In the process of replacing my axle shafts, the hole that the differential pinion shaft slides out of is now out of alignment and the pinion shaft will not fit back in. Any ideas on how to line these parts of the diff back up are very much appreciated. Apologies in advance for my lack of specific terminology, I can try to explain in more detail if my above description is unclear.

Thanks

 

Why are you messing with the pinion,changing axles????
Better description please.

 

yea we were trying to change his axle shafts, one of them was bent from a "curb incident"

 

If you look into the center of the diff from the back, you can see that area where the axle shafts come into the diff and you put the c-clips on.....and if you were to rotate the axle 90* either way from that position, you would see that "shaft" that goes thru the center of the diff which hes referring to that is misaligned.

 

The pinion don't need to be fooled with when you are changing axles.What won't line back up?

 

Hang on just a sec, i dont think we are talking about the same thing. It's not the pinion that connects the front of the diff to the axle, but the haynes manual calls it a "differential pinion shaft" Ill upload a pic real quick....

 

The center shaft for the spider gears(little gears that run on the gears the axle fits into)Won't go back in? Or the locking pin for the center shaft won't go in or line up?

 

See the two parts of the diff not lining up to the right of the ring gear? There is a shaft we had to take out to access the c clips that held in the axle, and for some reason it got misaligned.....turning one or both of the axles with it in neutral seems to have no affect on its position either

 

I wanna say its the center shaft for the spider gears, look at my pic and tell me if i am right.

 

You have to hold one axle and turn the other one to make the gears line back up with the pin hole.There may be a cupped washer behind the small gears so check and if there is make sure it is lined back up with the pin hole too on both gears if it has them.Turn the axles gently to line up.

 

Will try first thing in the morning....Thanks

 

OK,let me know if you need more help.