The slop you feel in the yoke is the worn inner and outer pinion bearings. Try to picture the inner bearing up against the back of the pinion gear. Then comes the crush collar which is sandwiched against the inner collars of both bearings. The crush collar was compressed (it has a flare to it) when the rearend was originally set up. As the bearings wear, they will get sloppier because the crush collar is still holding the bearing centers apart as it's always been. If not for the crush collar, the bearings would get beat to death in no time. Over-torquing the nut to take out that slop you have will compress the crush collar more, mess up your present bearing mesh/lash, and cause premature failure. If your yoke really feels that bad, the rearend is going to want to be rebuilt sooner than later.

 

This will give you the idea, if you've never been inside someone's rearend before.
http://www.superchevy.com/technical/...ferential.html

 

lmao.

 

Did somebody crack a joke?

 

Wow really, I though you guys were grown-ups, COME ON!!!

So it sounds like I really should just get a rebuild kit, or drive it till it breaks and upgrade.

 

sorry,,, and yes.

 

Yeah, craby can get that way sometimes.
At this point, reinstalling the yoke and nut "in the dark" might not be doing much more harm than it's already done to itself.
Just make sure your rearend is lubed up well, and hope it doesn't play any tunes.
Gee, I sure hope nobody reads anything between the lines again!

 

Ya, I'll see whats up. I hate that I sealed it up so well. Before I tore it opened to put the discs on it howled pretty good, so we will see.

Thanks.

Great article BTW, now I know what I will be in for when I break this.

 

So I put it all back together and dropped the brake. I dont even feel comfortable starting it, the shaft is just bouncing around and if I hold it in tight and spin it there was some binding.

Soo.....

What is this master rebuild kit? I saw in the article the yukon kit, is that it or do I need more than the bearings and crush sleave?

And ya I know I know, a loose shaft in my rear end is no good.

 

http://www.ringpinion.com/ProductDet...px?ProdID=1396

I think this is it, whacha think?