Rear diff help

smokin99stroke · May 4, 2013

I'm changing the fluid in the diffs today and take off the rear cover to find this. What is causing this scarring and what should I do about it? The pinion seal is leaking slowly if that makes any difference. Any help would be great. Truck has 212k miles and I'm not sure of the rear diff service history

91turbogsx · May 4, 2013

Does your pinion have a lot of play? Looks like there is a lot of shavings in there.

smokin99stroke · May 4, 2013

How would I check that? Driveshaft is still hooked up so I tried to pull it side to side and in and out but I got no movement at all. The flashlight I have shining on there really makes it look like are a lot of shavings

rustbucket · May 4, 2013

It looks like your pinion bearing or crush sleeve is worn out moving the pinion to far in. Pop your driveshaft off and check for play in the pinion. The seal is prolly leaking from its moving around.

Commandos888 · May 4, 2013

Re: Hey bud

It's time for a rebuild! the carrier will be still good.all the bearing's and the pinion will need to be check.I see these from time to time at my shop.:whs: your pinion will need to be change! best bet is get a overhaul kit.it about that time for a rebuild.:thumbsup:

Jake · May 4, 2013

Crush sleeve more than likely.

I had it happen to another truck and the pinion nut I was able to make a full turn to get tight again.

smokin99stroke · May 4, 2013

Thanks for the responses. I guess I'll be taking it to a local drive line shop on Monday

smokin99stroke · May 5, 2013

Got the rear axle out earlier and the pinion has a ton of play. Probably 1/8 inch side to side and in and out. Surprised it lasted this long.

Taking it in tomorrow, anything I should know about backlash and preload? Seen those terms thrown around when dealing with this kind of stuff

Jake · May 5, 2013

The Sterling you crush the sleeve, and the rotational force on the pinion should be 30"lb if i remember correctly.

suprhlr · May 5, 2013

smokin99stroke said:
Got the rear axle out earlier and the pinion has a ton of play. Probably 1/8 inch side to side and in and out. Surprised it lasted this long.

Taking it in tomorrow, anything I should know about backlash and preload? Seen those terms thrown around when dealing with this kind of stuff

If you have been driving it with that much slop you better figure on putting a new gear set in it. Pinion setup on new bearings is 20-35 in lbs, backlash set @ .006-.010

smokin99stroke · May 5, 2013

suprhlr said:
If you have been driving it with that much slop you better figure on putting a new gear set in it. Pinion setup on new bearings is 20-35 in lbs, backlash set @ .006-.010

I already figured the pinion would need to be replaced. I'm not sure how long it has been going on because Ive only put about 5k miles on it. The ring gear is gonna need replaced too? How can I tell? I'm kinda on a budget here as this was unexpected. But if this stuff needs replaced I better do it now. Thanks for the specs

suprhlr · May 5, 2013

smokin99stroke said:
I already figured the pinion would need to be replaced. I'm not sure how long it has been going on because I haven't put that many miles on it. The ring gear is gonna need replaced too? How can I tell? I'm kinda on a budget here as this was unexpected. But if this stuff needs replaced I better do it now. Thanks for the specs

The ring and pinion need to be replaced as a set

smokin99stroke · May 5, 2013

suprhlr said:
The ring and pinion need to be replaced as a set

Thanks for the info. So ring, pinion, and all the bearings in there is what I should be replacing?

suprhlr · May 6, 2013

smokin99stroke said:
Thanks for the info. So ring, pinion, and all the bearings in there is what I should be replacing?

I would bet that the gears and all the bearings need replacing, but hard to tell until it gets torn apart

Commandos888 · May 12, 2013

Re: Hey bud

What's Up my friend!!! Check out randy's Ring & Pinion or maybe XDP.I know Money is tight but get a Full Re build kit For that rear end.Or find a good used one.

Randy's can set you up with what you will need.

tysonxj · Jun 4, 2013

Consider replacing the entire rear axle. Mine looks like yours, and that is what I am doing.

smokin99stroke · Jun 5, 2013

tysonxj said:
Consider replacing the entire rear axle. Mine looks like yours, and that is what I am doing.

I rebuilt the entire thing. Its running great now.

Commandos888 · Jun 7, 2013

GOOD!!!! I Very Happy to hear that!!!

Ipkyss · Jun 17, 2013

Just adding to this since I didn't see it said. I would call and ask if the wheel bearings, hubs, and axle tubes were well cleaned when the did the gears. If Not there could still be a lot of metal floating around. Most guys will pull the shafts, change the gears and put the shafts back in never cleaning the bearings or hubs. I have actually been to shops that even after me saying that about a truck they were working on, I was told they were not going to waste there time.

smokin99stroke · Jun 17, 2013

Ipkyss said:
Just adding to this since I didn't see it said. I would call and ask if the wheel bearings, hubs, and axle tubes were well cleaned when the did the gears. If Not there could still be a lot of metal floating around. Most guys will pull the shafts, change the gears and put the shafts back in never cleaning the bearings or hubs. I have actually been to shops that even after me saying that about a truck they were working on, I was told they were not going to waste there time.

Thanks for the input. They asked me if I wanted them to change the bearings too but I just replaced them 6 months ago. So I said no. I'm changing the fluid within the next few days so I'll be on the look out for shavings. May not have been the best decision but not much I can do about it now. We'll see