Pinion Bearing 01 2500hd

korbin502 · January 13, 2010

Anyone able to give me some info on doing the Pinion Bearing? I have a whine coming from the rear and believe this may be the problem. I have never done this before and the manuals ( Chilton and Haynes ) are no help. Will the bearings need to be pressed on and off? I tried doing a search on here but details were sketchy. Any help would be great. The more detailed step by step info I get the more comfortable I feel about doing this instead of paying some other yahoo to do it. Thanks for any help you can offer!

BKfirefighter3221 · January 13, 2010

This is not an easy task!!! Motor All Data says 5.4 to 5.9 hours depending on if you have a full floating or semi-floating axle, and limited slip or not. How many miles do you have? You should replace all of the rear differential bearings if you are going as far as the pinion bearings. There will be a inner and outer pinion bearing, they are pressed in. You will need a good bearing install set. If the noise comes and goes or gets louder with gasing on and off you can have damage to the ring and pinion themselves, so you'll have to inspect them carefully. If you do decide to tackle this buy a manual with a total tear down or exploded view of your specific axle. A bearing kit is usually availible that includes all of them except the outer axle bearings. Good Luck!!!

J-man67 · January 13, 2010

They do have to be pressed. I recently did this on my buddies Dodge Ram. We just bought a new bearing, then took everything to Pep Boys and they pressed it on. Pep Boys isn't my first choice for anything, but they did it OK. Also, if you haven't changed them, I'd replace the u-joints while you have the shafts out.

ybsane · January 13, 2010

This is not an easy task!!! Motor All Data says 5.4 to 5.9 hours depending on if you have a full floating or semi-floating axle, and limited slip or not. How many miles do you have? You should replace all of the rear differential bearings if you are going as far as the pinion bearings. There will be a inner and outer pinion bearing, they are pressed in. You will need a good bearing install set. If the noise comes and goes or gets louder with gasing on and off you can have damage to the ring and pinion themselves, so you'll have to inspect them carefully. If you do decide to tackle this buy a manual with a total tear down or exploded view of your specific axle. A bearing kit is usually availible that includes all of them except the outer axle bearings. Good Luck!!!

I agree, with it being an 01 truck order a complete bearing kit and have everything replaced. Full Floater 14-bolt axels are easier to do. But either way if you don't have the tools to do it, than find a shop to do it an reasonable price. Your not change ring and pinions or changing carriers, so the price should be with in reason.

korbin502 · January 13, 2010

This is not an easy task!!! Motor All Data says 5.4 to 5.9 hours depending on if you have a full floating or semi-floating axle, and limited slip or not. How many miles do you have? You should replace all of the rear differential bearings if you are going as far as the pinion bearings. There will be a inner and outer pinion bearing, they are pressed in. You will need a good bearing install set. If the noise comes and goes or gets louder with gasing on and off you can have damage to the ring and pinion themselves, so you'll have to inspect them carefully. If you do decide to tackle this buy a manual with a total tear down or exploded view of your specific axle. A bearing kit is usually availible that includes all of them except the outer axle bearings. Good Luck!!!

I have a sound coming from the back that almost sounds like I put mudder tires on the truck. It just started one day with no warning. My center support bearing was bad and I was hoping that might be it. However, I just had that and all U-Joints changed yesterday and it made no difference. The truck has 174,000 miles on it. It has a 14 bolt rear end but that is all I know about it. The noise gets louder the faster I go and dims as I slow. Just like a noisy tire. I tried swapping my tires out hoping that it would just be a faulty tire but that made no difference. I did the pinion seal a couple of months ago and it is leaking again. The only problem I really had was trying to get the nut back on to the same spot where it was when I took it off. It would not crank down far enough to reach the same spot. Could I have overtightened and messed something up? At this point I am only guessing that this noise could be from the pinion. The mechanic that istalled the support bearing said that COULD be it. Money is tight right now and I was hoping to save myself the labor expenses by doing it at home. Just worried I might bite off more than I can chew.

gmtech4 · January 13, 2010

you got problems Chris,diffs are not a DIY 'er job,you thru a bunch of money at it ,tsk ,tsk ,you bad.

ybsane · January 13, 2010

I am almost willing to bet that its full floating 14-bolt rear, also an 11.5" ring gear. You could do the following.

1: Make a deal with a parts store that has small machine shop in the rear to press on you bearings (order complete kit w/ bearings and seals from them)

2: Full floater is easy to do, remove cover from diff drain and clean out with brake cleaner

3: Remove outer axels covers and slide axels out about a foot.

4: Remove pinion nut and yoke

5: Remove bearing caps holding differential and take out differential

6: Bring to machine shop to replace bearings. Don't forget new seals when re-assembling !

You can check a service manual to look at everything for a good exploded view.

ybsane · January 14, 2010

"The only problem I really had was trying to get the nut back on to the same spot where it was when I took it off. It would not crank down far enough to reach the same spot. Could I have overtightened and messed something up? At this point I am only guessing that this noise could be from the pinion."

Air gun, or a big 1/2" with 3-4' pipe on the end, especially when trying to seat the crush collar.

korbin502 · January 14, 2010

"The only problem I really had was trying to get the nut back on to the same spot where it was when I took it off. It would not crank down far enough to reach the same spot. Could I have overtightened and messed something up? At this point I am only guessing that this noise could be from the pinion."

Air gun, or a big 1/2" with 3-4' pipe on the end, especially when trying to seat the crush collar.

Air gun was used. I was too afraid to overtighten. I just want to know that it is just as easy as you described before I take on the task. I can pop everything out and have a shop inspect it. Can the shims be done elsewhere and I just bring it home and pop it in? As I said, I have never done this. I am a pretty good garage mechanic but I lack some of the better equipment and funds to purchase it. The CRUSH SLEEVE, is that something that could have/should have replaced when I did the Pinion seal? I did not see anything in there when I did the seal. I went by the book and it did not say anything about it. Could all of this be solved with just tightening up on the nut some more?

J-man67 · January 20, 2010

They do have to be pressed. I recently did this on my buddies Dodge Ram. We just bought a new bearing, then took everything to Pep Boys and they pressed it on. Pep Boys isn't my first choice for anything, but they did it OK. Also, if you haven't changed them, I'd replace the u-joints while you have the shafts out.

Excuse my post, I did a carrier bearing, not pinion. I must of been tired....