I've got a spare axle on the bench I'm working on (new brakes, new bearings, blast/paint etc).

Tonight I noticed that there is what feels like a slight amount of play in the Pinion. Specifically I can turn the Pinion yoke a little bit before feeling/hearing it engage (presumably with the Ring).

The cover is gasketed on currently to keep sand/paint out while cleaning up so haven't looked inside yet, but is some small amount of play ok?


EDIT: When I had the cover off, the gear wear pattern on the ring looked ok to my laymans eyes (could see the pattern from where oil was wiped away when hand turning it).

 

Some play is normal. I guess it depends on what is a "small amount" to you.

 

Oh come on "small amount" isn't objective enough for you

So I guess what I'm feeling here is the ring backlash and I'll have to test it when I get the cover off?

Per the FSM looks like it needs to be less than .1mm (.004")

 

You should have some play, just like ring gap it gives room for things to grow. Get a good magnetic dial indicator and you can check it very easily with the cover off.
Dana 60 specs .004" to .009"

 

And I was hoping to get away without touching the diff bearings, pinion bearings/seals etc. If it wasnt an unknown junkyard rear I wouldn't hesitate to button it back up.

Everything else looked great on the wheel end save for one blown seal. Bearings and bearing surfaces looked great as did the axle splines. Same with the Ring teeth.

Debating on just measuring backlash and buttoning up or ripping out all the diff internals and having someone put in the OX locker for me along with new bearings/seals. For a daily driver that sees limited mileage, my perfectionist nature is fighting with my sense of reason.

 

The 8.8 in my 460-powered F150 has a "large amount" of play, but it doesn't make any noise and it doesn't leak so I just leave it alone.