Ok... Make sure you read all this and take it all into account before answering.
I pulled out the pinion and crush sleeve. I measured it and the old one with the digital calipers. They spec out as follows:
Old: .591" New: .615"
So it needs to go about another .025" to be the same size as the original. That doesn't mean that it needs to go that far, or that that's far enough... just, that's the difference between the two.
It'll be hard to put that thing in the press and get just a few thousands of an inch crush on it... We're talking 2/3 of a millimeter here. (literally .66mm)
This is important...Now, as it was, it sure felt like I could move the whole pinion and yoke in and out more than .025". I could be wrong, probably should've put the dial indicator on there to see how much play I had, but oh well. The pinion nut was TIGHT by the way. I had to borrow another impact that didn't have as much power to get the nut back off.
I also noticed the design of the two sleeves. They are very different.
The original one is on the left, and the new one on the right.
Is it normal for them to be available with the "bead" either inward or outward?
Next question... The diameter of the pinion shaft is 1.317". The inside diameter of the "bead" on the new sleeve is 1.330". What if it starts to crush and the bead hits the pinion shaft, stopping it from moving any further?
So... Say that it needs to go further than .025" in order to be "right". Why can't I use the old one that has just a few thousand miles on it??? If the old wasn't crushed further than what I need with the new bearings, what would be the harm???
