Thought it was just front pinion seal

[Royal Squire]

Boy was I wrong! Was going to change front pinion seal real quick but turns out at least one of the pinion bearings is junk. I don't have the time or the money for this. Plus I gotta work outside in the mud. I hate to have someone else do the work, I could try to find a good used diff. Sure miss my old shop. 

[Mopar1973Man]

Why not just have a shop do the work? Yeah it will cost a little bit o change the bearing and race but it will be better than buying entire front differential. 

[Royal Squire]

I was hoping this was a dream. 

[Wild and Free]

How do you know there is a bad bearing?

No need to change out an entire diff, the worst part of that job is pulling the axles, the rest is easy if just a pinion bearing. Bearings are cheap.

Edited February 28, 2016 by Wild and Free

[Royal Squire]

I can see bearing is shot. This just wasn't a part of my plan. Will probably live through this. 

[Wild and Free]

Biggest reason for front diff failures is moisture and lack of regular maintenance. I have been into just as many if not more front diffs and moisture is the main culprit from my experience. people think that because they do not use 4X4 often it isn't as important just because the oil "Looks" ok. The live or even semi live front axles we have helps but one still needs to change the front diff oil just as often if not more so than the rear diff oil. I have a suction gun I just suck some of the oil out of the plug hole every 20K miles or so during normal oil changes and replenish it that way and then do a cover off oil change and flush every 50k or so.

Edited February 28, 2016 by Wild and Free

[IBMobile]

1 hour ago, Wild and Free said:

No need to change out an entire diff, the worst part of that job is pulling the axles, the rest is easy if just a pinion bearing. Bearings are cheap.

I agree with Wild and Free.  I've done a few pinion bearings in the Dana axles and it's not hard just time consuming if you've never done one.  Parts are 2 bearings with race, pion seal, gasket and/or RTV, PB Blaster, and diff oil. This will give you an idea of how it's done.

                                     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjQv2JQXYgE

 

Edited February 28, 2016 by Mopar1973Man

[Royal Squire]

Thanks guys. Do I need to worry about pinion depth or just use existing shims under bearing?

Do you reuse crush sleeve or?

[Wild and Free]

If you are not replacing the gears the original shim pack is ok, always always always get a new crush sleeve, never reuse the old one.

[IBMobile]

3 hours ago, Wild and Free said:

If you are not replacing the gears the original shim pack is ok, always always always get a new crush sleeve, never reuse the old one.

       ↑   I agree   ↑    Any time I've changed any bearing in a diff I always reuse the same shim pack.  If you're  pulling the crush sleeve off put a new one on.

[Mopar1973Man]

Seem like the two of you need to create a nice write up of how that's done...