Just installed 3.73 by a local shop, now having similar problems to this article https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hlight=preload where under decellaration, noise is present but not when accelerating. Also checked pinion and does seem loose. Removed driveshaft and checked if pinion had play and it did. From my research, when tighting pinion, needs to be tightened til there is no play then torque to about 20lbs, and If I am correct that is how preload is determined. My question is that do I need to remove carrier ? Do I need to check backlash ? Or can I just torque the pinion bolt to get rid of noise ?

 

you couldn't have it more wrong. you spin the pinion by the nut and what yuo read on the torque wrench is the preload, don't consider the initial reading where the force is greater to get it spining. yes you need to remove carrier, checking with the carrier would be pointless. if your preload is wrong i'd take it apart and start over, you're only asking for trouble later, if not sooner. it'd be pretty foolish to be that far into it and not check back lash, and i'd check pinion depth as well. if your preload is wrong buy a new sleeve and nut, don't reuse the old parts.