I bought an electric impact wrench from Harbor Frieght today for 50% off, and took the pinion nut off and thought, "well that's just too easy". I threaded the nut back on and hammered it till my arm was tired, didn't look like I did a damn thing. Is there an easier way? I don't have much space underneath either.

I need to send the ring with it's busted teeth, and pinion together to Strange, to see if it was a bad part.

 

I think you need a bigger hammer!!

You do have the carrier out, right????? (not doubting you, but I have to ask?! )

Otherwise, yeah, big sledge and give 'er a whack! Since the gears are already toast, you don't have to worry about being so "delicate" with it, but you should keep your hand behind the diff to try and "catch" it once it pops loose .

 

the correct way is a air hammer with a pointed bit, set it right in the center where it is tappered in and it will push the pinion right out, nice and clean, no damage to anything

using a hammer is just asking for messed up threads

just to make sure,, you are removing the yoke first before you try to tap out the pinion gear


good luck setting the pinion bearing pre-load and crushing the crush washer with a electric impact when you go to put it back together

 

Use a baby 4# sledge hammer to beat the pinion out, make sure you have the nut on or you will damage the pinion. Just keep smashing, it will budge.

That electric impact will never turn a new nut and forget about a crush sleeve. My 1000# Craftsman does the trick but it is worked hard to do it. You may have to do it the hard way, its called leverage.