Going through my xrs using the merc service manual. I wanted to check the thickness of the shims on the bottom gear and the top gear u see under the top cap. Manual says there should be thickness #s stamped under the back cap where u do the gear alignment. I have nothing there. Any other way of finding out what the shims should be Drives are 2004 style

The newer housings are no longer stamped with the race thickness. You will need to follow the steps in the manual for shimming the drive and driven upper gears.
You should measure the races that came out of your case for a reference. They are also color coded on the side of the race, but its sometimes hard to see on a used race.

.0575/.0584 Thick - Brown
.0585/.0594 Thick - White
.0595/.0604 Thick - Orange
.0605/.0614 Thick - Green
.0615/.0624 Thick - Yellow
.0625/.0634 Thick - Red
.0635/.0644 Thick - Light Blue
.0645/.0654 Thick - Black
.0655/.0664 Thick - Pink

I got manual 28 there must be a newer version?

manual #39. each section is a different manual. 5-6 manuals make up the set.

manual 39 goes through the process.

instead of using the thickness of shim stamped on the case, you use whatever sized shim that gets the correct backlash for each gear...there are a few special tools used to accomplish this.

pinion depth is also shimmed on this type of case/pinion bearing set up.

i can tell u my pinion has no shims on it there just looks like there is a spacer before u slide the gear on the yoke

If it has them it would be on the bearing race (# 40 in this picture)

http://www.mercruiserparts.com/bam/s...0991/11406/140

If it doesn't have any, it's probably has the old style bearing/spacer set up....either style bearing set up will fit the case.

ok must be old style then with a newer style case but its not a swept back im going to have to get my hands on manual 39 thanks for all the help

There is an online manual. I'll search for the link and pat it. Explained all the differences between the years and how to shim correctly.

Post it, that is