Ever Play with Your Pinion?

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Lugboot

Lugboot

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Oct 19, 2006
Threads
70
Messages
1,271
Location
Pennsyltucky
I thought I'd post over here, too, since all Cruisers have front pinions and I figure some of you guys have had to deal with leaking pinion flanges in the past.

Nutshell: my front pinion is leaking at the companion flange. When I move it by hand, it has a notchy feeling, like a rough bearing would feel like in other applications. SHould this have a smooth feel to it or is okay to be a little rough? I'm trying to get an idea of what I may be in for prior to just replacing the seal and flange, only to find I have other issues.

Or is the smarter deal just to replace the pinion seal and flange and see how it goes?

Thanks!
 
the bearing could be worn...#27, it should be smooth.

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In which case, I'm looking at a diff rebuild?

man, thanks for the quick answer. That was my gut reaction--that it should be smooth.
 
CJBury said:
Jesus, you must be desperate if you're hitting us up for info. I told you that you're gonna be a :banana::banana::banana: guy before you know it.
Click to expand...

Hey, I'm just trying to tap all the resources I can think of. Didn't want to limit the knowledge base to the just the 80s guys. I'm getting a hell of a crashcourse in 4-wheel mechanics. Mountain bikes are a lot easier! But, strangely, not much less expensive.

Wayneraintree said:
Bearing play is up and down, side to side... I just read your thread in 80tech... seems like you understand backlash.

if it is leaking, a worn or bad bearing could have made the seal blow...
Click to expand...

hmm, well, I got no discernible up and down, side to side play. Tools R Us just gave a little more good info over there in the other thread, too. Here's something else I've been thinking--

When I bought the truck, it need a front axle job. Of course. Drained the front diff and basically black tar came out. Dunno how long it was running like that. Put in fresh oil for a "rinse cycle" and over the next couple months, started to notice the pinion leak. Just drained and refilled the diff with Mobil 1 about 3 weeks ago, and since then, the leak has gotten worse. So. I'm wondering if that tarry crap was really too thick to leak out, and as I've cleaned up the inside of the diff with the last two oil changes, leaks have started to open up and show themselves due to thinner, correct, good gear oil.

Sounds like my most conservative approach right now its to replace the oil seal and (proabably) the flange, don't screw with the bearings, put everything back together and see what happens with the rehabbed, new u-jointed front driveshaft.

Thoughts?
 
Lugboot said:
hmm, well, I got no discernible up and down, side to side play.
Click to expand...

Funny, that's my new problem......

Lugboot said:
When I bought the truck, it need a front axle job. Of course. Drained the front diff and basically black tar came out. Dunno how long it was running like that. Put in fresh oil for a "rinse cycle" and over the next couple months, started to notice the pinion leak. Just drained and refilled the diff with Mobil 1 about 3 weeks ago, and since then, the leak has gotten worse. So. I'm wondering if that tarry crap was really too thick to leak out, and as I've cleaned up the inside of the diff with the last two oil changes, leaks have started to open up and show themselves due to thinner, correct, good gear oil.
Click to expand...

could you tell whether birf grease was getting into the diff oil past the axle seal? This is the only real explanation I can think off. (unless the PO purposely put it in to slow the pinion leak.... but I thought you got it from someone reputable???)

BTW: my 80's front pinion leaks as well, but I haven't dug into it as I'm afraid of diffs still :D

...Looks like I'm gonna learn on my 40 though!!!! :mad:
 
Klunky Chris said:
Funny, that's my new problem......

could you tell whether birf grease was getting into the diff oil past the axle seal? This is the only real explanation I can think off. (unless the PO purposely put it in to slow the pinion leak.... but I thought you got it from someone reputable???)

BTW: my 80's front pinion leaks as well, but I haven't dug into it as I'm afraid of diffs still :D

...Looks like I'm gonna learn on my 40 though!!!! :mad:
Click to expand...

Your 40 has pinion play?

It was definitely from the the birf grease and the diff oil making unholy love in my axle. Segregation is a good idea, some times. I knew I needed to do the axle rebuild when I bought it and the axle seals were definitely bad.

Want to have a pinion party? We could hang them from ropes and beat them with sticks until candy comes out . . . wait, that's a pinata. Crap.

I'm kind of a-skeered of breaking into this one, too, but I have to do something soon.

Let's see--2 80s and 1 40--sounds like a helluva ALCA tech day . . .
 
I have some rope and a big stick . . . wait, wrong party again.

Let's see if Chris is up for it. Maybe I'll call him tonight.

Can you PM me your digits?
 
Synthetic can most definitely leak where dino won't. I always stick with good old 90w dino.
 
My "rinse cycle" was with dino since I knew I would be changing it relatively soon--it started leaking with the dino and then got worse with the synthetic.
 
I've never messed with an 80, but the 40 rear is not as tough to tear apart as its been made out to be.
A engine stand, press, the tech thread, an inch lb. torque wrench, dial and magnetic stand, and a diff holder are necessities.
I have all these things if you guys are short anything.
I just had mine apart a couple of weeks ago.:)
 
Lugboot,
I'm up for a pinion party, but my schedule is tight right now.
(you also have to sign a release for any injury, discomfort, psychological distress, or just plain disbelief at the total white trash-ness of my compound.....:D)

I'm in a hotel in Allentown as I type this (watching Dogfights!) and won't be back until Sun night.
Next Friday - Sunday will be in Philly

I threw a fit and got the pig run off, but I have to make it up the following Friday - Sunday in Delaware......

Before the Pig Run, I'm trying to fit in a diff swap for my 40.... that's with a diff I still haven't gotten from Gary yet! :D

I might should take the 80 but I'm having too much fun with the 40..... maybe I shouldn't push it.

It would mean I need to get the 80 inspected though..... *sigh*
 
HOLY CRAP.... I almost missed this :)

I would love a tech day also.... rear pinion/differential for me. My howl was so loud, I finally pulled my front DS. I wonder if we could overrun the Merkey compound?

I am ready and I will even supply the :beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer:
 
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