Churchkey

I think your good to go. I have reused pinion bearings countless times as longas they are not pitted or scored.From what your saying it sounds like you have it set up properly.


Axle seals do not need to be changed out unless they are leaking or your doing a complete rear end rebuild. Just changing a gear does not require axle seals.

briansgonnawin

The bearings looked normal before i put them in. But like americanricer said, if my preload is too tight will i notice significant noise when the bearing starts to go out, or will it be more of a sudden failure? thanks again

AmericanRicer87

it'll sound normal for about 15miles till it heats up and then you'll start to hear it whine. Its another hour to change that bearing. If i ever had to pull another one apart again i would replace the pinion bearing if i messed with the pinion.The wheel seals only take a few minutes to change since the axles are already out. Autozone has the wheel bearing removal tool and all you need is a socket to dive the new seal in. You'll feel it bottom out. the old seals will leak. been there tried to cut the corner and pulled it back apart... How many miles are on the car? if the wheel bearings in the future even start to go out, you will be buying new axle safts. when the wheel bearings starts to wear it wallows out the axles 98% of the time. if its apart just replace it. axles are not cheap (another 250 dollars) Not worth it to me. I don't like doing things multiple times.

briansgonnawin

i never thought aboutthat, i just got new 31 spline axles. the car has 45k on it now, second owner did a gear swap before 35k. not sure when though.but i tihnk ill do the seals just as a precaution since i have new axles. the pinion bearing has 8k to my knowledge.

AmericanRicer87

you shouldn't have any problems with a bearing that new, if it had 50k on them i would reccomend replacing them but definately do the wheel bearings ruining those axles isn't worth it, not when the bearings costs 30 bucks or so for both. but as soon as you pull an axle out you probably tore the wheel seal ever so slightly enouh to leak. they don't like the in-out movement.

70 MACH I

I'm concerned about the pinion depth adjustment, if you look carefully you will notice the wear pattern indicates you are bearing on the inside of the ring gear tooth. Your pattern should be centered inside to outside on the tooth, and be centered midway between the top and bottom of the tooth. THAT LAST PICTURE SHOWS YOU DEFINITELY BEARING TOWARDS THE INSIDE OF THE GEAR, THE PINION NEEDS TO HAVE SOME SHIMS REMOVED.

John

briansgonnawin

thanks guys, and the drive side does show its close to the toe, i didnt really notice it before. hmmmmm, shimming is harder than i thought.