I have found that there is too much of the play in my front (HP Dana 30 from XJ). Basically I see little bit of up and down and in and out movement, and the pinion seal is leaking.
I am getting prepared to adjust the preload, which I believe is the cause for the issue.
Wanted to get some feedback on the steps:
1. First I will check the torque on the pinion nut. My understanding is that since it not crush sleeve but shims, the torque should be in the area of 210 feet/pound.
2. If adjusting the torque works (all play disappears), then I found the problem, I can replace the pinion seal and call It a day
3. If the torque on the pinion nit is fine, then I have to start digging into shims.
4. My understanding is that I have to remove the carrier (yeah, brake rotors, unit bearings and shafts all go out), remove the pinion seal and gently knock out the pinion (from back to front towards where carrier was).
5. Then I remove the outer bearing from pinion, take all the preload shims from pinion, measure them with micrometer and note all of them.
6. Then I remove some smallest shim and reinstall the pinion with the shims, outer bearing and start torquing and measuring the preload with this preload wrench. What is the used bearing preload value? Since the bearings are not new, I cannot go by the value of new gear install, which is like 20 inch/pound or something. Do I understand it correctly that the right solution is to have the right preload value when the pinion nut is at 210 feet/pound?
I would appreciate help from folks here, as diffs is the only area that I don't feel 100% confident in.
I am getting prepared to adjust the preload, which I believe is the cause for the issue.
Wanted to get some feedback on the steps:
1. First I will check the torque on the pinion nut. My understanding is that since it not crush sleeve but shims, the torque should be in the area of 210 feet/pound.
2. If adjusting the torque works (all play disappears), then I found the problem, I can replace the pinion seal and call It a day
3. If the torque on the pinion nit is fine, then I have to start digging into shims.
4. My understanding is that I have to remove the carrier (yeah, brake rotors, unit bearings and shafts all go out), remove the pinion seal and gently knock out the pinion (from back to front towards where carrier was).
5. Then I remove the outer bearing from pinion, take all the preload shims from pinion, measure them with micrometer and note all of them.
6. Then I remove some smallest shim and reinstall the pinion with the shims, outer bearing and start torquing and measuring the preload with this preload wrench. What is the used bearing preload value? Since the bearings are not new, I cannot go by the value of new gear install, which is like 20 inch/pound or something. Do I understand it correctly that the right solution is to have the right preload value when the pinion nut is at 210 feet/pound?
I would appreciate help from folks here, as diffs is the only area that I don't feel 100% confident in.