while going through my new [used]axle,I found a very small chip[about a 16th long and an 8th tall ] on one of the pinion gear splines at the bearing side-the gear pattern looks good and no scarring or chips anywhere else.I cant afford to have a shop do a pinion gear-can i get away with running this? I rarely wheel[not many legal places]and i dont daily drive my rig.Thanks for any info This axle is a 87 14sf 410s will be pushing 33s.
CK5
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tell me its not catastrophic-Gear Q
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Not talking spider gears, right?
So, you removed the driveshaft yoke from the pinion gear, replacing pinion seal I assume, and you found the chipped spline on the pinion gear? My only question is, how did that one spline get chipped inside the yoke? If the rest of the splines on the pinion gear and inside the yoke are clean and look good, I would put a new pinion seal in and put it back together and chance it. That said, are you familiar with the procedure for torquing the yoke nut back on?
To replace the pinion gear means replacing the ring gear also, resulting in a complete new gear set up in the diff.
So, you removed the driveshaft yoke from the pinion gear, replacing pinion seal I assume, and you found the chipped spline on the pinion gear? My only question is, how did that one spline get chipped inside the yoke? If the rest of the splines on the pinion gear and inside the yoke are clean and look good, I would put a new pinion seal in and put it back together and chance it. That said, are you familiar with the procedure for torquing the yoke nut back on?
To replace the pinion gear means replacing the ring gear also, resulting in a complete new gear set up in the diff.
no no to much thought!
no-just took off the diff cover to clean and inspect-at that point im looking straight into it past the carrier to watch the gears move while i hand turn the axle.
Where the pinion meets the ring gear i can see the splines as they turn -so when turning very slowly i noticed 1 spline of the pinion gear to have that chip--i mentioned bearing side to give reference to which end of the gear i was describing.
no-just took off the diff cover to clean and inspect-at that point im looking straight into it past the carrier to watch the gears move while i hand turn the axle.
Where the pinion meets the ring gear i can see the splines as they turn -so when turning very slowly i noticed 1 spline of the pinion gear to have that chip--i mentioned bearing side to give reference to which end of the gear i was describing.
There are no splines there, I think you have your nomenclature wrong.
If it's a chip in one of the teeth I would run it if I were you.
If it's a chip in one of the teeth I would run it if I were you.
These are splines:
The pinion does have them but you can't see them if you just take the diff cover off.
If you still have the cover off, look closely at the chip. If the edges are "sharp" not sure how to describe it, and you can get to it, you need to see if you can dull the edges a little.
In other words, round them off slightly.
Extra fine emery cloth will do it.
Don't let the filings or cast off of the emery cloth get in the rear end.
If you think it did, wash it with oil and suck the results out.
A sharp edge like that is a stress riser. Causes all the load to be concentrated at that point.
If you have already buttoned it up, or you can't get to it, go ahead and run it. Not rounding the edges off is not a guaranteed problem.
Rounding it off is more of a just in case thing.
If you do have it open, you might see if you can find the piece that chipped off. With any luck, its stuck at the bottom and will not give any problems.
Thats why I have always used a magnetic drain plug on the rear ends that have them.
In other words, round them off slightly.
Extra fine emery cloth will do it.
Don't let the filings or cast off of the emery cloth get in the rear end.
If you think it did, wash it with oil and suck the results out.
A sharp edge like that is a stress riser. Causes all the load to be concentrated at that point.
If you have already buttoned it up, or you can't get to it, go ahead and run it. Not rounding the edges off is not a guaranteed problem.
Rounding it off is more of a just in case thing.
If you do have it open, you might see if you can find the piece that chipped off. With any luck, its stuck at the bottom and will not give any problems.
Thats why I have always used a magnetic drain plug on the rear ends that have them.
1BEATK5
1/2 ton status
i know! no cam -i would have had the answer the first second you guys saw the pic -without the confusion i created -but the info i needed was given---very small chip, on the tooth, its worth the chance to run it .Thanks
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1BEATK5
1/2 ton status
thats coo. i really just wanted to use that smiley!
