I got a 95 Cherokee with a Chrysler 8.25 and I'm swapping in a set of 4.88 gears. The problem I'm having is with the outer pinion bearing behind the yoke. Is this thing press fit or should it just slip on there?? Anyone on here ever swapped 8.25 gears and is this something that's a problem or is there an easier way to do this. I was just trying to install the pinion to set the pinion preload but I couldn't get the bearing in. Need help please

 

It should have an interference fit. Not to the point of a press fit. I normally carefully tap them on with a punch and hammer while someone is holding the pinion from moving.

 

No I wish mine was that easy to install. I tried to tap it on and it didn't work. So I put the yoke and pinion nut on and used that to press the bearing on. I have taken it back out and tomorrow it's going to the machine shop to have a thousandth or two shaved off. Btw the gears I bought were Yukon gears I didn't know if anyone has had a problem with them or not.

 

Well that sucks, but not much you can do really if the bearing numbers match between the old ones and the new ones. I have never run into that issue before, I have installed Ford Racing, Motive and Richmond sets. No Yukons as of yet.

 

I'm gonna use a micrometer on the bearing and pinion tomorrow and find out the differences and then call randys ring and pinion. The bearing numbers match what originally came out of it. I had no trouble installing the carrier bearings or the big pinion bearing but I'm probably gonna get a machine shop to shave a little of the pinion to make it a little easier to get on.

 

Yeah that is what I would do as well. As long as it still does have an interference fit so the bearing does not just spin on the pinion.