Got back from the Cheesehead Invasion and found what appear to be pieces of the race from the front pinion bearing in the bottom of the axle housing. There were no roller bearings in the debris. WTF happened?

In my limited experience, what happens is a poorly staked pinion stake nut backs off enough to allow pinion wobble, which then eats everything. Because there are both a front and rear bearing on the pinion, the debris can't readily move backwards, but just slowly gets ground to powder and goes back the return drain at the front of the pinion by the seal...bet you had a lot of gray pasty goo on the drain magnet?

The pinion nut was tight when I took it off (needed my impact to do it). The oil was black and there was a little build-up on the magnet. What surprised me were the chunks...

Damn nice carnage.....we may never get you guys back :laughing:

If we combine your broken truck with my broken truck we can make 1 complete truck. We just can't take it to OK, it'll never last!

Gary