Measuring and adjusting rear axle endplay on 720

[Battlecat]

This is my second post today about the same job (1986 720 2wd with H190 rear axle). Thanks to everyone who responded to my first post. Now I have a new issue - I just replaced bearings and races on both rear axles (along with seals, etc.) and now it's time to measure axle endplay. I should note that I replaced all shims the way they I found them when I disassembled the axles. I installed and torqued both axles, then began to try to measure endplay. FSM calls for 0.0118-0.0354" on one axle and 0.0008-0.0059" on the other. I measured both and got 0.013 on my drivers side axle and 0.0006 on the passenger side. Then I came across something in another manual that said I should have installed one axle, took a reading (which should have been the  .0118-.0354 one), then installed the other axle and took the second reading (which should have been within the .0008-.0059 range).

 

My questions are these:

1) - Should I remove one axle, take a reading on the opposite axle, then reinstall the other axle and take a reading, or can I consider my current readings correct?

2)- I suspect I'm probably going to have to provide more lateral movement and if so, do I add or subtract shims to do so?

[datzenmike]

1/ the way you did it is correct.

 

2/ 0.013" and 0.0006" are within spec so no need to change the shim counts.

[Battlecat]

Thanks, Mike! I'll be very happy to leave it the way it is...thanks again! Now to move on to brakes 😄