axle shafts need a shim...

[MSeriesRebuild]

Charles, What you say is true but, the depth setting is not a set in stone, cannot be moved point. It is the starting point for the entire process. Once the final endplay is set and you die check the gears if the pattern is too low or high you will have to move the pinion in or out a hair. And then reset the endplay all over again. All part of the fun game of setting up a diff. BUT, all that said, as Charles said, if you do not have the special equipment and expertise to do differential setup then it is best left to those that do. You will be money ahead in the long run. And using used parts is another whole ball game. I would not even take a job if it was not a matching set of gears since there is very little chance you will ever be able to get them to run quiet. You can get them to run for a long time but it will be a noisy ride.

We are well aware of all these points, it's why we have shims already on hand of various thickness that fit the bore to do this if it is necessary. I did not get into all the fine detail in my post, kind of a moot point since most I'm speaking to likely don't understand all that anyway.