Pinion Gear Bearings

1954-ish CJ5, Dana 44 rear axle.

Is it possible to pull the carrier out and then replace pinion bearings without re-shimming? I'm weighing the options of doing that or a more comprehensive job myself vs the expense of farming it out.

-R

 

In theory yes.
In practice, how do you know it was correct the time before?
Always best to this job just once, and to do it correctly.

 

Are the pinion bearings shot? If they are sort of ok at least, reset the preload and check the wear pattern before you take it apart. If it looks good, repeat the original shim packs with the new bearings and see where you end up. That isn't a lot of work and if it doesn't meet specs at that point, give it to a shop if you don't want to go further. Take a good look at the carrier bearings while you have it apart. If they are showing wear also, may be shop time anyway. It is a bit of a pain in the posterior to pull those off and reset the shim packs without a press and set-up bearings.

 

Thanks guys.

The leaky seal was my clue. I get a little bit of in and out in the pinion shaft and a tiny bit of axial movement. I don't have enough experience to know how much is 'sort of okay' but checking seems like a sane start. I know prices would be all over the place, but I'll search threads to see what the larger job (bearings, shims) should be nominally. The whole story may change once I open the thing up.

 

Tighten up the pinion and run a picture/measure the backlash prior to any disassembly. You will want to get the same picture/backlash when you reassemble.
You may find the bearings good, just a loose yoke nut.