Pinion Bearing

[Bigbike]

So my pinion bearing on my D30 shit the bed. How do you replace it? Any tips? Should I have some one who does gears do it? I would like to do it my self if some one has a write up on how to do it.

[Zullock Holmes]

aren't your gears only like a year old??

[Bigbike]

Yeah, me thinks a bad driveshaft fuckedem up.

[Zullock Holmes]

i'm not an expert on it, but i think if the pinion nut wasn't torqued down enough on install it would have caused it to wear alot, thats my guess.

As for install, nothing should really change as far as pinion depth goes, pull the carrier, pull the pinion out, get someone with a bearing puller to pull the old one off and press the new one on with the same shims and cross your fingers. just to be sure i'd check the mesh on it too afterwards just to make sure its not off alot.

PM custom creations, Justin Williams, he did my gears and is super knowledgable when it comes to this stuff, i'm sure he'll give you a good plan of action, or at least tell you what he'd do in this situation.

[Bigbike]

Werd. Thanks for the help Matt. I was thinking that same thing with using the same shims and just putting a new bearing on.

[Ruepart Hoaxley]

dis another project for the driveway?

[Zullock Holmes]

from what i've heard, most times you change the bearings it should be fine to not re-setup the diff, but you never know, sometimes bearings are unique and might change the depth a couple thousandths, i don't even know if that small makes a difference, but better safe than sorry. Spend alittle bit more to have a pro do it then spend a LOT more to set up a whole new set of gears cause they went kablamo!

[Bigbike]

I would think if you used the same thikness shims the bearing would be put back in the same place. If it was off it would prolly be like 0.001-0.003 off and I dont think that would cause to many problems but im not and expert.

[Zullock Holmes]

yeaaa neither am i, so uhhhh saturday.... wanna go for it??? hahahaha.

[Bigbike]

You know what they say, theres no time like the present. If it fucks up Ill just part out the jeep and get a ranger.

[customcreationsllc]

Is the axle high pinion or low pinion?
Low pinions drive the gears backwards which actually pulls the pinion in and loads up the little preload bearing this I've seen plenty of D30 waste bearings in stock applications.

Do you drive with 4x4 on the road, bearings usually don't have time to wear out off road.
You could have haved crap in there, you can sometimes tell if only like 1 or 2 of the rollers are bad then you probably had something in there, If it is blue overheated probably too tight preload, etc.

Every time I've ever replaced bearings I didn't have to touch the shims, but it is still a good idea to check preloads backlash and gear pattern.

Is there a lot of miles on the gears, it is a good idea to take the gear pattern before you take it apart and try to match up the same pattern when your done.
The gears will wear to each other after a while.

I actually had an axle that the bearings were so bad that gears wore a new pattern with the pinion crooked so when I replaced the bearings and made the pinion straight again it made so much noise like helicopter.
I could barely get a pattern on the gear just a little tiny sliver of contact, it ended up needing new gears and it was all good.

[Bigbike]

I took the driveshaft off, and my pinion seems to have 1/16-1/8 play in any direction. It is a HP 30. There is alot less play now that there is no driveshaft on it.

[customcreationsllc]

did you check the torque on pinion nut?

How long have you been driving on it making noise?

[Bigbike]

did you check the torque on pinion nut?

How long have you been driving on it making noise?

Should it be making a whining noise? I didnt really hear anything whine or a growl really. Theres a lot of noises and it has Swampers.

[DrThunder]

1/16 to 1/8" rotational? Or are you talking about pushing up and down on the yoke?