how do you set pinion depth on a 10.25 sterling.is this depth preset by the crush sleeve,if so pinion depth is not adjustable to the ring gear correct? I found the tip of the pinion was hitting the carrier housing and i assume thats where the shavings that keep messing my vss were coming from. i removed the .002 betwween the pinion bearing and the yoke to pull the pinion away from the carrier.the only "shim" i seen on the pinion was the crush sleeve itself

 

the crush sleeve isn't for setting the pinion depth. possibly your crown gear is to far over. sounds as though you need to disassemble the axle and read the markings on the pinion for depth and try to set it at that spec.

 

The pinion depth is adjusted with shims behind the inner pinion bearing. It shouldn't change. Most of the time if the pinion hits the carrier it is due to bad bearings.

 

no markings on pinion other than ford #.I pulled the cover this morning and there were micro metal shavings mixed in the oil.looks to me like the pinion is riding to high on the heel of the crown gear.can i tourqe down on the pinion nut and crush the sleeve until the pinion rides center of the crown gear?what is the backlash? the distance between the carrier bearing and housing.i have a 1/4 " shim on both sides and the carrier dosent seem to move side to side. the bearings look allright they turn freely and dont appear to be turning in the housing(spinning a bearing)the pinion appears to have a few thousandths play between the crown gear.the pinion and crown gear look in good shape olthough there is some slight wear on the heel looks like thats where i am getting those micro particals from. also the truck makes a horrible noise(ringing,clunking sound)between 3-4 and 4-od lasting till i reach a higher speed,i thought it was u joints so i replaced the hanger and the u joints but that wasnt the problem so that lead me back to the rear end.also the vss is getting particles on it and i think thats the cause of my code 29 and tranny shift problems.any ideas i am all ears i got to get my moneymaker back on the road today or i am gonna starve to death.thanks for the help

 

as a prev. post stated the shims are behind the large bearing closest to the actual gear. tightening the pinion nut to tighten or crush the sleeve will draw the pinion away from the crown gear but only until any free space between the shims and gear is taken up. Is it possible that the pinion nut has loosened off and is causing your problem, I have had several vehicles that did that and on one chev. as soon as the axle started to howl I'd tighten the nut again,couldn't keep it tight. try torquing the pinion nut to about 280 ftlbs. after adding locktight to the threads and some silicone to the rear of the yoke, sounds as though a loose nut may be your problem-- good luck!!

 

If you tighten the pinion nut too much you'll crush the crush sleeve too far which puts too much preload on the pinion bearings which destroys them.
How was that for a strange sounding sentence?

 

Does anyone have a source of detailed instructions for seting up one of these rear ends?