Always looks worse to the owner, I guess. 1/4 inch is not an xact measurement, but the play is significant. The bearing is probably shot. Strange, though, I changed the rear cover gasket to stop a leak (unsuccessfully), but no metal came out with the old oil. I've also changed a rear wheel bearing and seal, with no evidence of ground metal.
The next step is definitely dropping the pumpkin and cleaning the housing. I'll take the center to a driveline place and get it checked, or find a later carrier and get new gears put in all at once.
So much for "on the road sooner, rather than later."
Current fleet (subject to change w/o notice) \'49 GMC 3/4-Ton , 60 Austin Healey Frog-eye Sprite (some assembly required), 2011 Dodge Avenger, 2015 Jeep Cherokee. No, they don't all run. My other ride is a (B737)no, (B767)no, A320.... Update... was Embraer E190, now Boeing B787. Knowledge is a wonderful thing, but ignorance means you don't know you can't do something.
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