anyone replaced rear drive pinion bearing?

[Henry]

Diff out, strip diff, take prop shaft flange out, then you have the pinion. Press bearing off, press a new one one... looking at a good couple of hours if not more. Id replace the whole diff.

[twiss]

It's dead easy to do a diff swap!!!
You can do a whole rear diff with a wheel wrench, a hammer and a 12 mm spanner

I swapped both my diffs in a foot of snow at christmas, just so I could go drive it in the snow that night

[ScottieJ]

It doesn't take that long, the hardest bit is setting the pinion depth, bearing preloads and back lash correctly. If these are not set up right then the diff might not last as long as it should. you can set then up by feel without any special tools but it's a bit hit or miss.

There are two bearings on the pinion shaft and you will also need a new crush collar from suzuki so that the bearing preloads end up correct. You cannot re-use a crush collar!

I will upload a guide for you shortly!

[twiss]

I would personally just get another diff, then do a straight swap.

Then you will have as much time as you need to get the bearings, get the tools and do the rebuild properly, as scott says.

It just means that SJ down-time will be shorter, and you'll end up with a spare diff

[ScottieJ]

Here you go Hugh, I made a new thread with the service manual guide on building diffs

clicky

[twiss]

Take note that the bottom image on the 4th pic shows the bearing pre-load adjuster you should use