Pinion Flange Question

[Sexy Evil ST]

Ok, I think it's called the pinion flange.<br><br>It's the thing I bolt the rear driveshaft to on the rear axle.<br><br>Mine has a little play in it. Probably due to the out of balance driveshaft problems I've had in the last year. <br><br>My question is, is this a bad thing? Do I need to fix it? Is it going to grenade the pinion gear? <br><br>It's probably the reason I have fluid leaking from that area right?<br><br>Thanks for any insight guys! <p></p><i></i>

[Michael]

The leaking is probably out of the seal that is at the end of the pinion snout there. There is also a bearing in there that may be loosened from the wobbly shaft. <p></p><i></i>

[Sexy Evil ST]

Should I be concerned and get it fixed or just keep checking the fluid level and keep it full?<br>Of course I know I shouldn't fix it until I get a straight driveshaft. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :p --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/tongue.gif ALT=":p"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

[SVO]

Be concerned! <p></p><i></i>

[Sexy Evil ST]

Is this something I can do myself or do I need and experienced person? SVO, you wanna drive out to Las Cruces. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START ;) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT=";)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

[Kris Guilbeaux]

You will need to have it checked out for sure. If the Pinon bearing is loose you could be tearing up the ring and pinion. At any case you would need to have the Pinion depth fixed. This is not an At home type Job unless you have tools to set pinion depth and Backlash.<br><br> <p></p><i></i>

[SVO]

Kris, speaks the good words.<br><br>Couldn't have said it any better. <p></p><i></i>

[Sexy Evil ST]

Well, on Friday, I went to a couple of junkyards in El Paso. <br>At the 2nd one, they had a 2000 or 01 Ranger 4.0L/Auto 4x4, so I bought the aluminum driveshaft off of it for $100.<br>I need to flex it and make sure it's ok. Compressed the driveshafts were the same length, but it does seem that the aluminum Ranger driveshaft doesn't want to stretch as easily and far as my old one. That's due to the boot that is covering the slip yoke(I think that's what it is called).<br><br>I did take it for a test drive, and it's oh so much smoother now. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>