need help with rear differential! asap

[eight_05_south]

My wife drives a 97 4.0 ranger 4x4. Last week she told me the rear end was making noise I checked for fluid it was bone dry,I opened the diff and noticed grooves on the housing of the spider gears. Then I noticed a big gap between the yoke and the pinion. I replaced the seal I noticed the plastic ring around the yoke was burned and breaking I went to 2 diff. Auto stores and nobody knew what that plastic part was called.I have pics but I do not know how to upload.

 

[bergz0]

are you talking about a crush sleeve? or maybe a shim?

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

It just a dust protector for the seal. Not really important at all.

 

[eight_05_south]

Ah makes sense why I can't find it. Now my other prob is I replaced the pinion seal and I noticed oil leaking from the center of the seal. Theirs a lot of play

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

If its that bad it might possibly need a new crush sleeve and perhaps even pinion bearings at this point.

 

[eight_05_south]

Thanks sasquatch appreciate it. I might as well replace everything related to the pinion, since the pinion is pre loaded how would I go about torquing the yoke toproper spec?how many ft pounds does it require??(1st time with 4x4s)