times I did it!