Ok.. I need some help from the R&P experts here...

See the marks on top of teeth in the attached picture... These marks are on every tooth. I've looked that the pinion and can't see any obvious signs on it. Looking for ideas on what it causing this...

This is from my front 9". The rear is more distinct (almost a thin groove where the marks are) but its in the axle at the moment.

Do I need to worry about this? Remedies?

That's a damn good pic. Sorry I couldn't help :D

Groovin' on Sunday:beer: There's just something about cutting up brand new tires that makes me want to smile:)

what gear ratio is that?

my guess is the face (top of the tooth) is scraping past the casting for the 3rd pinion bearing, the small bearing at the end of the pinion (forget the offcial name) When I installed 5.43's in my 9" I had to shave the casting down there for my ring gear to clear. I'm assuming you bought this from currie... send it back.

They are Currie axles alright, but I am second owner... 5.43 gears too. What you are saying make some sense, which leads my too:

Do I need to worry about it? Can I pull the ring gear and clearance the casting? Will doing so require the R&P to be completely reset?


Originally posted by Danger Ranger
what gear ratio is that?

my guess is the face (top of the tooth) is scraping past the casting for the 3rd pinion bearing, the small bearing at the end of the pinion (forget the offcial name) When I installed 5.43's in my 9" I had to shave the casting down there for my ring gear to clear. I'm assuming you bought this from currie... send it back.

Originally posted by bigdude
That's a damn good pic. Sorry I couldn't help :D

Groovin' on Sunday:beer: There's just something about cutting up brand new tires that makes me want to smile:)

Hey keep it on topic, would ya:D :D :flipoff2: I've got the groover all broken in now... Cuts nice! I'll PM directions.

Can I pull the ring gear and clearance the casting? Will doing so require the R&P to be completely reset?


I'm no 9" expert but pulling the ring gear off should not require a gear reset (somebody correct me if I'm wrong)

Originally posted by rkcrawl
They are Currie axles alright, but I am second owner... 5.43 gears too. What you are saying make some sense, which leads my too:

Do I need to worry about it? Can I pull the ring gear and clearance the casting? Will doing so require the R&P to be completely reset?




I would not leave it so the ring gear can touch the bearing support, If it were mine I’d fix it.

Basically the only setup you risk changing is the backlash. You could pull the bearing caps and leave the adjusters in place with their hold down clips and hope they don’t move a lot (a butt hair won’t affect it though) If I were doing this, I’d use my dial indicator to check the backlash before removing the carrier, so that I could get it back to where it was set. If I’m not making any sense, you might wanna get a friend involved who does. Or get a gear shop to do it.

You are making sense.. I don't have a dial indicator though, and no friends locally with the stuff to do it. Guess I'll be off to the local hot rod shop I talked to today to see if we can fix it up.

Originally posted by Danger Ranger


I would not leave it so the ring gear can touch the bearing support, If it were mine I’d fix it.

Basically the only setup you risk changing is the backlash. You could pull the bearing caps and leave the adjusters in place with their hold down clips and hope they don’t move a lot (a butt hair won’t affect it though) If I were doing this, I’d use my dial indicator to check the backlash before removing the carrier, so that I could get it back to where it was set. If I’m not making any sense, you might wanna get a friend involved who does. Or get a gear shop to do it.

What you need to do is pull the ring gear out and take a file to the inside of the pocket bearing casting. This is a very common practice on ford 9". The ring gear may have cleared when it was originally setup but under load if it was close it will deflect some and cause the rubbing you see. Not to scare you but if the case wasnt nodular iron or heavly abused it could have cracked the pocket bearing housing also causing the deflection and rubbing that you have. All you need is some simple hand tools and a file ans spanner wrench to fix it uless its cracked then it will have to be replaced:D

Cool.. I'll give it a whirl. The rear is worse and that has me a bit worried. I'll yank it after I get the front back together and I can set it back on its front tires.

Originally posted by TechGuru
What you need to do is pull the ring gear out and take a file to the inside of the pocket bearing casting. This is a very common practice on ford 9". The ring gear may have cleared when it was originally setup but under load if it was close it will deflect some and cause the rubbing you see. Not to scare you but if the case wasnt nodular iron or heavly abused it could have cracked the pocket bearing housing also causing the deflection and rubbing that you have. All you need is some simple hand tools and a file ans spanner wrench to fix it uless its cracked then it will have to be replaced:D