Pinion bearing failed

Burn Down

Hotrodder
Sep 14, 2008
7,092
28
48
Boise Idaho
its sorta like setting up a trans except you will be pulling things in and out 3-5 times to get the gear mesh right (time consuming). There is a bit of an art to it but its not too terrible.

if you decide to do it, always do your first assembly with the stock shims/preload first. 8/10 times, its about as good as you can get! specially with a quality gear set like you will be using.

you will need a dial indicator with some sort of base so you can check back lash and grab some gear marking compound from a GM dealer (cant remember the part number off the top of my head but i have a thread here asking for it). A setup bearing for the pinion would save you alot of time and keep you from killing the new bearing you will have bought. the pinion shim goes under the bottom pinion bearing and that bearing must be pressed on. you can see how that can be a pain if you have to adjust it.

when you get the new carrier, if you have a lathe, throw it on there to check and make sure the ring gear surface is completely flat. if you dont have a lathe, take a flat file and run all the way around the surface with it to knock any high spots down.

when you check backlash, check it on every other tooth. it takes a while but it will tell you if the carrier has too much run out or if there is a problem somewhere on the ring or pinion or even the bearings.

some say you need a pinion debth measuring tool but since your going with stock gears, you would be fine without it. ive done plenty of gear installs without issue without one. the gear marking compound tells you alot anyhow.

Make sure you read up on how to read the markings and adjust from there. you can always post here and i or others who have done enough installs can guide ya.

I have set up a bunch of big Cat Diffs... I'm with James, it's not hard just time consuming. Plenty of help on here Mike if you need it:thumb:
 

mike diesel

I'm alright.
Sep 6, 2012
4,005
0
36
SLC, Utah
I have set up an axle before when I was in high school for a class. I remember everything about it. I ordered a genuine timken master rebuild kit too. Comes with a shim stack for the pinion depth, timken bearings, crush sleeve, pinion nut, pinion seal, ring gear bolts and gear marking compound. I cut the old race off the pinion and took the factory shim off so I have it to try first. I marked all the pre load adjusters for the carrier bearings too so I atleast have somewhere to start. I think I'll be ok. If not, you guys will hear from me lol.
 

mike diesel

I'm alright.
Sep 6, 2012
4,005
0
36
SLC, Utah
Alright, everything is ordered.

Now I just need to clean up the diff housing.

Is my old carrier/ring gear worth anything? Ring gear is in perfect condition, bearings are good too.
 

Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
Staff member
Oct 21, 2009
21,691
5,848
113
Phoenix Az
Alright, everything is ordered.

Now I just need to clean up the diff housing.

Is my old carrier/ring gear worth anything? Ring gear is in perfect condition, bearings are good too.

ring and pinion wear together and matching a different pinion up to a different ring can cause bad noises or pre-mature wear. So ring gear is a good paper weight along with the pinion. someone may buy it though

basically, the carrier is about all you got worth selling unless the g80 blew up (which i think you said it did or something along those lines)
 

mike diesel

I'm alright.
Sep 6, 2012
4,005
0
36
SLC, Utah
Oh yes, the g80 is gone lmao. Every single piece in this tray was jammed in between the front and rear pinion bearings. Which explains the failure. There was not even a spec of metal or broken piece in the bottom of the diff housing. Every single piece was flung through the oil passage to the pinion. I guess that carrier could have a DHD mini spool thrown in if someone happened to destroy their carrier.

 

zf>allison

you never had your car.
Apr 30, 2013
3,394
0
36
elsberry mo
I got my aam with Timken bearings pressed on for less than 700, when my brother bought the same thing a year later from the same place it was almost 800, both from drive train America.
 

malibu795

misspeelleerr
Apr 28, 2007
8,248
550
113
42
in the buckeye state
What I did to hold the yoke while tightening this Pinion nut..
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