[THORSS70]

Hi all, I was in the middle of doing a rebuild on my 71 1/2 ton truck rearend, and when I went to slide the front pinion bearing on, it resisted. After measurment it showed that the pinion gear was .0002 larger than the ID of the bearing.

I thought the front bearing was suppose to be non interference? I am asking because was not sure about the truck axle assy. but have done passenger car rebuilds in the past so I am familiar.

 

[cobra2411]

On the rears that i've done the outer bearing has always been a slight press fit. Not anything like the rear one, but not slip on either. You can heat the bearing and then it should slip on, or just use the nut to pull it on... If you heat it, remember the glove. Hot bearings get heavy fast...

David

 

[big gear head]

Most bearings are press fit, but some of the outer pinion bearings are a little loose. It doesn't matter too much on the outer bearing, but the inner bearing needs to be press fit.

 

[THORSS70]

OK, thank you for the help much appriciated. I will have to get it started with heat then get the pinion nut to get it seated on the crush sleeve. I just was worried about if I had to pull the assy back out to re shim for the depth and could not because the bearing was too tight.

 

[big gear head]

You can use a brake cylinder hone to open the hole up a little if you want it to slide a little easier. Just don't go too far. You want it to be tight, but not so tight that you damage the end of the pinion if you have to drive it back out.

 

[THORSS70]

Will do, I will get a chance to get on this again over the weekend and if there is anything else of concern I will ask

Thanks again for the advise

 

[cobra2411]

If you have to get it apart to reshim they are usually loose enough that you can take a rubber mallet (deadblow) and pop it out. You'll want to use the old crush sleeve until you get a clean pattern, then put the new one in and set your preload.

David

 

[big gear head]

Actually David there is no need to use a crush spacer of any kind durring the trial assemblies. The only time a crush spacer is needed is on the final assembly. You do need to be consistant on the bearing preload for each trial assembly. Use the old pinion nut for the trial assemblies and save the new one for the final assembly.