Loose pinion (1 Viewer)

[Mud crawler]

Is my front pinion supposed to have this much play in it?
Also how do I check my transfer case fluid?
The vid will be posted below
I can't get the vid on because it says it doesn't have an extension. The pinion has about 3 inches of left to right travel

 

[landtank]

nothing you are posting is remotely understandable. Left to right would indicate drive's side/passenger side. No way you have 3" of play

 

[Mud crawler]

nothing you are posting is remotely understandable. Left to right would indicate drive's side/passenger side. No way you have 3" of play

Sorry about the wording my phone was flipping out and I had to keep setting it down I guess I lost it. Yes left to right is driver side/passenger side. What's the normal play supposed to be like on the pinion?

 

[scottryana]

Pretty sure he means rotating left to right, not horizontal play left to right. The play in the pinion rotating left to right is a little much but with lots of miles comes play.

 

[landtank]

Sorry about the wording my phone was flipping out and I had to keep setting it down I guess I lost it. Yes left to right is driver side/passenger side. What's the normal play supposed to be like on the pinion?

If you are referring to 3" of rotational play it means the diff is F'd.

 

[Mud crawler]

Pretty sure he means rotating left to right, not horizontal play left to right. The play in the pinion rotating left to right is a little much but with lots of miles comes play.

That's exactly what I meant. It just hit 240k so I guess that's a lot of miles. Where do I check my transfer case fluid I can't seem to find it.

 

[Mud crawler]

If you are referring to 3" of rotational play it means the diff is F'd.

Alright. I'll get some 4.88's

 

[landtank]

Pull it first. there might be more than just gears and bearings.

 

[Mud crawler]

Pull it first. there might be more than just gears and bearings.

Will do. What else could there be?

 

[landtank]

I've seen the carrier side adjusters get damaged which means a new diff is in order.

 

[Pin_Head]

There may be nothing serious wrong with it either.

3 inches is an ambiguous measurement for rotation. Degrees would be better. The rotational slop is the sum total of all the clearances in the axle from the drive flanges, Birfields, side gears, pinion gears, etc. A little wear in all of them can add up to a lot of rotation.

 

[inkpot]

Lots of folks have changed out gearsets for different ratios, so lots of good used ones around if you just need replacements

 

[Mud crawler]

There may be nothing serious wrong with it either.

3 inches is an ambiguous measurement for rotation. Degrees would be better. The rotational slop is the sum total of all the clearances in the axle from the drive flanges, Birfields, side gears, pinion gears, etc. A little wear in all of them can add up to a lot of rotation.

About 35 degrees of movement

 

[Mud crawler]

Lots of folks have changed out gearsets for different ratios, so lots of good used ones around if you just need replacements

I'm going to get 4.88's this year so I'll just use that

 

[Pin_Head]

About 35 degrees of movement

That is in the normal range.

 

[landtank]

not my normal range

 

[Brian Maenpaa]

I am trying to track down a clacking (not clunking) noise up front. Goes away when under load and only occurs when coasting. I removed the front drive shaft and it's gone. Noticed about 10 degrees of rotation on the pinion sleeve to the diff. Does this sound problematic?

 

[amagnono]

Interested in this as mine has the same clacking noise.

 

[inkpot]

I am trying to track down a clacking (not clunking) noise up front. Goes away when under load and only occurs when coasting. I removed the front drive shaft and it's gone. Noticed about 10 degrees of rotation on the pinion sleeve to the diff. Does this sound problematic?

Have you greased the joints lately?

 

[Brian Maenpaa]

A good place to start. I just did both and the noise is gone. Unexpected as I replaced the u-joint bearings about 18 months ago. Perhaps I didn't grease them enough initially. My neighbor is a retired mechanic and thought the play in the Pinion sleeve was excessive. I thought is was normal (for a tractor) and wanted to get some opinions.
Many thanks for your response. I'll keep an eye on it.