The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline pinon bolt stuck,ok to remove axel bearing ?

I have a 53 1/2 ton, i have a 56 rear that I wanna swap the third memeber but the pinion retainer bolt broke off on the 56 axel, I need to try to get it out, can I remove the bearing on that side? Will it mess up my third member?

I had to think on this a bit. You want to remove the bearing cap to get more room to get at it. You can do that. Mark the adjustment screw location.
Sometimes you can get it out with a small magnet. Sometimes ive had to torch the pinion shaft to pieces. That ia nasty.

Did the retainer pin break just past the thread? That's what usually happens. Figure out where the end of the pin should be in the carrier, and drill a small hole at an angle over it so a piece of stiff wire like a thin welding rod or a piece of clothes hanger can be inserted to push the pin out of the hole. It beats destroying the carrier, and doesn't weaken anything.
Jerry

its broken off about half way down to the pin. so my dumb self pulled off the bearing, and tryed to drill it out, then I realized that its all part of the third member correct? so now that I tore up all the threads, is that third member junk? after I started drilling i examined it and it looks like I would be reinstalling that part in my truck correct? should I take it to a rear end man and have him do it, or find another rear for 150?
thanks for your help

OUCH! You could drill and tap for a bigger thread, and then make a special bolt for it, or Heli-Coil the hole back to original size. I think I'd make an effort to salvage the current part unless there's a lot of wear where the pivot shaft goes through the carrier. If the pivot shaft hole is egg-shaped and the pin is able to move in the carrier, that's what usually breaks the lock pin. Running a shift kit in an automatic transmission usually results in a worn out spider gear pivot shaft hole.
Jerry