This weekend I'm rebuilding my Chryco 8.25 29 spline rear axle. I'm thinking I had bearing failure due to an Aussie locker not being installed the correct way. The ring and pinion, which are 4.56s do not have any damage. Any tips for installing new bearings without replacing gears?

 

Why do you think a aussie locker made a bearing fail?

Are you installing pinion bearings? Why?

 

I put it together without thrust washers. Before I knew anything about my axle, I called my local Jeep dealer and asked to buy some thrust washers, they told me that axle never had them. After a couple months and a trip to Morris Mountain and Gray Rock ORV the popping was getting excessive and something just didn't feel right. Pulled the diff cover and found 2 halves of 4 pins and 1 whole spring out of 4. Cleaned everything out and threw it back together with proper shims and a Aussie rebuild kit , it's been fine for about a year. Pulled cover the other day and found chunks of bearings.

 

No telling how long it had been whining as bad as it was. bc going down I65 at 70-75mph the 33" Goodyear MTRs and a unbalanced front driveshaft was covering it up till I pulled over coming back from Gray Rock last month and pulled front shaft. She drove like a Cadillac after that but that is when I noticed the crazy howl of destroyed carrier bearings. Glad I made it for a hour and a half drive home and a couple weeks driving around town after. New respect for my 8.25.

 

Here is some of the damage.