PINION TRAVEL?!
Posted: April 22nd, 2014, 6:30 pm
Firtst off, let me just say, I know that there should not be any pinion travel. However.....I got some on my rearend. When I regeard to 4:56's, everything seamed to go as usual. When setting the preload on the pinion, I noticed that the new pinion nut did not seam to seat as far onto the pionion as the old set up did. I compared the old nut to the new, and found the new one was a good 1/8" taller than the old one, and chalked it up to that. After setting proper preload and backlash, everything seamed right as rain. I've put just over 300 miles and two easy trips to Jones with no issues. Then, on my way to work this morrning at 5:00am, The pinion moved enough to contact the carrier! Let me tell you, nothing will wake you up and get your attention quite like that! Not knowing what it was at the time, I was still close to home, and took my jeep straight back with no issue or anymore ungodly noises. Inspecting everything to find the cause, I saw my pinion move in and out about that same 1/8", and opend the diff to see some light marring on the carrier and no damage to the gear set. I was able to tighten the pinion nut more and now it sets like I thought it should in the first place. Now I just need to readjust the backlash, which I'll do tomorrow. Giving up tonight out of frustration and disgust. The only cause I can think of is that the bearing race did not seat properly in the initial set up. Has anyone ever had an experience like this, or am I the only idiot?