2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission 99 rear axle pinion loose

[TStallings]

I recently heard a clunking sound from my rear axle. I checked out the obvious u-joints, etc. The problem is a loose pinion. I have about 0. 005-0. 008" of end play. I have tightened the pinion nut 6 clicks of a 3/4" drive ratchet. It was very tight to start with and requires a 4' pipe to tighten. All this tightening has not changed anything. I pulled the rear end cover and everything looks OK. Very little metal on the magnet.

Do I keep tightening?

Where can the clearance be coming from?

 

[n7gxz]

I would guess that maybe your pinion bearings might be going on you.



There is a crush sleave under the outter bearing that gets crushed to set the preload, that is why it take a 4' cheeter bar to turn the nut.



Kevin

 

[WalterRyan]

B. G. are you sure about that? This is a 99, Dana70 or Dana80. I could be wrong but I have never seen a Dana Spicer axle with a crush sleeve. It should be shims.



TStallings, you may be able to re shim the outer bearing after removing the oil seal but I would not recommend it. As n7gxz said if the gears look good under the cover it is bad bearings. I would by a install kit for a ring and pinion (includes bearings and shims plus the seal) and change all the bearings and re shim everything. It is not realy hard but if you are not comfortable doing it you may need to take it to a axle shop.



Walt

 

[B.G. Smith]

B. G. are you sure about that? This is a 99, Dana70 or Dana80. I could be wrong but I have never seen a Dana Spicer axle with a crush sleeve. It should be shims.



TStallings, you may be able to re shim the outer bearing after removing the oil seal but I would not recommend it. As n7gxz said if the gears look good under the cover it is bad bearings. I would by a install kit for a ring and pinion (includes bearings and shims plus the seal) and change all the bearings and re shim everything. It is not realy hard but if you are not comfortable doing it you may need to take it to a axle shop.



Walt

No, I'm not sure. The info I gave is for the 248 and 267 RBI axle, I see that there is also a 286 RBI which has shims instead of the crush washer. The 99 factory manual does not identify them as Dana 70, 80 etc. Sorry, my mistake. bg

 

[zstroken]

No crush sleeves on the D60-D80's.

Shims. You adjust bearing preload with shims.

 

[TStallings]

post script

I pulled the rear axle apart. pinion has shims, not a crush sleeve. removed one 0. 020" shim, preload looked good, put it back together again. I had two mechanics to look at the parts, neither could see any bearing problems. I wiped out the differiential assembly with a paper towel and did not find any metal particles. refilled with syn 75-140 oil and two friction modifiers. note: local Wilson, NC dealer did not even have a pinion seal for this Dana 70, much less a shim kit.



Anyone seen a shimming problem from the factory before?

 

[KAlder]

My old 98 was loose when I got it. It also had 170000 miles on it. I replaced the bearings -pinion only, looked good but, just because. Mine I could grab the rear driveline and move it 1/4" up & down! The real kicker was the seal wasn't leaking!