Pinion bearing replacement

[grey83c20]

Been hunting a direct replacement axel for my 83 c20 with no luck. So in the meantime I've been sizing up the job of replacing the bad pinion bearing myself and doing all the bearings while I'm at it. Want some opinions. If I am keeping the carrier and gears the same... And in careful to put back any found spacers as they were... Should I be able to use the same crush sleeve and bolt everything back together ( to torque spec) without worrying about preload or caliper dials, etc. It's a 14 bolt SF open diff. I'd love to put in an Eaton and have someone who is experienced with axels do it but the $500 in labor and $600+ in parts talks me out of it.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

Been hunting a direct replacement axel for my 83 c20 with no luck. So in the meantime I've been sizing up the job of replacing the bad pinion bearing myself and doing all the bearings while I'm at it. Want some opinions. If I am keeping the carrier and gears the same... And in careful to put back any found spacers as they were... Should I be able to use the same crush sleeve and bolt everything back together ( to torque spec) without worrying about preload or caliper dials, etc. It's a 14 bolt SF open diff. I'd love to put in an Eaton and have someone who is experienced with axels do it but the $500 in labor and $600+ in parts talks me out of it.

The correct answer is no. Nope, no way, no how, you gotta reset your preload and backlash.

The real answer is probably. I know I have swapped yokes without re-setting my gear's.

If this is something you rely on, I would do it properly. If it's a weekend truck, give it a shot, the worse that can happen is it'll be effed up, and it's effed up now. Really it will only howl anyway

 

[grey83c20]

That confirms what's I was thinking. Thank you.

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