L5030 4wd front axle pinion removal

[FordPrefect]

Hello,
I would like to say hello and hope for some assistance.
I think I might have been unprepared and I probably need to wait until I get the maintenance manual. I had hoped to get the pinion and ring replaced, get lash measured and order the needed shims.
Anyway, my front pinion is pretty much chewed to heck and I have the new ring and pinion set. I have removed the 'pumpkin' and those bearings and gears seem fine.
I still have not been able to figure out the trick to getting the pinion out to inspect bearings. It taps out to about 1/2 of the first bearing exposed then seems to stop as if stuck. It taps back in and back out but I cannot get removed. I did remove the nut on the pinion but it seems like it was maybe providing a preload to the bearings. I found a reference to using a 10 pound hammer and pounding it into the casing to get the bears broke loose (bearings pressed on the pinion?).
Any guidance would be great. I will wait for the service manual before breaking out the 10 lb sledge. I also notice a 'mouse' hole that is plugged in the front of the casing. This plug is blocked by the steering assembly and the steering assembly needs to be removed and it looks to be integrated into the axle casting. I make custom plugs to keep all systems clean.
Anyway, thanks for any help provided.
Scott

 

[nightowl490]

While I was researching for Bevel Gear Repair, I came across a pinion repair with good photos on this site. Keep researching the forum and check it out. As for waiting for the book, a good call. Better yet, buy the workshop manual. Eventually it will be much cheaper for you in long run. There's a lot of moving parts down there! Good luck and you sound close to finding your problem.

Mark

 

[arrabil]

10lb sledge it. I'm not familiar with your particular axle but the outer pinion bearing could be pressed into the case and the pinion pressed into it. Its a tight fit that requires some breakout force.

Alternatively, since your pinion is shot anyway, you could grind it down until it slips right out.

You definitely need to remove the pinion nut. The pinion nut provides preload after you've assembled everything and set the backlash correctly.

You have a shop press with a bearing remover? You'll need it to get the inner pinion bearing off. I would replace every bearing in the case while I had this apart. They are cheap in comparison to how hard this is.

You can slightly ground out the inside of the old bearings (and the outside of the outer pinion bearing and use them to get the shim thickness right on the new R&P. Though I would guess that the old shims will be right where you want them to be already. Not always the case, but pretty often when not changing ratios.