Pinion bearing preload. Carrier in or out?

[Stomis]

I've always measured pinion bearing preload with the carrier in once the gears are set up.

Mechanic here at work who has a world of experience more than me says your suppose to set the gears up then remove the carrier and set the preload to just the pinion.

My gut is telling me I'm wrong but I've always done it the way I described and never had a problem. In fact they taught me that method in school (not that that says a load).

 

[1BEATK5]

you do it with the carrier out.
crush sleeve style with pinion seal installed
shim style without pinion seal installed
chrysler says you can do it with the carrier in only if you check it before initial teardown.

 

[sweetk30]

diffrent axles take diffrent steps.

but you want pinion bearing preload tourqe check with pinion only spinning. so this means no carrier installed.

now with this guys that do tons of gear installes can tell by feel from lots of experence.

 

[Speedo]

Here's a thought for you, if you check the pinion preload with carrier installed and you're working on a 2.73 to 1 gearset would you expect the same reading if you're working on a 7.17 to 1 gearset? Then there is another thing to consider, if you measure the pinion bearing preload with the carrier and the reading is too high, is the pinion preload too high or is it the carrier? These are a couple of reasons why the pinion preload is measured by itself.

Gus

 

[texas4x4rebel]

When i worked for G.M. we had two preload measurments to check one spec for just the pinion installed with the seal and crush sleeve and then another once you have the carrier installed and set up that would you tell you if you had the right preload on the side bearings.

 

[chulisohombre]

i only did one gear set so far but as per randys r and p it said to check preload without carrier in.that way you are only measureing the preload on the pinion bearings only.

 

[texas4x4rebel]

i only did one gear set so far but as per randys r and p it said to check preload without carrier in.that way you are only measureing the preload on the pinion bearings only.

Since they only list one preload setting on there spec sheet that is for just the pinion alone.