I didn’t get a focused pic of the pinion but ive looked at it thoroughly and the teeth are all intact the only visible “damage” is on the flat face of the pinion which just looks like the tips of the teeth were polished obviously from riding against the carrier. So as far as i can tell its all in shape and ready to go back together from some research i should be able to just snug up the pinion nut and give it a little tighten with some loctite so it doesn’t back off again and pray it doesn’t do it. I have no means of measuring the previous preload on the bearing because i didn’t loosen the nut and i am sure as **** not taking the wheels brakes and axles out to get a reading

 

Those nuts get torqued to some truly stupid value. There should be a spec for required rotational torque on a 'used' gear set...... Get close to that, and you should be ok. Drive it until it REALLY blows up. (which might be never.... )

 

Ill try to look for some values with the wheels and axles in as well as the gear set, my concern is crushing the sleeve more than its been set for. To my understanding if i torque that nut up to spec which is 210 ft/lbs minimum would that not crush the sleeve even more?

 

Probably. But, the bearings have worn some since that nut was first installed as well. They get torqued to that value both the crush the sleeve, and to make sure it stays tight. (well, supposed to work that way anyway.....) Some lock-tite isn't a bad idea. (I would go with blue....) But keep in mind, that 210ft/lbs is DRY torque. Adding anything to the threads is gonna change that...