amount of differential play?

[narfire]

I have the rear of the car up on jacks to deal with a couple of leaks, and am wondering...how much play (lash) is there in the rotation of the drive shaft. I can turn the driveshaft 1/4 inch or a bit more between resistance on the contact of the gears in the diff. (hope that made sense).
I have the shaft disconected and the inspection plate removed. What I have noticed (no broken teeth, oil is clean,no metal) is the pin in the cage is a wee bit sloppy, that is I can see the hole it fits into is perhaps a wee bit worn and might have a couple of thou movement.
Past history is I replaced a leaking pinion seal late last year, and wonder if I got the pinion nut done up enough or too tight or if I have to replace the crush sleave after replacing the seal and everything was loose.
Is that amount of play normal? or some parts replacement in order. I have a couple of seals and crush washers on order and an outer pinion bearing as well.
Any insight is appreciated.
Chris

[majicwrench]

Most folks when they first see the play in a rear end think it is too much. Yes, the pin will wear the carrier and wiggle a little. Such is life. Most folks don't get the pinion nut tight enough. In a perfect world yoiu would change the crush sleeve (dang hard to crush BTW) when you change the pinion seal. Nobody does though. That pinion should not move in and out AT ALL.
LIkely nothing wrong. Inner pinion brg more likely to wear than outer. But should take it apart first and see what needs replacement what doesn't.
Keith

[rlux4]

I'm glad you asked that Chris. I felt the play in mine as I was diagnosing the recent vibration problem and, like Keith says, I thought it was normal.
Ron

[narfire]

Talked to Mario at Ital Motors in Edmonton and he mentioned that the pinion should not move side to side or up down. If so then the nut is not tight enough. He described the process as one tightens the nut to 110 pounds to seat everything with a new crush washer and the pinion rotates freely and no binding on the bearings without any vertical movement. Yes the crush should be replaced, so going to do that when the part arrives.

[majicwrench]

NOt sure what your friend said, but you should NOT back the nut back off, although doing so is not gonna ruin anything. Should tighten the nut gradually, spin pinion, little tighter, spin pinion..... With new bearings the pinion will take a small amount of force to turn, most rear ends have an inch pound spec for rotating torque. Set correctly, it will not rotate freely. Most people do not get the nut tight enough.
Keith

[narfire]

You're right, dont back it off.
What I have found is on another rear end from a 81, the pin in the cage does not have anywhere the same amount of play in it. The pin in the cage on my car moves enough to squirt oil out. A bit more movement than I originally thought.
Going to have to swap ends eventually...soon I guess.
Chris