Even at $100 an hour labor shouldn't be more than $400 to replace a pinion bearing, parts should be less than $200.

 

PM me and Ill give you the names of the shops and you can call and tell them their prices are too high.

 

Putting in the inner pinion race. Which way does the baffle go behind the race. Picture 1 or 2?

 

Picture 2 if I remember correctly.

 

It goes in like pic 2. Then the shims, then the race. https://www.dennysdriveshaft.com/c72...00_bronco.html

Did you check the backlash before you disassembled it, meaning, with paint to check the pattern, so you know how deep (which shims) to set the pinion?

 

You check backlash with a dial indicator, you run a pattern to check you pinion depth after you have your backlash set.

 

I did not check anything before because i got the axle already partially taken apart. Okay so i put in the baffle, then shims, then race got it. My axle came with 4 shims behind the original baffle and race so i assume that since i pressed a new inner pinion bearing on i will need to take shims away to start with? Maybe start with 2-3 shims and see if i need to add or take away?

 

Correct, Been a while since I did it. But the point is, did he do it.

 

Assuming you're using the same gears that came out, the same shims should go back in to where they came out and you'll have the same pattern and backlash. You'll end up with a hair more preload but that's fine.

Did you mark the bearing caps so that you put them back in the same way? That is important.

 

Correct! If just replacing the bearings and used the same gears, the pinion shims and gear pattern should be the same, providing the side bearings are shimmed the same and the caps are installed the same.
When you set the pinion preload, go slowly, checking the torque-to-turn because if you get the preload too tight, you'll need a new crush sleeve. You can't just back off the nut.

 

No crush sleeve on a HP Dana 30, it uses shims to set pinion pre-load.

 

Yes correct i am just rebuilding the axle. No new gears just new bearings and seals. I saved all the shims and didn't mess any of them up so that i could reuse them.

 

Bearing caps were marked before so they will go back in the way they came out.

 

Well, you see? You learn something new every day! I admit I've never seen a HP D30 apart. One of the advantages of a low pinion is the pinion is always running submerged in lube.

 

I have an entire Dana 30 housing complete with gears. To bad I didn’t see this sooner. It’s just sitting on my porch. Gotta try and sell it I suppose